On October 12, 2024, the 37th edition of the America’s Cup will begin in Barcelona. This legendary final match will pit the defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand against the best of five challengers selected during the Louis Vuitton Series which will begin on August 22. Until then, the six teams entered in the legendary event dating back to 1851 will compete (in fleet) from Thursday to Sunday in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) during a second preliminary event on smaller monohulls (40 feet) than those of the Cup (75 feet). These innovative boats, free of their lead keel, are capable of traveling at impressive speeds on their stabilizing foils. On the third step of the podium during the first event contested at the end of September in Vilanova (Spain), the French challenge entitled Orient Express Team Racing intends to continue fighting with the New Zealanders, Americans, Swiss, English and Italians, to score minds on the road to the Cup. Quentin Delapierre, pilot of the AC450 then the AC75 (currently under construction and launched next May), speaks to Le Figaro.

LE FIGARO. – What is the importance for you of this second regatta on the road to the America’s Cup?

Quentin DELAPIERRE. – This is the last time that we will face our five opponents in AC40 before the real Cup. So we don’t want to miss out and we want to prove again, after our podium in the Vilanova event, that we are in the game. We arrived for this first with only nine days of sailing aboard our AC40 and it was very positive to be up to speed and maneuvering. Our strategy of developing a simulator paid off and finishing on the podium was a great start that spread positive energy throughout the team.

What has changed since that Vilanova ordeal?

We have sailed a lot more, we must be thirty days away now. We feel even more technically advanced, we have made good progress in looking into the details. It’s up to us to be focused on the essentials in Jeddah.

What’s the main thing?

It’s the ability to race, to learn to sail on these boats, to master them as best as possible to be able to play with the wind and let our sailor’s instincts speak.

Why are these complicated boats?

These are incredible and very complex boats, with lots of onboard systems. You have to understand how things work. And in particular the automatic flight pilot which works incredibly well but requires choosing “limits”.

As someone who also sails on the Sail GP circuit (50-foot catamarans used during the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda), what differences do you see with the America’s Cup?

The Cup is a heritage, we feel the weight of its more than a century-old history. In Vilanova, the silver ewer was on a boat and it meant something for the teams, the sailors, the fans, to see it. It’s an attraction in itself. I am very proud to participate and I am sure that we have a great chance of performing well.

Do you think any of your five opponents are already clearly ahead of you?

Emirates Team New Zealand, which is the defender, who made the rules and designed the AC 40, is obviously ahead and is very good, since it has sailed more than the others. America Magic, by winning in Vilanova, showed that it is in the game. Behind it, it’s tight and we’re all in a tight spot.

So what is your sporting objective for this second preliminary regatta in Jeddah?

We clearly come to win, we are here to show that we are in the game. This is our ambition and we will have to be opportunistic in the little thermal breeze that is blowing here. In any case, it’s going to be a great show…