French Trials, from Baron Bich to K-Challenge

The Federation Challenge K announced on Tuesday January 3 that the French are making their return to the 37th edition of the America’s Cup in 2024. This competition Quill, which always takes place at the home of the previous winner (also called the “defender”, because he is defending his title), is preceded by the Louis Vuitton Trophy. This allows you to designate the “challenger” who will face the defender.

The title is currently held by Emirates Airline New Zealand, a New Zealand team. Tricolor crews participated regularly in this sailing competition established in 1851, but none of them ever won.

1970, the beginnings of Barron Beck

France enters the competition Almost 120 years after its inception. A delay that can be explained because the country values ​​nautical and solo races, such as the Vendée Globe, more than regattas.

It was Baron Bich, founder of the Bic brand, who finally launched the first brand. Built for this twenty-first edition sailboat France i, classified as a Historic Monument in 1992. Eric Taparly is on board, and her skippers Luis Noverraz, “Bobby” Delfour, and Jean-Marie Le Guillou. bow to Gretel II Australians.

Papa Pens tried his luck again in 1974 with the same sailboat captained by Jean-Marie Le Guillot. It was brutally eradicated. In 1977, he built France the second. Slower, it was finally abandoned to France 1st, and lost again.

In 1980, in Marcel Beach’s last campaign, Bruno Trouble becomes captain of a new aluminum sailboat, Third France. He managed to get to the final of the contenders, but was beaten by the Australian ship.

In 1983, the beginning of the post-Bich era

For the 1983 edition, the Third France It is still managed by the troubled Bruno. Meanwhile, the sailboat has been bought by Yves Rosset-Roard, the producer of the thriller emmanuel, One of the biggest successes of French cinema (reaching 50 million admissions worldwide, according to Allociné).

the Third France It was defeated by Australia II, the future winner of the contest, bringing an end to 132 years of American immunity. In 1987, the edition was released outside the United States for the first time, in Western Australia.

French ship French kiss, led by Marc Bagot and financed by Serge Kasnyansky who owns a master copy company, Kis. The tricolor crew reached the semi-finals of the Challenge competitions.

In 2000, the first America’s Cup without Americans

in 1992, Paris cityFinanced by the Breton maker Pierre Legris, he was able to replicate this performance. It is led by Mark Bagot and Mark Boett. In 1995, the French sailboat was recalled France 2 It is funded by France Télévisions. He was again led by Mark Bagot, but the leader was unable to repeat his previous performances and soon found himself eliminated.

In 2000, Bouygues Telecom aligned 6^e Meaning, led by Bertrand Passy. He managed to reach the semi-finals of the first America’s Cup without being counted challenger No Defense American. It takes place in New Zealand.

With the citizenship rule abandoned, Bertrand Passet joins the New Zealand team, with better finances. However, the French flankarivaPowered by Giant Energy. Her mast, which was too heavy, turned out to be ineffective, and the sloop was eliminated before the semi-finals. The Swiss from Alinghi became the first European to win the competition.

French absences from 2010

As of 2007, competing boats must be built in the sponsor’s home country. For the second time in the competition’s history, after 1851 and the original race in England, the race is being held in Europe, off Valencia (Spain).

It is also the first time that the cup is held outside the United Arab Emirates DefenseSwitzerland, which does not have access to the sea, where the French boat, sponsored by K-Challenge and Areva, finished sixth in the Louis Vuitton Cup separating the contenders.

In 2010, for the first time since 1970, no French Challenger participated in the competition. On the other hand, Thierry Faucher won on board challenger American. No tricolor crew will be participating in the 34 either, in 2013.

But the French returned with sponsorship from Groupama in 2017. They were eliminated before the semi-finals. “ We didn’t end up as we would have liked, but we discovered the cup, it’s addictive, Captain Frank Kama fired at that time. The balance sheet is positive. We want to continue and maintain that momentum. » Waiting for 2023 after the last absence in 2021.