Presentation on May 24th, baptism on May 29th. The French team Orient Express Racing Team led by Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois also unveiled its AC75. This completes the field of starters for the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup.
The vessel, built at the Multiplast shipyard in 46,000 hours of work, is the sister ship of Taihoro, the latest development of the AC75 of Emirates Team New Zealand from which the Orient Express purchased the design package then developed by principal designer Benjamin Muyl’s team. (Here all our posts about America’s Cup).
America’s Cup: Solid color for the French AC75
Orient Express Racing Team has chosen a royal blue, marked by a gold stripe from bow to stern for the livery of its AC75. The color of the arms acts as a contrast, completely white while the foils are black. The deck is entirely white.
First sea trial on June 4th
This is the objective that Orient Express Racing Team set itself for the first sailing trip after the towing tests and the fine-tuning of the equipment. The unveiling of the sixth participant in the Louis Vuitton 37th Americas’ Cup was also an opportunity to confirm that the French team has set itself a program that goes beyond participation in the Barcelona regattas. Orient Express Racing Team has in fact signed the partnership with one of the most dynamic and technological sailing regions in France, that of Lorient Agglomération. The agreement provides that from 2025 Orient Express Racing Team will have its base in Lorient in the heart of the new Péristyle eco-district.
America’s Cup: Meanwhile the Kiwis sail towards Barcelona
On May 24, the presentation of the Orient Express Racing Team’s AC75 was preceded due to the time difference by another important event on the road to the 37th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup. The Baltic Spring cargo ship left the port of Tauranga with Taihoro on board, the AC75 of Emirates Team New Zealand and all the defender’s equipment.
Baltic Spring set its bow eastwards to cross the Pacific and present itself at the entrance to the Panama Canal to reach the Atlantic and head towards Gibraltar and then Barcelona. The timing of the defender is to be operational by the beginning of July.
Emilio Martinelli
