DS Automobiles SailGP Team France arrives in Bermuda this weekend with one clear aim: rediscover the pace that marked it as a genuine championship contender and push back toward the front of the fleet. The Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix runs across the Great Sound on 9–10 May, the latest instalment in what has become one of the closest title battles in SailGP history.
Sitting sixth in the overall standings, the French team is far from out of contention. Only a handful of points separates second place from sixth, so a strong result in Bermuda could shift the leaderboard considerably. After the turbulent, unpredictable conditions that defined Rio, the team welcomes the prospect of the faster, more settled racing the Great Sound is known for delivering.
Back on the SailGP calendar after a one-season absence, Bermuda is widely regarded as one of the circuit's premier venues. Clear water and a dependable breeze create a high-speed foiling environment where precision is non-negotiable and mistakes are punished almost instantly. Twelve teams will line up for the event, though the New Zealand SailGP Team remains on the sidelines while repairs following the Auckland incident continue.
The French squad is still working through a period of crew transition. Glenn Ashby continues in the wing trimmer role, standing in for Leigh McMillan as McMillan recovers from shoulder surgery. Ashby brings considerable local knowledge, having won the America's Cup on these same waters in 2017 aboard foiling catamarans. Liv McKay also stays in the line-up as substitute for Manon Audinet, who continues her rehabilitation after the Auckland crash.
Rio marked the team's first competitive outing after nearly two months away from the water. The weeks since have been devoted to rebuilding cohesion within the revised crew configuration, refining technical processes, and reinforcing the communication habits that close racing demands. That preparation work now meets its real test on the Great Sound.
Driver Quentin Delapierre outlined the team's approach heading into the event. "At Bermuda, the objective is really to get back to our fundamentals. We're expecting more stable conditions than in Rio, with what should be a demanding and windy training day on Friday. The key will be to be solid off the starts, well synchronized as a crew in the straight-line phases, and able to apply all the technical work we've done over the past few weeks. We're really happy to keep sailing with Glenn and Liv, who bring a huge amount to the team. Now it's about executing well, putting together a strong weekend in Bermuda and fighting for a top result."
The wider championship picture sharpens the stakes further. Australia arrives carrying the momentum of a Rio victory, while several teams remain tightly grouped in the points. For DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, converting recent preparation into a clean, consistent performance on the Great Sound is the overriding priority.
The provisional Rolex SailGP Championship standings for Season 2026 place Tom Slingsby's Bonds Flying Roos at the top on 35 points, followed by Dylan Fletcher's Emirates GBR on 28, Taylor Canfield's US SailGP Team on 27, Diego Botin's Los Gallos on 25, Nathan Outteridge's Artemis on 23, and Quentin Delapierre's DS Team France level on 23 points in sixth. Nicolai Sehested's Rockwool Racing is seventh on 17, Erik Heil's Germany by Deutsche Bank eighth on 15, Phil Robertson's Red Bull Italy ninth on 15, Martine Grael's Mubadala Brazil tenth on 7, Giles Scott's Northstar eleventh on 7, Peter Burling's Black Foils twelfth on 2, and Sébastien Schneiter's Switzerland thirteenth on 1 point.
The DS Team France roster for Season 2026 is: Quentin Delapierre as pilot, Manon Audinet as strategist (with Liv McKay covering Rio and Bermuda), Leigh McMillan as wing trimmer (with Glenn Ashby covering Rio and Bermuda), Jason Saunders as flight controller, Olivier Herlédant as grinder, Bruno Mourniac as grinder, Timothé Lapauw as grinder, Enzo Balanger as spare sailor, Amélie Riou as spare strategist, Philippe Presti as team manager, Philippe Mourniac as head of coach, and Lucas Delcourt as data analyst.
