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Juan Kouyoumdjian

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Groupama 4 - Itajaí

Juan Kouyoumdjian (Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 15, 1971),[1] also known as Juan K,[1][2] is regarded to be one of the world’s leading naval architects [3] designing racing sailboats. His designs have obtained 2 Olympic gold medals, 3 VOR Volvo Ocean Race wins, 7 World Champinship titles, 9 offshore speed records, 6 America's Cup involvements, amongst other competitions.[4]

He is responsible for numerous ocean racing yachts. Juan K´s most notable creations are MAXI 88 ¨Rambler 88¨,[5] VOR 2005-2006 winner VOR 70 ¨ABN AMRO I¨,[3][6][7][8] VOR 2008-2009 winner VOR 70 ¨Ericsson 4¨, Rolex Sydney Hobart 2023 winner MAXI 100 "LawConnect", VOR 2011-12 winner VOR 70 ¨Groupama 4¨, ClubSwan 36,[9] ClubSwan 43. ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 80, the impressive ClubSwan 125 superyacht ¨The Beast¨.[10] IMOCA 60 Cheminees Poujoulat, IMOCA 60 Corum[11] IMOCA 60 Paprec 5, IMOCA 60 Pindar 2and Perpetual LOYAL, amongst others.[3]

He studied at the University of Southampton doing an Engineering Degree in ship science degree specializing in Yacht and Small Craft. During his studies, he did an internship with Philippe Briand in La Rochelle. On graduating in June 1993 he went on to work for Philippe Briand in La Rochelle for two years to work on the America's Cup Class boats, then he started his own business in 1996.[12][13]

Design style

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As said by Antonio Vettese from Yacht Design magazine in an interview, Juan K always tried to push yacht design towards a new frontier.[14]

As cited in 2010 by Starclass.org, the epic first race in 2005–06 VO70s really brought Juan K´s design style to global prominence. Juan K's concepts set the template that has become the benchmark for the VO70 - very wide, powerful stern sections, a hard chine aft and twin rudders.[7]

Kouyoumdjian has invested heavily in developing his own CFD capability since he started out, and he has endeavoured to retain that advantage ever since.[7] In regards to ABN Amro I, the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race winner by a wide margin, Juan K said: “Before the start of the race there was some mistrust because that boat was very different from other yachts that had dominated the scene until then. It had, for example, twin rudders.”[3][15]

Juan Kouyoumdjian bends the rules and pushes the limits so hard that he has also been named “the Picasso of the Sea”.[16][17]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Juan Kouyoumdjian.

Awards

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Juan K has the record for the Seahorse Sailor of the Month award with two wins, in March 2006 [18], September 2009[19], he has been the only designer ever to win this particular award.

In 2012, Juan K got awarded the Ericsson Trophy recognizing the importance of technology and design in the world of sport. Ericsson did not sponsor a competitor in the latest race, but did supply wireless communication technology at stopovers.[20]

In 2020, Yachting World magazine mentioned ABN AMRO I as one of the most influential sailboats in history in the note ¨The Yachting World hall of fame: 50 yachts that changed the way we sail.[21]

In 2023, Juan K won the prestigious Boat International Design & Innovation Award (Boat International Media) both for best interior design and best naval architecture.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Revista Barcos (January 16, 2023). "Edición Impresa – La persona detrás del personaje: Juan Kouyoumdjian". Barcos Magazine. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Bulešić, Hrvoje (October 8, 2021). "Juan Kouyoumdjian: Dizajnerski genij / Design Talks With Juan Kouyoumdjian". Yachts Croatia.
  3. ^ a b c d "Juan Kouyoumdjian – Passion for speed". ACINO1 Magazine. August 2, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Russo, Johnathan (January 17, 2018). "How One Yacht Designer Broke the Rules of Boat Making". Observer. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Extraordinary boats: Rambler 88 has won races all over the world. What's her secret?". Yachting World magazine. April 1, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Pelling, Sue (November 18, 2005). "Juan Kouyoumdjian interview". Yachting World. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Star Sailors Juan Kouyoumdjian and Roy Heiner and ABN AMRO in the VOR". Star Class org Human Interest. October 26, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Torterat, Chloé (September 7, 2021). "Interview / 3 questions to naval architect Juan Kouyoumdjian". Boatnews. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Throw it out there". Seahorse Magazine. May 1, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Springer, Bill (July 6, 2021). "Nautor's Swan Debuts 125-Foot-Long Offshore Sailing Record Hunter That Will Compete For Line Honors At This Year's Rolex Fastnet Race". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Ravon, Didier (May 28, 2019). "Vendée Globe. Cours d'architecture navale avec Desjoyeaux et Kouyoumdjian (vol.3)". Voile et Voiliers. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Torterat, Chloé (September 7, 2021). "Portrait / Juan Kouyoumdjian, a career in naval architecture dedicated to the America's Cup". Boatnews. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  13. ^ Torterat, Chloé (September 7, 2021). "Portrait / Juan Kouyoumdjian, une carrière d'architecture navale consacrée à la Coupe de l'America". Bateaux. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Vettese, Antonio (March 14, 2023). "Juan kouyoumdjian - A conversation with - Yacht Design". Yacht Design - The Boat Show. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "Portraits. Juan Kouyoumdjian". Top Yacht Design. October 22, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Gómez, Nacho (June 7, 2022). "Juan Kouyoumdjian, el Picasso del Mar". elrole. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Gómez, Nacho (May 13, 2024). "Juan K destripa los nuevos AC75". Relevo. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Sailor of the Month - Hall of Fame. Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG)". Seahorse. March 1, 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Seahorse, Sailor of the Month - Hall of Fame. Juan Kouyoumdjian (ARG)". Seahorse. September 1, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Ericsson (July 9, 2012). "Ericsson Trophy awarded to Volvo Ocean Race winner. Boat designer Juan Kouyoumdjian is the recipient of the Ericsson Trophy". Ericsson. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Fretter, Helen (May 13, 2020). "The Yachting World hall of fame: 50 yachts that changed the way we sail". Yachting World. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "The winners of the BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards 2023 revealed. Best Interior Design, Sailing Yachts: My Song, and Best Naval Architecture, Sailing Yachts: My Song". Boat International. February 8, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2024.


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