Victory Challenge announce sail designer

New from the Scandinavian America's Cup challenger

He's been an America's Cup and Olympic sailor as well as a sail designer for countless America's Cups. For the last 4.5 years he's headed the design office for North Sails France. Today, Laurent Delage, 46, has been appointed sail designer of Victory Challenge.

When Örn (SWE 63) begins its participation in the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 5 this Thursday, the boat will be equipped with new sails designed by Delage - from the main sail, to the genoa, spinnaker and gennaker, all according the new Version 5 of the America's Cup Class rules.

"They are designed, taken into consideration the new rules as well as the development within sails since last America's Cup," says Delage.

He's experience with the world's most prestigious regatta goes back to 1992 in San Diego when he worked for the French America's Cup syndicate Ville de Paris as both sail designer and part of the sailing crew, on mainsail traveller.

He was back for the America's Cup in San Diego in 1995, as the sail designer for another French syndicate France 3 as well as strategist on the boat with Bertrand Pacé.

Delage explains: "Up until now, I really didn't want to go into an America's Cup-project project again because my job at North Sails France which has been very demanding and interesting enough to keep me motivated and busy. But I couldn't say no. With Victory Challenge I get a good opportunity to work on a good group of people. And I can use all what I have learned in the past four years with North Sails."

Magnus Holmberg, skipper and helmsman has been involved in the recruiting process, together with among other the boat designer German Frers Jr. "It was simple to chose Laurent, as he is not just an extremely experienced sail designer, he also is a very experienced sailor," said Holmberg.

Laurent Delage has a number of wins as a sailor, in regattas such as the Tour de France à la Voile, plus medals in world championships and participation in the Olympics. He was part of the French Olympic sailing team in the Flying Dutchman in Los Angeles in 1984 an in Seoul in 1988.