The sailing world was momentarily abuzz this week when a headline from Scuttlebutt Sailing News declared, 'America’s Cup: Big steps for France.' For those of us who've followed the Cup's often-circuitous path, the prospect of a serious French challenge, perhaps building on the legacy of Groupama Team France or even the early promise of Franck Cammas, is always intriguing. France, with its deep maritime heritage and formidable offshore talent, has long been considered a sleeping giant in the AC arena.

However, the article's body text, as presented, veered sharply off course. Instead of detailing design breakthroughs, potential syndicate announcements, or even a whisper of a new foiling monohull concept, readers were treated to a personal anecdote about skincare products – specifically, La Roche-Posay – and the ravages of 50+ years on the water. While we can all appreciate the importance of sun protection, especially for those grinding winches or trimming wing sails under a relentless sun, this was hardly the 'big steps' we anticipated for a nation eyeing the Auld Mug.

This curious juxtaposition leaves us to ponder: Was this a mischievous editorial prank, a placeholder gone awry, or perhaps a subtle, deeply embedded metaphor for the 'skin in the game' required for an America's Cup campaign? Given the immense financial and technical hurdles – think $100M budgets, custom Harken hydraulics, Southern Spars rigs, and North Sails 3Di – any 'big steps' for France would undoubtedly involve far more than just a good SPF. We remain vigilant for actual news from France, hoping their next 'steps' are indeed on the water, not in the dermatology clinic.