Built in 1985 according to the International Third Rule- America’s Cup
1985-1987: Challenge Kis France / Clipper’s & Associates- name: French Kiss– homeport: La Rochelle. French Kiss was the only Twelve, (of two designed), built for the 1987 America’s Cup. The budget was in the region of US $9M entirely covered by the photographic Kis Company. Project leaders were Philippe Briand for the design and Marc Pajot as manager and skipper. The computer research project was done by Dassault under the direction of Philippe Perrier and Daniel Chamette. Only flow and pressure simulations were used in her development– without benefit of tank or wind tunnels. French Kiss was both original and highly efficient in wind over 15 knots; she was a big surprise in the Challenger (skipper: Marc Pajot) Trials for her speed. She finished fifth in the 1986 12mR World Championship and entered the Challenger Trial semi-finals where she was eliminated by New Zealand (KZ-7).
1987-1994: STCA- home port: Saint Tropez (France).
1995-1999: Codara S.A. (Albert Khodara) – home port: Marseille (France). F-7 was updated with new equipment and sails and won several races in the Mediterranean circuit: the 1996 Coppa d’Europa and Saint Tropez Rolex Cup; in 1997 she placed second at the Coppa d’Europa and won the Rolex Cup. In 1999 she took third place at the 12mR World Championship and won the 2000 Saint Tropez Cup.
2000-2006: Corrado Fratini – home port: Marina di Carrara (Italy). French Kiss entered a few races through 2002 until she was sheltered for the remaining four years.
2006-2007: Associazione Idea Argo, an association for people with disabilities, whose president was Antonio Spinelli. The aim was to use French Kiss for training in view to enter an America’s Cup contender crewed by sailors with disabilities. French Kiss won the 12mR Class at Saint Tropez in 2006, but the ambitious program was discontinued at year-end.
2007-2021: Markus Daniel- home port: Marina ddi Carrara(Italy) – mast and boom changed in 2009.
2021: Christophe Babule- home port: Nice (France)
*Content courtesy: The Twelve Metre Class by Dyer Jones & Luigi Lang
2024 – Puig Vela Clasica photos
