By Bruce Kirby
December 13,2002
Source: Scuttlebutt #1219 - Guest Editorial

Perhaps the greatest tragedy resulting from the protest hearings in Auckland is the damage the ruckus has done to some innocent people. Chief among them is Laurie Davidson, design team leader for One World and co- designer for New Zealand in 2000 and 1995.

During the hearings Seattle designer Bob Perry testified that the One World boats did not bear a close resemblance to NZL 60, and Measurer Ken McAlpine, in possession of key measurements from all AC boats said there was not a significant resemblance between Davidson's work in 2000 and 2002.

Davidson was the man who drew the magnificent hull lines of NZL 32 that swept the AC series in 1995 . It's fair to say that every AC design hopeful in the world did his best to simulate the shape of NZL 32 as a lead-in to their 2000 designs. And in 2000 the boats that Davidson came up with for Team New Zealand looked less like NZL 32 than did some of the others on the Hauraki Gulf. In other words Davidson vaulted further from his own work than did other designers.

In 2000 he came up with the "Davidson bow" which has been copied this time around by every other syndicate.

Laurie Davidson has had a greater influence on America's Cup design than anyone since Olin Stephens ruled in the 12-Meter era. He doesn't have to steal from anyone else. It is his mind that produces the ideas.