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Club:
Union Nationale pour la Course au large, France
Skipper: Philippe Presti
Manager: Pascal Herold
Design: Philippe Pallu de la Barriere
Main Backer: Monster.com
Budget: $26 million |
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| www.ledefi.com |
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Another
team that have had their share of controversy are France’s Le
Défi Areva. In fact, France looked like sitting out this America’s
Cup until the tenacity of Pascal Herold identified Areva as a potential
syndicate sponsor. The sponsorship was controversial from the outset,
but threats from Greenpeace to protest about the French nuclear company’s
involvement were not taken seriously until the team’s new boat
was rammed and badly damaged at its launch.
But the syndicate garnered sufficient funds to build two new boats
drawn by a team assembled by Luc Gelluseau, France’s answer to
the legendary Tom Schnackenberg. Gelluseau is overseeing the work
of the Yaka Design Team, a group that have been together since the
beginning of the last challenge. This 14-strong team includes traditional
designers like Daniel Andrieu and Bernard Nivelt plus the legendary
Peter van Oossanen, the naval architect and tank-testing specialist
at the centre of a nationality protest when the world sussed Australia
II’s keel was rather special.
Following the departure of Bertrand Pace to Team New Zealand and Thierry
Peponnet to the K-Yote 2006 French challenge, Pierre Mas, the sailing
team manager, has yet to nail his colours to the mast of a nominated
skipper. Olympic sailors Luc Pillot and Phillipe Presti are in the
frame; Pillot won bronze in 1984 and gold in 1988 and in 2001 was
runner-up in the match racing world championship.
Although the French have built two boats, the lack of continuity from
previous efforts is likely to count against them and most experts
predict a relatively early exit. |
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