JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #93 - December 2014 - 41

testimony

and if we focus uniquely on the America's
Cup and do win it, it would be hard for us
to hold on to it. A specific feature of the
America's Cup is that the winner becomes
the defender, and so also becomes the
organizer. And if we go, it isn't just to participate, no offense to Pierre de Coubertin,
it is to try to win. I say "try", because it's
not in the bag yet. And if we are capable
of winning it, which would make me very
happy, we would need to be capable of
holding on to it.
JCM: So it is a huge technological challenge,
but not only a technological one?

M.D.: We are convinced that in France

there is everything needed to perform well
at all levels of the game. We are talking with
some of the highest authorities in technological intelligence and the associated issues.
Of course, these are all issues that we're
interested in, and in France, we can be
proud of our expertise. And we'd like this
project to serve as a spearhead for all of this
know-how.

JCM: What is the countdown for launching
this French challenge?

M.D.: The countdown involves the best of

the best joining us with their production
capabilities - and financing, too, because of
course it takes some money. A project like
this gives work to a lot of people, and they
can be both very good and very motivated,
but to keep them, you need money. We
don't want a new brain drain out of the
country. There are already some in teams
abroad, but we'll get others, there is a big
enough pool in France. The sooner we
start with as many resources as possible,
the more efficient we'll be. A lot of people
think that the America's Cup is elitist, and
so very expensive. Elitist, yes, because we
need the best and because it is a challenge
at the level of a World Cup in soccer, for
example. We need the best of the best. But
it isn't that expensive; it represents onetwentieth of the budget of France's richest
Premier League football team. Per year,
that is no more than the salary of our best
player. n
More information:

No93 December 2014 /

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Feature Marine

son, but Franck Cammas
got close when he worked
with the Americans on
Team Oracle during the
33rd Cup. And then he
won the Little America's
Cup which, since about
the 1980s, has been for
small catamarans with
wing sails. During the
1990s, there were some
large wing-sailed catamarans in the big America's
The three sailors who launched the Team France project. From left to
Cup. Thanks to Oracle
right: Michel Desjoyeaux, Olivier De Kersauson, Franck Camas
in particular, multihulls
JCM: Are other people working along those
and wing sails were re-introduced into that
lines?
race in 2010 and 2013. And of course, the
M.D.: There is research on the use of
results of all the composite/sailing technonanoparticles in particular. And one fibre
logies and issues converge on those boats.
that I've been thinking about for a long
And since multihulls are somewhat rooted
time is spider web fibre. My impression
in French sailing culture, that obviously
from the research is that those who have
gives you ideas.
tried to synthesize spider silk created a filament with the same mechanical properties,
JCM: But that is one of the rare trophies that
have eluded French sailors?
but which is water repellent, or maybe it's
the opposite... at any rate, very similar but
M.D.: Yes, it eludes us because, in my
not the same. So there's a lot of work to be
opinion, we've never had the time, the
done, but still, it is another fibre.
money, and the unity, all at the same
To paraphrase a sensible person I know, it
time. But we've had engineers, sailors and
wasn't by trying to optimize the candle that technicians in nearly all the current and
electricity was discovered, and the Stone
former Cup teams. We have the know-how,
Age didn't end due to a lack of stones on
the materials, the engineers, the sailors and
the planet! So I think that it isn't by trying
the shipyards, and we're working on unity.
to improve on carbon fibre that we will suc- That's why, even if just getting three egos
ceed in reproducing spider web fibre. We
like Franck Cammas, Olivier de Kersauson
need to explore other avenues, in particular
and myself together is a challenge in itself,
by moving towards breakthrough technothe objective is to put aside our egos and
logies. There certainly must be people who
all work together to meet this challenge.
are asking themselves the same questions.
This big French challenge makes perfect
We are currently working within TEAM
sense. And it doesn't stop with us. We may
France with the CEA on similar issues. We
be conducting the project, but it is not our
need people who are searching and who so- intent to outstay our welcome. What we
metimes find. We know that we won't find
want, is for it to work efficiently. We need
everything, but we can find something.
the best, and if we aren't the best, or if we
aren't any more, someone has to say so,
JCM: And what about you, who have already
and we will step aside. But there have to be
explored so many avenues - what new
initiators, and that's what we are today.
ones are in store?
The next America's Cup will take place in
M.D.: There are a lot of things that I
August 2017. We think we are still capable
haven't done yet. Our next "French-scale"
of being ready for that race. But along with
challenge is to get involved in the America's TEAM France, we are convinced that if
Cup with TEAM France. I've never been
we focus uniquely on the America's Cup,
there, and neither has Olivier de Kersauwe will have little chance of winning it,

jec composites magazine 41
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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #93 - December 2014

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