The French Challenger ENERGY TEAM led by Loïck as well as Bruno Peyron, has just concluded a major agreement with the American Defender ORACLE Racing led by Russell Coutts. Technology transfer is a major cost-containment feature of 2013 America’s Cup, held in San Francisco. The French team is licensing a base-line design package for an AC72 class race yacht from the America’s Cup champion.
This historic agreement enables ENERGY TEAM to achieve significant time and budget savings whilst maximizing its highest performance potential with its AC72 wingsailed catamaran in the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series in July and August 2013. The winner faces ORACLE Racing in the America’s Cup finals, starting 7 September 2013.
ENERGY TEAM has built a solid and successful team which has contested the America’s Cup World Series in the smaller AC45 class. This deal kick-starts its AC72 involvement.
The French team is the fifth team intending to build an AC72, a next-generation boat capable of speeds over 75kph, which will race off the iconic San Francisco city front.
Rules for the 2013 America’s Cup allow the sale and purchase of designs between teams or from the event organizers’ own Shared Design Program prior to 1 January 2013.
“This agreement will change a lot of things and there are three immediate consequences for us,” said Bruno Peyron. “Firstly, it will allow us to make up for lost time in terms of technological developments in comparison to the top teams, some of which have been working on their projects for more than two years. If we manage to do that, it will allow us to reach the final phase with a boat that can perform extremely well. To finish, the savings in time and money we would have spent on research and development, mean that we can offer the partners we are currently in talks with, an extremely competitive project in terms of communication and return on investment.”
Key Features:
A COMMANDO OPERATION
ENERGY TEAM building a single AC72 using the best design package and launch it as late as possible. Construction will be at the famous Multiplast yard, with completion scheduled for March 2013. Three months intensive training in San Francisco precedes the Louis Vuitton Cup.
COST EFFECTIVE ARRANGEMENT
ENERGY TEAM can offer partners an unbeatable commercial package in one of the world’s most iconic sporting events. Bruno Peyron: “Our strategy is realistic. With the best design at our disposal, we really think we can surprise everyone in the finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup with a budget of around 15-16 million Euros for the 2012-2013.”
REACTIONS
Russell Coutts, CEO ORACLE Racing: “The next America’s Cup is all about the best sailors, the fastest boats and an achievable business model. This agreement hits all three targets. Loick and Bruno have achieved fantastic exploits sailing multihulls. With the right technology at their disposal, they have the potential to reach the highest level in the America’s Cup.”
Bruno Peyron, CEO ENERGY TEAM: “This agreement between ORACLE Racing and ENERGY TEAM reminds us that times and mentalities have changed, as far as today’s America’s Cup is concerned. I would like to thank Russell Coutts for the trust he has shown in us. We now have everything we need to enable us to succeed, and maybe even pull off a major surprise.”
Loïck Peyron, Skipper ENERGY TEAM: “This historic agreement expresses symbolically and in the clearest fashion the cultural revolution that is underway in the America’s Cup. This is another step forward and a new way of doing things, which illustrates perfectly the frame of mind that is shared by all of those involved in this exceptional event.” –
Yann Penfornis, Managing Director of the Multiplast yard: “We are of course ready to be home for the construction of this first French AC72. A big shed is ready and waiting at Multiplast and I hope that the construction can get underway before the end of June.”
