34th AC Designers Meeting - part I

The serious business for the 34th America's Cup has just started in Valencia with the first designer meeting in view of establishing a new design rule. The who's who of international yacht design gathered at the BMW Oracle base at 9:30am for a long discussion.

As the title of this post implies, this is the first part of today's report and for the moment it only consists of photos of the group leisurly chatting over coffee and croissants, waiting for Russell Coutts. Once the CEO of the 34th America's Cup Defender came, the entire group moved to a conference room where Ian Burns made a brief introduction. That's when the doors closed and I had to leave. The meeting will now go on until 4:30pm and I will be back to talk to Ian Burns and any other designer willing to talk. Stay tuned.

I have to admit I'm surprised with the openness BMW Oracle is showing, at least at this stage. I never expected I would be given the opportunity to have such access to the meeting.

Finally, I didn't have the chance to talk to any of the participants prior to the meeting, so I don't know whether they are representing any team or potential team. For example, is Marcelino Botín representing Emirates Team NZ? What about Juan Kouyoumdjian? Having designed the brand new Team Origin TP52 yacht is it safe to assume he's also in the meeting in representation of the British team? What is Rolf Vorlijk's role in the meeting? Does his presence hint at a possible return of Alinghi? I hope to know more later on.

34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

34th America's Cup designers meeting. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Russell Coutts, the new "boss" of the America's Cup, probably explaining part of his vision for the world's oldest sports trophy. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

A smiling Rolf Vrolijk enjoys his coffee prior to the meeting. I have to get used to the idea that Rolf is not calling the shots any longer in the America's Cup. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Giovanni Ceccarelli (left) chats with Jason Ker. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Juan Kouyoumdjian (left) chats with Patrick Shaughnessy, president of Farr Yacht Design. Valencia, 18 May 2010. Photo copyright Pîerre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing