DS Automobiles SailGP Team France Reunites with Strategist Manon Audinet for Halifax Grand Prix
DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, currently fifth in the championship, returns strategist Manon Audinet for the Halifax Sail Grand Prix as the battle for the podium tightens.
- 5th
- 13
- 4th
What Happened
DS Automobiles SailGP Team France heads to the ROCKWOOL Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax this weekend, aiming to build momentum in the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. The team sits fifth overall but remains in contention for a top-three finish, with points tightly clustered among several teams. Halifax returns for its second SailGP event and is sold out, with forecasts of strong winds promising high-speed racing.
“I’m really happy to be back with the team and back on the boat. I’ve done everything I could during my recovery to be ready for this moment and I’m feeling good heading into the weekend. Halifax is a venue we enjoy and the forecast looks pretty windy, which is exactly the type of sailing we love. Most of all, I’m excited to be racing with the team again.”
Enzo Balanger, the 2025 Moth World Champion who recently won the 2026 European Moth Championship, will again serve as wing trimmer. After an impressive debut in New York where the team finished fourth, Balanger's continued development on the F50 is a key asset for DS Automobiles SailGP Team France.
Halifax will also see the long-awaited return of New Zealand's Black Foils, who have been absent since their dramatic Auckland crash. Their comeback restores the fleet to 13 teams and adds another major contender. DS Automobiles SailGP Team France aims to close the gap to the leaders and strengthen its position for a Grand Final berth.
Why this matters
The return of Audinet after injury restores the team's preferred configuration at a critical mid-season point. With only a few points separating the top teams, every race matters for France's podium hopes. The sold-out Halifax event also marks the comeback of the Black Foils after their Auckland crash, adding to the intense competition.
Terms in This Story
- F50
- The one-design foiling catamaran used in SailGP, capable of speeds over 50 knots.
- Moth World Champion
- A world championship title for the Moth class, a small, single-handed foiling dinghy.
- Black Foils
- The nickname for the New Zealand SailGP team.
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