The French challenge that the New Zealanders wanted

There is a new contender for the 2024 America’s Cup, the return of the Frenchman from the K-Challenge to the Cup, the team has formalized the challenge for the next America’s Cup, the news is confirmed by the defender of the New Zealand team.

The challenge was a little surprising as, although there had been talk for some time of a new contender, it seemed difficult to capitalize on the opportunity to enter another team.

In addition to the New Zealanders, Luna Rossa, American Magic, Alingi, Eneos Britannia and Key Challenge will be present at Barcelona 2024. We have not yet reached the number of copies of the Cup with more than 10 competitors, but two more compared to the last edition, this is an important step forward.

At the helm of the K-Challenge team, supported by Société Nautique Saint Tropez, are two experienced men, Bruno Dubois and Stéphane Kandler, who previously competed in the Valencia Cup with the K-Challenge in 2007, as well as experience in other high-level sailing events such as Crewed Around the World, formerly the Volvo Ocean Race.

A strong team also relies on technological support from the New Zealand team, who will obviously supply the French with some of their AC 75 components.

Finally, one challenger is useful to the defender, both from the point of view of economic income for the next cup and to ‘suck’ more other contenders into what promises to be a very competitive selection, to decide who will challenge in the eventual New Zealand national team final.

The K-Challenge promises to be a solid challenge that will not only increase in number but promises to compete even if it starts one step behind other competitors, both in terms of experience in the AC 75 and in timing, suppose Luna Rossa and the others have been running at top speed for months.

Certainly, the good news for the America’s Cup is that with an additional crew, the spectacle and audience increase for the America’s Cup eager to recapture past glory at all costs.

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