America’s Cup : les dernières infos Tip & Shaft

American Magic announced on Tuesday, October 28, that they would not be participating in the 38th America’s Cup in 2027 in Naples. To find out more about this withdrawal, Sailorz spoke with the French engineer Dimitri Despierres, head of the mechatronics department for the US challenge.

The Protocol for the 38th America’s Cup was unveiled in August, with several major changes, including the event being held every two years. Stephan Kandler, co-director of K-Challenge, which supports both the Orient Express Racing Team and the French SailGP team, explains the new rules for Tip & Shaft and discusses this dual project, one week before the SailGP French Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez (12-13 September).

Seven months after winning the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, Emirates Team New Zealand announced on Thursday that the next edition will be held in Naples in spring/summer 2027. Pending publication of the Protocol, this announcement gives potential challengers a clearer picture.

The 37th America’s Cup came to a close last Saturday with Emirates Team New Zealand’s clear 7-2 victory over Ineos Britannia. Tip & Shaft takes stock of this edition with architects Guillaume Verdier, Martin Fischer, Sam Manuard, Benjamin Muyl and Antoine Lauriot Prévost, and engineer Dimitri Despierres.

The 37th America’s Cup Match kicks off on Sunday in Barcelona between Ineos Britannia, winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, and defender Emirates Team New Zealand, who will be aiming for a three-peat. Tip & Shaft was assisted in its assessment by Franck Cammas, performance director of Orient Express Racing Team, Nicolas Charbonnier, helmsman/trimmer of Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Dimitri Despierres, head of American Magic’s mechatronics department, and Philippe Presti, coach with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

From 5th to 13th October in Barcelona, using the same format as for the Youth, six crews from the challenges competing in the 37th America’s Cup as well as six invited crews will compete in the AC40 on the Puig Women’s America’s Cup. Tip & Shaft takes a look at this first for women.

The Louis Vuitton Cup came to an end on Monday for Orient Express Racing Team with a final defeat by Ineos Britannia, which denied them a place in the semi-finals. It was a disappointment for the French challenge, but a logical one given its late start to this America’s Cup campaign. Tip & Shaft takes a first look at the situation, with the challenger’s executives and a few outside experts.  

At 58, Thierry Fouchier is one of the most experienced French sailors when it comes to the America’s Cup, with six participations to his name, including victory in 2010 with the Americans on BMW Oracle. Now back as a consultant for the Canal + group, which is broadcasting the 37th edition, the sailor from Marseilles talks to Tip & Shaft about the forces at play as the Louis Vuitton Cup, the elimination round between the five challengers.

The sixth and final AC75 built for the 37th America’s Cup, that of the Orient Express Racing Team, was christened on Wednesday in Barcelona. In anticipation of the first official confrontation during the preliminary regatta in Barcelona (22-25 August), Tip & Shaft sought to find out more about the design of this third generation, with four French architects and engineers involved in the teams.

Lorient Agglomération and K-Challenge formalized a partnership on Tuesday that includes support for the French Orient Express Racing Team challenge in the 37th America’s Cup, as well as the hosting, from early 2025, of both K-Challenge entities (Racing and Lab) in the Péristyle district. Tip & Shaft spoke to Stephan Kandler, co-founder of K-Challenge, to find out more. 

OnThursday December 14, the Orient Express Racing Team unveiled the composition of its youth and women’s crews who, in October 2024, will defend the French colors in the Youth and Puig Women’s America’s Cup. Tip & Shaft took the opportunity to take a look at this dual project, supported by Orient Express and L’Oréal.

Recently crowned male World Sailor of the Year, Tom Slingsby and the US challenger American Magic, winners in September of the first preliminary regatta of the 37th Americas’ Cup in Vilanova, finished fourth of the second regatta last weekend in Jeddah. Meantime Slingsby is the winning, driving force of the SailGP Australia team which is on target to win Season 4 – even if he is missing the Dubai GP looking forward to the birth of he and his wife Helen’s first baby. Time to catch up with Tom before practice sailing this week in Barcelona.