Short facts

Age: 36
Family: Married to Kelly, baby on the way
Lives in: Valencia, Spain most of the time
Nationalities: Argentinian, French
Hidden talent: South American BBQ chef

Biography

Until now, Juan Kouyoumdjian’s babies have all been sent into the wide world within days of emerging from their protective homes. But in mid-April, Juan K and his wife will launch a longer-term project – one that won’t leave the nest for perhaps 18 years or so.

The expectant father is not slowing down on design projects in the meantime. Since last November Juan K has been designing the two Ericsson boats that will compete in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The Ericsson 3 is out of the yard and in training, and the Ericsson 4 is due to be completed soon.

Of the boats, he says: “Each one is a progression and an evolution of what we did before (Kouyoumdjian designed the winner of the previous Volvo Ocean Race). The race course around the world has changed a little so we had to adapt the parameters to the new winds. If we’ve done our homework right, we’ll all get a good score this time.”

Of his career, Juan K says he’s never considered another. He was raised in Argentina by parents who are enthusiastic sailors and knew from an early age which side of the water he’d be on: “If you’re a good designer, you can still be a fairly good sailor. But just because you’re a good sailor does not necessarily make you a good designer,” he says.

From a design point of view, he gets excited about multihull boats. “They’re best in terms of hydro and aerodynamic efficiency, but the most interesting races are with monohull yachts,” he says, which is why he so readily signed on with Ericsson Racing Team for the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race.

Working with Ericsson is good, Kouyoumdjian says. “The Swedish mentality works very well with our philosophy. First you make someone responsible who is good at the job, then you give him the freedom to express himself. And, Ericsson understands that the job is technically driven – and has provided us with the technology we need to push the limits of yacht design. So the combination is very good.”

But if there’s anything this Argentinian-French designer would change about Ericsson, it’s that “they need to Latinize themselves…you cannot always please everyone,” he says with a laugh.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS

Several America’s Cup campaigns including two French challenges, the Prada Luna Rossa team & BMW Oracle Racing. Besides being Ericsson's principal designer for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, he and his Valencia-based design team are leading Team Origin’s design team.

VO70’s ABN Amro 1 and 2
Krazy K Yote II
Maiden Hong Kong
TP52’ Mui Mui
Open 60’ Pindar