Key appointments

K-Challenge, the French America's Cup campaign announces new figures

French America's Cup campaigners K-Challenge have announced John Cutler as their new Design Team Manager.

Cutler, from New Zealand, has taken part in four America’s Cup campaigns. He was with Louis Vuitton finallists Oracle BMW Racing in 2003 and is also a Finn Olympic Medallist (1988).

The K-Challenge Sailing Team has been strengthened with the following new members:

In the afterguard : Thierry Peponnet - two America’s Cups with one Louis Vuitton Cup semi-final in 2000, two time Olympic medallist, 470 gold medallist (1988 in Seoul) and Nicolas Charbonnier 21 years old, 5 Worlds and 2 Europeans titles in 420 and 470 dinghies).

The crew and key French sailors:
Yann Gouniot - four America’s Cups with French challenges
Fabrice Blondel - two America’s Cups 2000 and 2003 French challenges
Romain Trouble - two America’s Cups with 2000 and 2003 French challenges
Benoit Briand - three America’s Cups with French challenges
Thierry Fouchier - 2000 French America’s Cup challenge
Albert Jacobsoone - has taken part in every America’s Cup campaign since 1983 with French teams until Prada in 2003

The team also includes 40 talented sailors from six different countries who were tested during the 2002 season.

They join the team already formed of :
Design team: Phil Kaiko (USA, five America's Cups with one victory in 1992, AC 2003 with OneWorld team, semi-finallist in the Louis Vuitton Cup)
Management: Dawn Riley (USA, three America's Cups with one victory, two Whitbreads),
Ortwin Kandler (Germany, Airbus Industries’ former European sales director)
Stephane Kandler (France-Germany, K-Yachting director)
Francis Baronnet Fruges (France, Polytechnique, has been at the head of several public transport companies in the south of France).
Management of the future training base in Marseilles: Alain Fedensieu (winner of the 1994 Tour de France à la Voile, 1991 Admiral’s Cup and 2002 One Ton Cup).

K-Challenge has also introduced its official radio media partner : RADIO FRANCE (first French radio group).