Santi Lange teaches Juan Kouyoumdjian the multihull basics

While the 30 D-One's are racing in the first Magic Marine BetPro D-One Gold Cup guess who we bumped into in the Real Club Náutico Valencia?

The Argentinean duo Juan Kouyoumdjian and Santi Lange were busy preparing Lange's Tornado, or better said Kouyoumdjian was learning from Lange the basics of Tornado and multihull sailing. Kouyoumdjian will certainly have one of the world's best teachers since Lange won bronze medals in the Athens and Qingdao Olympics.

Kouyoumdjian is rumored to be, together with Tom Schnackenberg, the "grey matter" of the Artemis design team, one of the most plausible and serious potential America's Cup challengers, at least for the moment. I asked him whether he thought it was possible to overcome the design and technological lead BMW Oracle have in winged catamarans and his reply was very straightforward: "If it weren't possible we would certainly not be doing this!"

Santi Lange assembles his Tornado while Juan Kouyoumdjian is closely watching. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Santi Lange assembles his Tornado while Juan Kouyoumdjian is closely watching. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Santi Lange assembles his Tornado while Juan Kouyoumdjian is closely watching. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Sweden's campaign in the 34th America's Cup definitely has "Spanish" flavor. It starts in Valencia with Argentineans. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Sweden's campaign in the 34th America's Cup definitely has "Spanish" flavor. It starts in Valencia with Argentineans. Valencia, 3 October 2010. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing