Pataugas by K-Challenge on the Start Line for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

by Stephanie Nadin

One day before the official competition starts, tension is rising within the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series' competitors.

Pataugas by K-Challenge´s team is ready to jump on the ring, and racing already looks very promising, given the first feedbacks we got from the teams' trainings on Auckland's race course these last days.

Stephane Kandler, Pataugas by K-Challenge´s CEO: "after a week of intensive training, mainly against the « big » teams, and getting up to speed with the boats, we're looking forward to racing. With the extra training in Valencia on FRA93, where Raphael Ibanez visited us, we managed to train a team which was 80% renewed compared to our last America's Cup campaign. We realized that we could race at the same level as the best teams, even if the "top" teams are still above the rest of the other competitors, thanks to the advantage they have with permanent teams who have a long story together.

"The atmosphere inside the team is really good and we still have a progression margin that will come along the regattas, so we could be one of the outsiders of the competition, provided that we start the competition with confidence and deep concentration, without over or under estimating our opponents."

These last days have also been a great opportunity to receive the support from lots of supporters, but also from the French institutions, and in particular from the French Sailing Federation.

Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the French Sailing Federation: "The French Sailing Federation has decided to give the "Equipe de France" official label to K-Challenge for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and for the RC44 circuit. We think that this team has put in place a sports and technical organisation which deserves to get this label. The French Sailing Federation follows these international circuits with a great attention. We estimate that it is important to be in touch with the best international teams, and that France can reach the first spots. We trust these young sailors, some of which coming from the French Match Racing Team, and they deserve to be supported."

K-Challenge