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With its first appearance in the 37th America?s Cup, the La Roche-Posay Racing Team has revitalized France?s presence in the oldest international sporting competition. This video, released by the team, looks back on the highlights of the campaign, as well as the challenges they faced and the lessons learned that will help them approach the next edition with greater experience.
A Long-Standing Passion for the America's Cup
The documentary begins with a look back at the ties that have linked France to the America's Cup since the 1970s. For several team members, this competition represents much more than a sporting challenge. In particular, they discuss the victory of Australia II in 1983, which ended 132 years of American dominance. According to them, this success marked the beginning of a new era and transformed the America?s Cup into an event followed far beyond the circle of sailing enthusiasts.
A first campaign put together on a very tight schedule
The video then looks back at the circumstances under which the La Roche-Posay Racing Team prepared for its first appearance in Barcelona. The team joined the development cycle for the 37th America?s Cup late in the process. In just a few months, they had to design, build, and fine-tune an AC75 while mastering technologies that were still new to most of the French teams.
The speakers explain that the main challenge was, above all, to be ready for the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup despite a particularly tight schedule. This accelerated preparation required a significant commitment from engineers, technicians, and crew members.
A first victory that will remain a memorable moment
One of the most memorable moments of this campaign was the victory achieved on the very first day of competition. Just a few weeks earlier, the team explained that it was still struggling to complete several laps of the course without technical issues. Crossing the finish line in first place during this first race was therefore a highlight for the entire team.
The testimonials particularly highlight the satisfaction of the technicians working on the support RIBs, after several months spent developing the boat.
Even though the subsequent results did not allow the La Roche-Posay Racing Team to build on that momentum, this victory is still considered an important milestone in the development of the project.
Learning from Barcelona
Officials acknowledge that the athletic goals set for this first appearance were not met. However, they believe that this campaign provided essential experience that will help the team improve in the next cycle.
The team's philosophy remains unchanged. The project continues to rely on young talent capable of quickly developing their skills.
The difference now lies in the experience we have gained collectively. Several technical departments have also been strengthened to provide greater expertise in the most strategic areas. The goal is to be able to demonstrate a higher level of performance starting with the very first preparatory sailings.
Building a French challenge over several editions
Starting with the Barcelona campaign, team leaders wanted to ensure the project?s long-term sustainability and secure another opportunity to compete in the America?s Cup. This continuity allows the team to retain the expertise it has developed, continue work on AC75 flight technologies, and begin preparations for Naples under much more favorable conditions.
Through this documentary, the La Roche-Posay Racing Team shows that the Barcelona campaign is, above all, a starting point. The technical, personal, and sporting lessons learned during this first participation will now serve as the foundation for preparing for the 38th America?s Cup, to be held in Naples, with the goal of reaching new heights against the most experienced teams.
