Desafío Español unveil new colors for ESP-97 hull

Desafío Español, the Spanish America's Cup Challenger, unveiled this afternoon the new colors for the hull of the team's future boat ESP-97, whose construction is now in its final stages at the King Marine boatyard near Valencia. The presentation took place inside the syndicate's base in Valencia and tens of journalists took a glimpse at the colors the Spanish challenger will be sporting in 2007.

To our great disappointment, we didn't have the pleasure and privilege to get a first glimpse at the brand new boat but instead the future colors were applied on a 8-meter model that was used during the canal tests for the design of ESP-97. At first glance, the changes are not radical although they are more clear aft.

According to Agustín Zulueta, general manager of Desafío Español, the change in colors and branding was made for two reasons. Firstly, the team's principal sponsor and owner of the marketing rights of the hull, Iberdrola, wanted to rejuvenate the image and branding of the boat, making it closer to its own corporate colors, predominantly green, while adding another logo right below where the helmsman usually stands. Since marketing is increasingly important in this sport, sponsors want to optimize their exposure and according to the team it has been observed that a great number of pictures and television shots focus precisely on that area.

Secondly, the new image requires less paint and fixes some minor glitches. There are just 4 colors in the new design while ESP-65, ESP67 and ESP-88 required a total of 17 different colors. That alone drastically reduces the time needed to paint the hull from 14 days to just 3, eliminating in addition approximately 15 kilos of paint from the hull that designers can put in the bulb. It also makes repairs faster to carry out, especially in case of a collision. According to Zulueta, a detail that might sound minor plays an important role. There are no vertical lines but instead all 4 colors are separated horizontally by curves. A vertical line of separation between two colors on the hull is more exposed to seawater and particular attention and care is needed every evening after the yacht returns from the races. By eliminating these vertical lines the shore crew reduces its workload.

The new colors and design certainly did not take our breath away but after all Desafío Español is not participating in a beauty pageant..

B-roll shot and edited by Golix

The future colors of ESP-97 applied on an actual 8-meter model. Valencia, 30 November 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The future colors of ESP-97 applied on an actual 8-meter model. Valencia, 30 November 2006. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Artist's impression of the future colors of ESP-97. Photo copyright Desafío Español

Artist's impression of the future colors of ESP-97. Photo copyright Desafío Español