French Spirit acquire maxi

Former Bols super-maxi to become training vessel for Marc Pajot's America's Cup team

With the possibility of seeing the 33rd America’s Cup back to being a multi-challenger event and the newly announced Louis Vuitton Pacific Series taking place next February in Auckland, meanwhile Marc Pajot's Team French Spirit is making steady progress with its preparation for the next America's Cup.

The team have acquired the Hugh Welbourn-designed maxi, formerly known as Bols. This all carbon-fibre yacht was built in 2003 by Boat Speed in Australia and is relatively close to what a next generation America's Cup monohull may be like:

LOA: 29m
Mast: 35m
Sail area : main 300sqm, spinnaker 600sqm
20 crew members

The boat was selected by Team French Spirit to carry on its training programme. Philippe Presti, Bertrand Pacé and Mathieu Richard are going to set up various training sessions in Saint-Tropez with their new boat this winter to recruit new sailors, select grinders and allow their team to get more acquainted with what a 30m monohull is like to race.

“It’s a major step for our team’s preparation," said Pajot. "With this super-maxi, things are becoming more concrete, of course for the crew, but also for our future partners. This weekend we went to Marseille to participate in the Juris’ Cup and then, from 29 September to 4 October, in the prestigious Voiles de Saint-Tropez”.

Team French Spirit intends also to compete in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series and congratulates Bruno Troublé, Louis Vuitton and Team New Zealand for setting up this new big boat Match Race event. Philippe Presti, skipper commented: “It will be an excellent opportunity for our new crew to get back on the water and test its skills against redoubtable opponents.”

Read all about the former Bols maxi (as it was) here