Spanish yacht designer Marcelino Botin has signed with the New Zealand America's Cup team as chief designer.
Together with his South African partner, Spaniard Marcelino Botin is recognised as one of the leading IMS designers in Europe.
"We wanted to bring in someone who could bring a fresh perspective to the design requirements of the Cup," explained Andy Claughton, who coordinates the design team for the New Zealanders, after Botin's appointment.
Furthermore, Claughton said, his style was very similar to that of Alinghi. The New Zealander described it as a happy coincidence that Botin was hired from the country where the Cup will next be held.
For the previous head designers of the New Zealanders, Clay Oliver and Mike Drummond, further employment for the Kiwis should therefore no longer be an issue. At least until today, they had not yet extended their contracts with the new team director Grant Dalton.
