Alinghi designer fronts at America's Cup Designer Conference
by Richard Gladwell on 18 May 2010
A smiling Rolf Vrolijk (Alinghi) at the far end of the table at the Designers’ Conference in Valencia. Valenciasailing.com
http://www.valenciasailing.com
Alinghi designer, Rolf Vrolijk is attending the America's Cup design conference being staged in Valencia, today.
The designer of two winning America's Cup yachts was one of what is believed to be about 19 designers participating in the session to develop the boat to be used at the 34th America's Cup.
Other designers attending include the BMW Oracle Racing team. At this stage no list of design representatives or the schedule for the session s available.
The attendance by Vrolijk is the first tangible sign of interest by Team Alinghi in the 34th America's Cup, since losing the trophy to Golden Gate Yacht Club in February 2010, however it is not known if Vrolijk is representing Team Alinghi or attending in a private capacity.
Save for the announcement in Rome on 6 May, that such a designers conference would be held in two weeks, there has been no further announcement on the format of the event, which clearly did not just happen.
In Rome it was announced that two US design firms had been commissioned to develop a multihull concept and a monohull concept for the 34th America's Cup, and it is believed that this process is still being followed.
The venue for the event has not been publicly announced.
All key decisions for the 34th America's Cup are expected to be made before 31 December 2010, and entries close one month later.
The 19 designers attending the meeting are believed to be:
Mani Frers (ARG)
Daniel Andrieu (FRA)
Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG)
Bernard Nivelt (FRA)
Jason Ker (GBR)
Marcelino Botin (ESP)
Harry Dunning (GBR)
Patrick Shaughnessy ( USA)
Pete Melvin (USA)
Mike Drummond (NZL)
Jim Reichel (USA)
Vincent Lauriot Prévot (FRA)
Manolo Rieviera
Ian Burns (AUS)
Hervé Devaux (FRA)
Bruce Nelson (USA)
Giovanni Ceccarelli (ITA)
Andy Claugton ( GBR)
Rolf Vrolijk (GER)
The event is being covered by www.valenciasailing.com
For a profile on Rolf Vrolijk www.alinghi.com/en/alinghi/team/index.php?idIndex=3&idContent=2255!click_here
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