The French nuclear company Areva has expressed its desire to continue its partnership with the French team.

In 2003, Areva partnered the Défi français in New Zealand and this year sponsored the Areva Challenge team.

The group now intends to continue the experience to draw the maximum benefit in terms of performance and communication.

Even though the advertising spin-off from the 2007 campaign has yet to be analyzed, the group can already announce that it is satisfied with the impact its participation in the 2007 edition has had.

Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier, Senior Vice President, Communications and Areva spokesman made the announcement at the end of Round Robin 2 in the presence of the entire Areva Challenge team and the President of the French Sailing Federation, Jean-Pierre Champion.

"The America’s Cup provides a group like ours with an exceptional opportunity", he said. "In its own field, Areva is an international champion. We hope that its contribution to the America’s Cup and the experience it has gained will enable France to reach a high level of performance in this legendary international competition".

"We have proved many things during the last five years and have fought hard", said Stéphane Kandler, CEO of Areva Challenge last week. "It is now necessary to preserve the key elements of this group. One also needs a stronger budget to finish in the top four".

"The budget should at least be double", he added, saying the new challenge will be a "Two boats" and "two crews" programme.

" With that addition, it is not the same organization any longer and must be reinforced with some external elements", he said. "We must search for talented personnel to gain the experience we need".

"There are already teams who have put their boats up for sale", he concluded. "To purchase an additional boat would quickly make it possible for us to evolve and progress. There are several Frenchmen who are currently with other campaigns, including Bertrand Pacé (BMW Racing Oracle), Philippe Presti (Luna Rossa Challenge), and Bernard Labro (Alinghi), just to name a few".

"They are numerous! It interests us to make a French team with people who have such great experience. We have set up a platform which shows good qualities, now we just need complimentary experience and external contributions."

If the amount of the partership was not yet disclosed, the French newspaper Libération reported that the group will invest €10 million per year until the next America's Cup.