The first pre-regatta for the 37th America's Cup was won last weekend by the US team American Magic ahead of the New Zealand defenders, who also performed strongly. But the winners of many hearts were the French off Vilanova i la Geltrú last weekend. After just 15 days of training on the new AC40 Foilers, the underdogs in this edition of the Cup got down to work in spirited fashion. Les Bleus impressed with a quick grasp of the situation and good results in the impressive prelude.
Fighting for the America's Cup with passion and determination
The first of three pre-regattas has no impact on the battle for the Cup summit next year. Nevertheless, the preliminaries showed who has already done their sporting homework well and which teams quickly got up to speed in the power play in the one-size-fits-all Miniature Cupper class. The French had by far the shortest preparation time, but shone with a victory in the first race and third place in the final standings.
YACHT online was out on the water with Orient Express team boss Stéphan Kandler on day one of the pre-regatta, which was held around 45 kilometres from Barcelona on the Balearic Sea in front of an enthusiastic audience. In an interview on board - and again after the pre-regatta - the Franco-German son of Ortwin Kandler, who once co-founded the ambitious sailing promotion project AeroSail in this country and was a German Airbus manager, spoke about his passion for the America's Cup, the French mission and the chances that the Orient Express Racing Team will have as David in the battle with the five Cup Goliaths.
Stéphan, you opened the first pre-regatta for the America's Cup strongly with a win in the first race and third place overall. How important was the regatta for you, which has no influence on next year's challenger round?
Although the regatta doesn't count here, it's important for us to take part in races like this. It's important for us to see what the other teams are doing. What they have done in training. We can learn from that. We started later than the others and have a lot of catching up to do.
When did you start?
After the America's Cup, I said to myself: When I see the existing projects - and how they are managed - then we should be able to do the same in France. I spoke to Bruno Dubois about this. He said straight away that I also wanted to do the America's Cup. If you want to manage an America's Cup team today, it's good to have two people. So we said: he'll do the sport and the technology, I'll take care of the sponsors and other things.
The America's Cup is my childhood dream" (Stéphan Kandler)
In addition to courage and passion, what does it take to lead such a large project as a challenge for the America's Cup, in which large teams operate with budgets in excess of 100 million euros?
It may not be courage, but you certainly need a lot of determination in the America's Cup. I've experienced it all my life: if you want something, you have to take paths that don't always lead straight ahead. You have to be prepared for it to be difficult. Then there is the passion that drives you every day.
You grew up in a very sailing-orientated family. Your father was the former Aero-Sail co-founder and German Airbus manager Ortwin Kandler ...
Yes, I developed this passion as a child. The America's Cup is my childhood dream. That's why I wanted to fulfil this dream. I thought for a long time that I would never succeed. Then I did it for the first time in 2007 with the K-Challenge. That went wrong afterwards because the Americans and Swiss had their war (Red: After the 32nd America's Cup, there was a duel between Team Alinghi and Oracle BMW Racing, which kept other teams, including the Germans, out of the Cup for years). We tried to survive, but we couldn't. Then I said to myself: the chance will come again. But at first I thought again that a comeback wouldn't work.
What brought you back?
The passion is always there. But that wasn't the main reason. What I saw from the other teams told me that it wasn't impossible. I thought we could do even better. The ships (Red: refers to the AC75 monohull spoilers in the second heat after the premiere in the 36th America's Cup) are fantastic! And the fact that we were able to get a deal with Team New Zealand for our new ship is really great.
With the design package from the New Zealanders, we have bought ourselves security" (Stéphan Kandler)
The deal is unusual: your team received all the design data for the new AC75 yacht from the Kiwis. The data flow lasted until the start of construction of your boats. Now you are on your own for further development and optimisation ...
The boat has been under construction at Multiplast since May. We hope that it will be in good shape next year. The agreement on the design package from the New Zealanders was and is very good for us, because it has bought us security. We didn't just want to be there. That is very important to us. If you don't have a good boat, you don't have to take part at all. That's no fun. Especially if you're doing it on a tight budget like we are. We sometimes have to make difficult decisions. Which you might make differently if you had the budget ...
These are certainly also radical decisions. Could they also have a positive effect?
That's right. Let's see how we manage it.
Is it conceivable to even get past the Kiwis next year, even though you operate with their basic concept?
Absolutely. We have very good people in the team who are ready for it. There are a lot of people in France with a lot of experience. We are convinced that we will have a chance. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but that is part of the challenge.
Does your sailing team operate on a par with the Cup establishment?
We had just 15 training days on the AC40 yachts for the pre-regatta in Vilanova. That's not a lot, especially as others have sailed so much. That's why it's very important for us to have these pre-regattas. They are opportunities for us. Our team did very well after very little training.
As you can see: The New Zealanders are right there. And we still have a lot to learn" (Stéphan Kandler)
Is the SailGP experience of your crew around helmsmen Quentin Delapierre and Kevin Peponnet also important for success in the America's Cup?
Yes, that is also very valuable. As training for competitive situations, for example. But these are different ships. The crew has to work differently on the AC40 yachts, have different reflexes. So we are starting something new. But the crew has enough talent. They are young and very motivated.
How strong are you in the design sector?
Very good, I would say. Benjamin Muyl, our CTO and Head of Development, has done the America's Cup five times. Twice with England, twice with Oracle and once with us, with the K-Challenge. In addition, we have Franck Cammas as head of the performance department, a technically very experienced man who brings experience from many innovative projects, from the Ultim class and others.
Your team has now also moved to Barcelona ...
Yes, everyone has been here since mid-August: the sailors, the technicians. The next stage will follow in the autumn when we complete the AC75.
Do you already see the first trends with regard to the quality of the teams?
In the AC40 regattas, it is difficult to draw any conclusions about the strength of the team for the America's Cup itself. But you can see that: The New Zealanders are right there. And we still have to learn.
Together we will write one of the most beautiful chapters in French sport" (Stéphan Kandler)
Will your budget be sufficient so that there are not too many restrictions?
Since Orient Express joined us as a partner, we are no longer afraid. Now L'Óreal is also on board. Like Orient Express, L'Oréal is an iconic French brand that embodies the expertise and excellence of our country around the world. Our three teams - Challenger, Youth and Women - share this ambition. We are very proud to have the L'Oréal Group as an official partner of the Orient Express Racing Team. Together we will write one of the most beautiful chapters in French sport. Together we can do many things that will make us better and faster! We have great ambitions for the coming years.
So you are thinking and planning beyond this 37th America's Cup?
Definitely. We want to build a strong team for the future.
Are you a big topic in the public eye in France?
The America's Cup was not so popular in France recently. Now we're back and we're rebuilding it. We have to organise a good campaign. We have to prove that we can compete with the best teams, even with a low budget. We certainly won't win all the races, but we want to create a new atmosphere.
How does your budget compare to the Cup giants?
We have maybe half of what they have. And we're starting from scratch. We have to rebuild the base camp, reassemble the equipment. Others no longer need to buy so many tools ...
There's not so much secrecy here" (Stéphan Kandler)
Does the Orient Express Racing Team have a team philosophy?
We want to work hard and sensibly. We want to build a new French Cup generation. The Women's and Youth America's Cup will also be very important for us. We will enter these two competitions with two six-man teams and want to bring a lot of innovation into them. Our sponsors are already very enthusiastic.
Is it possible to visit your headquarters in Barcelona?
Of course! There's not so much secrecy with us ...
How big is your Cup team in total?
We are about 40 people.
Even that is less than half the number of teams like Ineos Britannia or Alinghi Red Bull Racing ... Have the Kiwis chosen a good Cup stage in Barcelona?
Definitely! It's not just for Europeans, it's a great venue for the whole world. People want to go to Barcelona. The city and its harbour are very attractive for hospitality. I believe that more than 200 superyachts have already booked their places for next year. The J-Class is coming, the twelve. It's going to be huge! I am convinced that we will experience the biggest sailing and lifestyle show.
Where is home for you at the moment?
I don't know that (laughs). Between Barcelona, Paris, my family's vineyards near Narbonne, Avignon and Toulouse.
How do you feel as Dvid against five Goliaths?
We can only improve. We can only win. To do this, we need patience.
Is that a strength of yours?
No, none at all (laughs). I can be patient, but something always has to happen. Just one situation is not enough for me.
Then the America's Cup is the right place for you ...
That's why I like it so much.
First start, first win: how the French outsiders surprised everyone in the first pre-regatta for the 37th America's Cup off Vilanova i la Geltrú:
