La Roche-Posay Racing Team finished third overall at the second America's Cup Preliminary Regatta in Naples, a result forged from two race wins and two capsizes over a turbulent weekend on the water.
Quentin Delapierre, Diego Botín, Jason Saunders and Florian Trittel sailed the French AC40 to 48 points across eight fleet races. Luna Rossa topped the standings on 71, with Emirates Team New Zealand second on 56. Luna Rossa went on to beat the Kiwi team in the regatta final.
The French crew's opening day brought a sixth place, then a retirement, after they capsized during the start sequence of the second race.
Saturday was a mix of highs and lows. They took their first win of the regatta, then capsized again, this time 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 just 15 minutes later. They won that one too, holding off Emirates Team New Zealand in the process.
"What's behind us is behind us. The only thing we need to concern ourselves with is what's ahead," team coach Philippe Mourniac said of the crew's response to the second capsize.
Third and second in Sunday's final two fleet races locked in the podium finish.
Delapierre called it the campaign's best result to date. "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."
He also credited the shore crew's efforts. "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 was similarly pleased. "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."
Away from the racing, France's ambassador to Italy, Anne-Marie Descôtes, visited the regatta. On Sunday morning she attended a breakfast in Naples hosted by K-Challenge, Leyton and the French Secretariat-General for the Sea, joined by the French consul general in Naples, Paul de Sinety, and a range of French business representatives. Around 20 business and institutional guests attended to discuss opportunities for French-Italian collaboration.
Attention now shifts to the AC75. The bigger boat arrived in Naples from Lorient on 24 September, with its first outing on the waters that will host the 38th America's Cup pencilled in 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, took a longer view of the result. "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."
Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta #2 Naples after 8 fleet races: 1 Luna Rossa, 71 points. 2 Emirates Team New Zealand, 56 points. 3 La Roche-Posay Racing Team, 48 points. 4 ARC Team USA, 44 points. 5 Emirates Team New Zealand – Women&Youth, 44 points. 6 Luna Rossa – Women&Youth, 44 points. 7 Tudor Team Alinghi, 44 points. 8 GB1, 42 points. 9 Cobham-Ultra GB2 – Women&Youth, 36 points.
Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta #2 Naples final: 1 Luna Rossa. 2 Emirates Team New Zealand.
