FRA-37 France 3 could not reach the semifinals of the LVC 95
Yacht / Country : Franc 2 and France 3Sail No FRA-33 and FRA 37Syndicate : France America'95 CEO : Francois GiraudetYacht Club: YC de SeteDesigner : Philippe BriandBoat Builder : Philippe Pallu de la BarrièreSkipper: Marc Pajot
AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY 1983 - 2013
But in the final rounds she could not beat the Spanish and Japanese teams and missed the Semifinals.
After Marc Pajot had reached the Semifinals 1987 and 1992 , the team was very optimistic to achieve at least the same result in 1995. But the luck played a prank. As France 2 (FRA-33) should be let for the first time in San Diego to water, the lift broke. The yacht popped so fierce on the mole that the keel broke up to the deck. The repair lasted 4 weeks and cost 1 million U$. France 3 (FRA 37 was not ready yet.) The team had no yacht for training or testing. When France 2 was again repaired, shortly thereafter it lost the keel when testing a revolutionary mainsail and capsized. The team was again missing a test platform. France 3 was hastily finished. But in the final rounds she could not beat the Spanish and Japanese teams and missed the Semifinals.