Lemaitre joins La Roche-Posay Racing crew

Five-time women's match racing world champion Maelenn Lemaitre has officially joined La Roche-Posay Racing, the team has confirmed.

She becomes the ninth sailor in the squad, joining drivers Quentin Delapierre and Diego Botín, flight controller and trimmers Jason Saunders, Florian Trittel and Leigh McMillan, systems and strategy Amélie Grassi, and backup helmsman and trimmers Enzo Balanger and Timothé Lapauw.

Recruited through the K-Challenge Academy at the start of the season, Lemaitre has already spent several weeks on the team's AC75 simulator.

She said, "The weeks spent on the simulator have allowed me to get my bearings with the group and to better understand the specific demands of the AC75. I am very proud and happy to officially join La Roche-Posay Racing."

Sporting Director Philippe Presti said Lemaitre is already well settled into the group. "Her match racing experience, her clarity, and her ability to read situations complement the skills within the team in a very coherent way," he said. "Her background also perfectly illustrates the purpose of the K-Challenge Academy: identifying talent and giving them access to the highest-level programmes."