Showing that the “USA” in the team’s name is appropriate, OTUSA announced their design team for the 35th America’s Cup, stressing that 11 of the 18 designers are Americans.
Among the returnees from previous campaigns, wing design manager Scott Ferguson (USA) is back for a third successive America’s Cup with OTUSA. Wing designer and aero specialist Tom Speer (USA) also rejoins the team.
New team members include Len Imas (USA) and Hal Youngren (USA), who worked with Team New Zealand during the previous Cup, contributing to the design of a Kiwi boat that came within one race of winning it all.
“It’s still amazing to think that the final was so close, and that it all came down to one last race,” Imas said. “Now, it’s great to sit down with these guys, learn what they were thinking and to start work again with the new team.”
Design team members: Paul Bieker (USA), Dimitri Despierres (FRA), Len Imas (USA), Hal Youngren (USA), Aaron Perry (USA), Bryan Baker (USA), Juan Vila (ESP), Scott Ferguson (USA), Christoph Erbelding (GER), Thomas Hahn (GER), Steven Roberts (FRA), Jose Luis Vela (ESP), Tom Speer (USA), Eric Jolley (USA), Andrew Gaynor (USA), Ian Burns (AUS), JB Braun (USA), Kurt Jordan (USA)