K-Challenge – the organisation behind France's 38th America's Cup team Orient Express Racing Team has issued a statement supporting the draft protocol put out two months ago by the America's Cup holders Emirates Team New Zealand.
In the statement, which was issued late afternoon in Europe, K-Challenge's joint CEOs Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois threw their weight behind the draft proposal, saying:
“The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America’s Cup, building on the successes of the last edition in Barcelona.
"K-Challenge, which represented France in the last edition of the America’s Cup in Barcelona, has been in many constructive discussions involving the Defender and the Challengers for over ten months.
"We support this new Protocol which is fully in line with the key principles of our team’s DNA: performance, innovation, diversity, international awareness, and the decarbonisation of the maritime industry."
The statement went on to highlight the key principles in the draft protocol that the pair support:
Women's participation at the highest levels of our sport is essential and we are pleased to see that the Emirates Team New Zealand management listened to our requests to have this embedded within the Protocol. This is a positive step forward from the first edition of the Women's America's Cup in 2024.
The integration of these two major events at the heart of the America's Cup, with the same resources, the same venue, and the same exposure, was a first in our sport. They improve access to sailing for a greater number of countries and create an essential pathway by bringing women and young people to compete at the highest levels in terms of sporting and technical performance. The launch of the K-Challenge Akademy a few months ago supports this vision.
It’s been sailing’s worst kept secret for the past several months, but it has now been formally confirmed that Australia is returning to the America’s Cup for the first time in 26 years.
An independent subscriber-supported website, newsletter, and podcast. Featuring exclusive stories and interviews about Grand Prix sailboat racing. Subscribe to receive our free email newsletter. Get full access with a paid subscription.
Subscribe for free to receive our email newsletter.
