France returns to racing this weekend at SailGP's first-ever South American event, with the ENEL Rio Sail Grand Prix taking place on Guanabara Bay on 11 and 12 April. The famous silhouettes of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain frame waters that last hosted elite sailing during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. For DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, the occasion carries extra significance after an enforced absence from the Sydney event while their F50 underwent repairs.
That spell on the sidelines has done little to dent their championship position. The French team sits third equal in the 2026 standings, a result that reflects the consistency they showed earlier in the season. Their F50 required repair work following the Auckland incident, the same collision that left the New Zealand SailGP Team's F50 beyond repair and has ruled the Kiwi squad out of Rio entirely.
The fallout from Auckland has also reshaped France's crew for this event. New Zealander Liv McKay takes on the strategist role while Manon Audinet continues her recovery, and Glenn Ashby steps in as wing trimmer in place of Leigh McMillan, who remains sidelined after shoulder surgery. Driver Quentin Delapierre makes clear that his excitement about racing again sits alongside genuine concern for his injured teammates.
"I'm very happy to be back racing here in Rio. Missing the Sydney Sail Grand Prix was a real challenge for us. Unfortunately, we're coming into this event without Leigh and Manon, and our thoughts are very much with them. At the same time, we're lucky to have two world-class replacements in Glenn Ashby and Liv McKay. It's a great opportunity to maintain our level of ambition and keep moving forward. It's my first time racing in Rio, so we'll try to make the most of this incredible racecourse. The conditions look very technical, with a lot of tactical risk-taking."
Racing on Guanabara Bay is far from straightforward. The high terrain ringing the bay, including Sugarloaf Mountain and Corcovado, disrupts airflow significantly, producing pressure lanes that shift constantly and demanding sharp, rapid decision-making from every crew on the water. That kind of unpredictable environment can scramble the competitive order quickly, something that may well suit a team carrying fresh motivation on their return to competition.
Head Coach Philippe Mourniac brings a personal connection to this venue, having competed here during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. His first-hand familiarity with the bay's particular challenges could offer the team a meaningful edge as they work through its complex conditions.
"Rio is characterised by its high surrounding terrain, Sugarloaf, Corcovado and more. The race area sits inside the bay, right at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. The wind is therefore heavily disrupted by the surrounding relief, which means you really have to observe carefully to find the pressure lanes and stay in phase with constant wind shifts."
Across two days of racing with championship points very much at stake, the squad assembled for Rio reflects a team intent on making their return count.
SAILING & PERFORMANCE DS TEAM FRANCE Quentin Delapierre / driver Liv McKay / strategist Glenn Ashby / wing trimmer Jason Saunders / flight controller Olivier Herlédant / grinder Bruno Mourniac / grinder Timothé Lapauw / grinder Amélie Riou / reserve athlete Philippe Presti / Team Manager Philippe Mourniac / Head of Coach Lucas Delcourt / Data Analyst
{{TABLE_1}}
