LORIENT, France - Olympic sailing champions Diego Botin and Florian Trittel, gold medalists in the 49er class at the 2024 Paris Games, have joined the French team for the 38th America's Cup in 2027.
The squad, formerly K-Challenge Team, is now rebranded as La Roche-Posay Racing Team, backed by the L’Oréal Groupe skincare brand.
"America's Cup is mythic, iconic," said Alexandra Reni-Catherine, La Roche-Posay’s global brand general manager. "It mixes two extremes: the oldest trophy in sport's history and a step forward in tech, innovation."
The team unveiled its nine-member crew for the Naples-hosted event, including returning sailors Quentin Delapierre, Jason Saunders, and Timothe Lapauw. They’re joined by Botin, Trittel, Amelie Grassi, Enzo Balanger, Leigh McMillan, and Bruno Mourniac.
New sports director Philippe Presti, a two-time America’s Cup-winning coach with Oracle Team USA, called the lineup "just amazing."
Skipper Delapierre echoed the confidence: "It’s an amazing lineup, with a lot of talent and experience. I believe this team will go very far."
For Botin and Trittel-recent SailGP champions with Spain-the America’s Cup marks their debut in the historic regatta. Botin, who has a French mother, said competing with this team fulfills a childhood dream.