French Kiss

This was a daring challenge and bold adventure, funded primarily by Serge Crasnianski (Kis France), the king of automatic key machines and film photos that could be developed on the spot, in 1985, at a time when digital technology did not yet exist. French Kiss was initially a slate gray 12MJI, built in the Vendée countryside, surrounded by cows, inside a secret farm hangar. Aluminum professionals and welders from the Alubat yard, specialized in cruising centerboarders, created the hull. The boat plans were designed in La Rochelle, by the architect Philippe Briand, as well as in Saint-Cloud near Paris, at the headquarters of Dassault Aviations. 

Before the nearly 20-meter hull shape and its keel with long fins, hidden from view with a red tarpaulin, were finalized, hundreds of configurations were tested on computers, with input from aerodynamic engineers working on the Rafale jet. French Kiss did not look like any other 12 MJI. Wide and light, with a relatively small sail area, to optimize its metric rating, it featured sleek U-shaped lines, a tulip bow and a deck trimming that really stood out. Designed for the ever-present breeze in Fremantle, Australia, the boat excelled in strong winds and surfed downwind, which was quite rare for these 12 MJI yachts with a displacement of nearly 25 tons, while it “weighed” just 19. 

Never one to hold back his barbs, the Californian Dennis Conner, three-time winner of the America’s Cup, declared after the first world championship races held in Australia in spring 1986 during a press conference: “The French have the best boat… but they do not know it!” And it is true that the crew fluctuated between the best and the worst. The French 12MJI finished fifth… winning two of the seven rounds, while the event was ultimately won by the Australia II.

Supported by the French committee for the America’s Cup (CFCA), set up by Jean Glavany, who was then chief of staff to President François Mitterrand, French Kiss was meant to symbolize French know-how and excellence, as well as French flair. The crew, whose average age was barely 25, had never sailed on boats like this, working hard and making quick progress. While the 16 other teams getting ready for the America’s Cup were equipping themselves with American sails from North, Hood or Sobstad, the young team under the leadership of Luc Gellusseau and the best sailmakers in France were making their own sails, using a revolutionary unidirectional fabric, Kevlar 49, developed working closely with the national space research center (CNES) and the boat industry research and architecture center (CRAIN). Different spinnakers were also created following extensive research with Terphane-based fabrics, known for being non-stick and derived from a weather balloon developed by Brochier Espace and Rhône Poulenc. 

While all their opponents were choosing American Sparcraft masts, Marc Pajot’s team built their own with France’s Jean-Pierre Maréchal. Lastly, the tactical-navigation unit developed a specific positioning computer, as GPS was not yet commercially available. The former Olympic medalist and Route du Rhum winner Marc Pajot, who had put this project together, took on the dual role of skipper and helmsman. His team mate from La Baule, Marc Bouët, handled tactics, while Bertrand Pacé, the future world match racing champion, was in charge of navigation. The French boat reached the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the event selecting the future challenger to race against the defender. It was the only European challenger to qualify for the final four. 

Despite some major modifications, including the stern being cut to add more weight to the ballast, French Kiss was soundly beaten by the New Zealand crew, led by the young Chris Dickson, on a polyester 12 MJI, in all four races, which were held in light winds. However, the epic adventures of the “French Kiss”, as the English teams nicknamed it, would create lasting memories and promote racing in France in all its forms. Today, acquired by a passionate amateur who, when he was a teenager in 1987, followed the America’s Cup on the radio at night, French Kiss has been fully restored, while remaining true to its original features, and can be seen racing in regattas on the Mediterranean.