Renowned sailors Franck Cammas, Michel Desjoyeaux, and Olivier de Kersauson have officially launched France’s bid to win the America’s Cup in 2017.

They presented the Groupama Team France project yesterday at a meeting attended by Patrick Kanner, the the French Sports Minister, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Defence Minister.

“France is the second largest maritime region in the world and yet a French crew has never won the America’s Cup. That has to change,” Le Drian said.

The 2017 regatta will be in Bermuda. The victorious challenger will take on defending champion Oracle in the finals.

Cammas, Desjoyeaux and de Kersauson have won multiple crewed or single-handed races.