Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, at the heart of France’s America’s Cup story
– Pierre Roinson, SNST’s President & Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge –
The Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez is the Challenger club representing La Roche-Posay Racing Team, France’s challenge for the 38th America’s Cup.
copyright : Gilles Martin-Raget
On the occasion of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and K-Challenge are highlighting the key role played by the SNST in the French challenge for the 38th America’s Cup — a role that goes to the very heart of the world’s oldest international sporting trophy, conceived from the outset as a contest between yacht clubs.
Governed since 1857 by its founding document, the Deed of Gift, the America’s Cup retains a distinctive feature unlike any other major sporting competition: teams compete under the burgee of an eligible yacht club, which formally issues and carries their challenge.
For La Roche-Posay Racing Team, that club is the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Having already stood alongside K-Challenge during the 37th America’s Cup in 2024, the SNST has once again taken up the challenge, this time against the other competing yacht clubs in Naples in 2027.
In doing so, the SNST joins some of the most distinguished names in international yachting: the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal Yacht Squadron for GB1, the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia for Luna Rossa, and the Société Nautique de Genève for Tudor Team Alinghi. These are prestigious institutions, several of which have histories inseparably intertwined with that of the America’s Cup itself.
Naples becomes the new centre of gravity for the French challenge
Led on the water by skipper and helmsman Quentin Delapierre, La Roche-Posay Racing Team brings together French sailors, engineers, designers and performance specialists around K-Challenge. The team is now established in Naples, the host city for the 38th America’s Cup.
Having staged the second AC40 Preliminary Regatta from 24 to 27 September 2026, Naples will host the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2027, which will determine the Challenger that earns the right to face Defender Emirates Team New Zealand, before the America’s Cup Match itself.
For the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the campaign provides a natural bridge between two different expressions of the sport: that of a yacht club staging more than ten events each year — including Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez — while sustaining an exceptional maritime heritage; and that of the America’s Cup, which for 175 years has continued to push the boundaries of innovation, technology and performance.
Stephan Kandler, CEO of K-Challenge, said:
“Within the America’s Cup, the yacht club is part of the very identity of a challenge. That gives our relationship with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez a particular depth.
“Following Barcelona in 2024, we are immensely proud to race under its colours once again for the 38th America’s Cup. The SNST shares our competitive spirit, our respect for the history of sailing and the same determination to keep looking ahead.
“From Saint-Tropez to Naples, we are now writing the next chapter together.”
Pierre Roinson, President of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, said:
“To see the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez burgee flying during America’s Cup racing is a source of tremendous pride for our club and its members.
“After Barcelona, continuing this journey with K-Challenge and La Roche-Posay Racing Team in Naples places the SNST firmly within one of the great stories of international sailing.
“There is also a real consistency with what we stand for in Saint-Tropez: preserving and passing on a strong maritime culture, while remaining open to competition, innovation and the future of our sport.”
