French Little America's Cup campaign

Antoine Koch and Jeremie Pagarrigue to race Patient Lady VI

One of the surprise entries at this year's Little America's Cup is the French team comprising Benjamin Muyl, Antoine Koch and Jeremie Lagarrigue, trained and advised by Vianney Ancellin. They will sail Patient Lady VI.

Benjamin Muyl was part of the design team of BMW Oracle Racing, winner of the 33rd America’s cup. He then met the Canadian LAC defenders Magnus Clarke and Fred Eaton, when Fred lent his boats to BMW Oracle Racing so that the American team could get used to sailing with the wing. Eaton offered Muyl the chance to sail Patient Lady VI in the forthcoming Little America’s Cup -
a long term ambition of Muyl's.

“Patient Lady VI is a boat of legend," says Muyl. "She is 25 years old! Obviously, she won’t take us to the victory this time, but we mainly aim at observing and learning more about the wings.

“We believe this can be the starting point of our project to design and build a new French C Class, the first since 1991, that would lead us to win the Little AC in 2012, in the UK. We believe that multihulls and wings will be seen more in coming years….The experience we will get there should be usable in some forthcoming projects….”

The team

Benjamin Muyl, Arts et Métiers engineer and yacht designer (www.bmuyl.com), two America’s cup (Areva Challenge 2007 and BMW Oracle Racing 2010, winner of the 33rd America’s Cup), is the project manager.

Antoine Koch, engineer and yacht designer, two Routes du Rhum, seven Solitaires du Figaro, and a big passion for the multihulls and technical development, will be the helmsman.

Jérémie Lagarrigue, engineer at PSA, much in demand Formula 18 crew (vice world champion in 2008, 10th in 2010), and holder of the speed world record on L'Hydroptère with 51,36 nds on 500 meters, will be the wing trimmer, surely the hardest part !

Vianney Ancellin, founder and developer of the Diam Formula 18, and pioneer of the multihull in France, will be the coach and advisor.