La Roche-Posay Racing Team takes third in Naples after two race wins and despite two capsizes
La Roche-Posay Racing Team finished third at the second America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, winning two AC40 fleet races during a weekend that also saw the French crew recover from two capsizes.
Quentin Delapierre, Diego Botín, Jason Saunders and Florian Trittel finished the eight fleet races on 48 points, behind Luna Rossa on 71 and Emirates Team New Zealand on 56. Luna Rossa subsequently beat Emirates Team New Zealand in the regatta final.
The French team’s opening day ended with a sixth place and a retirement after capsizing during the start sequence of the second race. On Saturday, they took their first win in Naples before capsizing again during the final gybe of a race they had been leading. The shore crew righted and checked the boat in time for the sailors to start the next race, around 15 minutes later. They won it, holding off Emirates Team New Zealand.
“What’s behind us is behind us. The only thing we need to concern ourselves with is what’s ahead,” said team coach Philippe Mourniac of the response to the second capsize.
Third and second places in Sunday’s final two fleet races secured the podium finish. Delapierre said the result reflected the team’s progress while leaving clear areas to improve.
“This is La Roche-Posay Racing Team’s best result since the start of this campaign,” he said. “We had the potential to reach the final. At times we lacked a little precision and the two capsizes cost us dearly, but we showed a lot of character to stay in contention, take third place and put together some very good races.”
Delapierre also credited the team ashore: “Righting the boat in 12 minutes and enabling us to go out and win the next race was a real achievement, as was the work done overnight on Friday to get the boat ready again.”
Sporting director Philippe Presti said: “The team was very solid today, without stress, and sailed some excellent races. We’ve sailed really well over the last two days. If you take away our little tumbles, we’re in a good place.”
The regatta also brought a visit from France’s ambassador to Italy, Anne-Marie Descôtes. On Sunday morning, she attended a breakfast in Naples hosted by K-Challenge, Leyton and the French Secretariat-General for the Sea, alongside the French consul general in Naples, Paul de Sinety, and representatives of French businesses. The event brought together around 20 business and institutional guests to discuss opportunities for collaboration between France and Italy.
The team now turns to its AC75, which arrived in Naples from Lorient on 24 September. Its first sail on the waters that will host the 38th America’s Cup is planned for mid-October.
“The work is only just beginning,” Presti added. “This event was an opportunity to practise and put in place the processes we want to establish. Now it’s time for the AC75. That is the most important thing for us.”
Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge expands. “There is a long road ahead, but I am very happy with this result, which rewards five years of very intensive work. It is hard to imagine everything the team has already achieved; I would like to pay tribute to them, particularly those working behind the scenes.”
