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French Spirit One: A Super
Maxi for Team French Spirit
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Please Note: The original press release was only been available in French at the time the translation was published. Read the original here (in French) Updated 9/25: Team French Spirit has now provided their own translation: Read the Team's own English-language Press Release Below is a loose English-language translation we hope will convey the "spirit" of the original, though it is not exact, and we ask that any errors or discrepancies be accepted with that understanding. Now that there is new talk about multiple challengers for the 33rd America’s Cup (the match between Oracle and Alinghi is suspended pending ultimate decision of the Supreme Court of New York), and of racing next February in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland, Team French Spirit pursues its preparation. French Spirit One Built of carbon-fiber in 2003 at the Boat Speed yard in Australia, from the pencil of designer Hugh Welborn, French Spirit One has some resemblances to the future 90-foot America’s Cup class:
This is the boat chosen by Team French Spirit for training and team building. Under the direction of Philippe Presti, Bertrand Pacé and Mathieu Richard – currently number 1 in ISAF Match Race ranking – the team will spend the coming winter of 2008-2009 in multiple training sessions at St.-Tropez in order to recruit new talent, select grinders, and familiarize themselves with a mono-hull of nearly 30 meters.
It is felt that this is an important step in the preparation of Team French Spirit. With this Super Maxi, things become concrete, for the crew and our future partners and I am delighted to see this superb machine under sail, says Marc Pajot. Present at the Juris Cup in Marseille this coming week and through the weekend, the boat is then expected to premiere at the regatta in St. Tropez September 29-October 4. Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Team French Spirit welcomes the initiative of Bruno Trouble, of Louis Vuitton, and of Team New Zealand for this new test of match racing (1st-15th of February 2009 in Auckland). This is an opportunity for our new team to sail together and get back on the water against formidable opponents, says Philippe Presti, skipper of Team French Spirit. Design Competition After a fast six months, six firms have submitted extensive studies today in Marseilles to Master Gildas Andres (in order to maintain anonymity at this stage), creating hard work for President Philippe Gouard and the team to judge the design competition. The verdict on the top 4 submissions will be delivered in a month. Translation: CupInfo Links of Interest: Team French Spirit Press Release
Team website:
www.teamfrenchspirit.com |
