French Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team set for inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup
by Orient Express Racing Team 2 Oct 13:40 PDT
The Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team features Pauline Courtois, Amélie Riou, Manon Audinet, Aloïse Retornaz, and Audrey Ogereau © Orient Express Racing Team
The America’s Cup is the first global sporting event to host the three major titles – the America’s Cup, the Youth America’s Cup, and the Women’s America’s Cup – at one venue, Barcelona, over the same period, with a shared worldwide broadcast.
To catch all the excitement, visit youtube.com/@americascup
This Saturday, October 5, some of France’s finest women racing sailors will compete in the historic first edition of the Puig Women’s America’s Cup.
The event is being viewed as a pivotal moment for women looking to excel at the highest level of world yacht racing.
The French women’s team has been a central part of the Orient Express Racing Team’s journey to the upcoming 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, with the all-female Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team fully incorporated since its inception.
The team comprises World, European, and French sailing champions, alongside Olympic medalists. It is led by skipper and trimmer Manon Audinet, joined by pilots Pauline Courtois and Audrey Ogereau, and trimmers Aloïse Retornaz and Amélie Riou.
An acclaimed multihull expert, Manon Audinet became a mother during the selection phase before being appointed captain of the French AC40. “I never imagined the competition would eventually allow women,” she stated. “I dreamed of it, but never thought I could be part of it.”
“It’s the pinnacle of competition that every female sailor aspires to. My goal is to guide the girls to triumph in this inaugural event. That would be incredible!”
Pilot Pauline Courtois is a renowned match-racing expert, having clinched triple World and European titles in her field, along with being a five-time Women’s World Match Racing Tour Champion.
Audrey Ogereau has been racing catamarans for years, previously racing alongside Audinet on a Hobie 16 while helming in the other hull of the foiling AC40.
Aloïse Retornaz, in the critical role of trimmer, boasts a stellar Olympic career, highlighted by a 470 Bronze Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, succeeded by another Bronze at last year’s 470 European Championships.
Also from the Olympic circuit, talented Amélie Riou has served as tactician on the France SailGP Team’s F50 since 2022 and is expected to play an influential role as a substitute for the crew.
For Orient Express Racing Team and K-Challenge, the new Puig Women’s America’s Cup, much like the recent UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, marks a natural continuation of their ongoing journey.
“We embrace this initiative, which aligns perfectly with K-Challenge’s DNA and history,” said CEO Stephan Kandler. “In 2007, during our previous campaign in Valencia, we appointed a woman, Dawn Riley, as Team Principal.”
“For our partners, these two events — the Youth America’s Cup and the Women’s America’s Cup — are significant reasons for their support of the French Orient Express Racing Team,” he remarked, emphasizing key future plans: “Together with Nextworld, a partner since our youth and women’s squad selection process began, we are eager to establish a genuine training program that covers not only sailing but also sports project management, technical training, and more.”
When racing commences on Saturday, the Puig Women’s America’s Cup will adopt the same structure as the recent UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, which recently held its third edition in Barcelona.
The 12-vessel fleet is divided into two groups, with Group A featuring Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team and five other America’s Cup teams — New Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, and the USA. Group B consists of invited squads from Spain, Holland, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Australia.
After an eight-race Qualification Series, the top three teams in each group will face off in the Semi-Final Series, determining which two advance to the winner-takes-all Final Match Race.
The Match Race for the first Puig Women’s America’s Cup Trophy is set for October 13. France’s Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team is determined to secure a spot there.
Orient Express – L’Oréal Racing Team Women’s America’s Cup roster:
Manon Audinet – trimmer and skipper
Pauline Courtois – pilot
Audrey Ogereau – pilot
Aloïse Retornaz – trimmer
Amélie Riou – trimmer (substitute)
Explore the sailor biographies at: orientexpressracingteam.americascup.com/en/team/women
