La Roche-Posay Racing Team has become the first challenger to launch and sail an AC75 on the Bay of Naples ahead of the 38th America's Cup in 2027
France's La Roche-Posay Racing Team has launched its AC75 in Naples, becoming the first team to sail one of the foiling yachts at the venue for next year's Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Representing the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the French challenger unveiled its yacht at Bagnoli on Monday (19 October), following a summer training programme in Lorient, north-west France.
The boat is a sister ship to Taihoro, the Emirates Team New Zealand yacht that won the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024. The defender recommissioned Taihoro in Auckland in March as preparations for the next Cup gathered pace.
French Challenger Gains Early Advantage
Foiling Forward – The French challenger begins its Naples campaign with an early opportunity to train on the 2027 America's Cup race waters. Photo: America's Cup
The launch represents a change in fortunes for the French campaign, which was the last team to launch an AC75 ahead of the previous America's Cup.
This time, La Roche-Posay Racing Team is first on the water at the host venue, giving its sailors an opportunity to develop their performance through the Mediterranean winter before the Louis Vuitton Cup begins on 22 May 2027.
The AC75 was transported from Lorient by road to the Mediterranean port of Sète before being shipped by barge to Naples. The team had considered several alternatives, including air transport and even a helicopter transfer, before settling on the road-and-sea route.
After arriving at Bagnoli, the yacht was craned into its new base and prepared for sailing.
Delapierre Leads French Sailing Team
Skipper Quentin Delapierre heads a sailing line-up that includes co-helm Diego Botín and trimmers Jason Saunders, Leigh McMillan, Florian Trittel and Maëlenn Lemaitre.
Coach Philippe Presti, addressing the launch ceremony, emphasised the work involved in preparing the yacht and the importance of making the most of the coming months.
“We were the last one coming to Barcelona. We're the first one to be here in Naples, and we want to use every hour to make a difference in the end,” he said.
Presti described the AC75 as the product of thousands of hours of work by the team's shore crew, sailmakers and technical specialists.
The French syndicate is aiming to bring the America's Cup to France for the first time in the competition's 175-year history.
Naples Prepares for 2027 America's Cup
The launch also marked an important milestone in the development of the America's Cup facilities at Bagnoli, where other competing teams are expected to establish their bases.
Naples has already staged the 2026 America's Cup Preliminary Regatta, in which the teams raced AC40s ahead of the transition to AC75 competition.
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi welcomed the arrival of the French challenger, describing it as an important step in preparations for the event and the regeneration of the waterfront district.
“Today, the first boat – the first AC75 – is being launched from Bagnoli. The French team is now fully operational,” he said.
The mayor added that other teams would continue setting up their bases over the coming days.
The redevelopment of Bagnoli forms part of a wider Italian government programme, with more than €1.2 billion allocated in July 2024 towards infrastructure and regeneration works in the area.
The French team's early arrival provides the first opportunity to see an AC75 operating on the waters that will host the next America's Cup. Further developments in the build-up to Naples 2027 are covered in Afloat's America's Cup news section.
