The fact that each designer has achieved world acclaim for their successes in international ocean racing is no co-incidence. My own ocean racing background which preceded my career skippering mega-yachts, makes me a firm believer of the grounding in seamanship and safety necessary to succeed as an ocean racing designer.

Knowing each of these designers as racing yacht designers first, and seeing the manner in which each has progressively designed larger vessels, confirms my view that they are at the pinnacle of their field, capable of providing a client with a custom yacht that will exceed expectations. Their racing background also provides a performance element when required, adding to the enjoyment and re-sale value of their designs.

Numerous other designers can be added to this forum, but the experience that these gentlemen have gained, each having some 3 decades of design experience, places them as equals to any of their peers. With designs from the extremes of Mirabella V, at 247’, the world’s largest sailing sloop, to custom yachts built by Royal Huisman, CCYD, Jongert, Perini Navi, Lurssen, Davenport, Pendennis, Camper & Nicholson and Nautor’s Swan amongst numerous other yards, these designers have really produced the goods, when it comes to large yachts. Their combined portfolios of current work ranges from custom and production designs of 70’ and above, as well as mega-yachts from 100’ up to 200’ and even larger.

All are these designers bring to the table the experience of designing yachts for production builders as well as custom builders, and all are very accomplished interior designers. This is a consideration all to frequently lost in a new builds, where-by the experience the lead designer brings to the project can amount to significant cost savings, in lieu of the costs a separate designer/stylist brings to the project.

My personal acquaintance with each of these designers affords me ready access, assisting me to gain worthwhile contributions for my clients from these great designers.

Amongst the designers who will be contributing their insights and designs to the ‘forum’ are…

Tony Castro…
Castro Naval Architects and Yacht Designers, Hamble, England
Currently with designs being built at Jongert and Royal Huisman, Tony has a 45 metre design similar to the Perini Navi yachts entering the final design stages. This is to have the performance of a true racing yacht, with a high tech motor yacht quality interior. With proposals for CCYD Yachts in the works, new design are abundant from Tony.

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Ron Holland…
Ron Holland Design, Cork, Ireland
From the world’s largest, Mirabella V to winning the Quarter Ton World’s some 30 years ago, Ron has had designs built by Nautor Swan, CCYD and Royal Huisman amongst many other yards, and currently has yet another very large sailing yacht under construction at Huisman.

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Ron Humphreys…
Humphreys Yacht Design. Lymington, England
From successful ‘Round the World race yachts and semi-custom designs for Oyster Yachts UK, to the 135’ mega ketch Cyrano de Bergerac built at Camper & Nicholson, all of Rob’s designs show style and beauty. His latest canting rig for a monster sailing yacht furthers his search for innovative yachting solutions.

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David Pedrick…
Pedrick Yacht Designs, Newport, Rhode Island
From his earliest days with Sparkman & Stephens and his work with the 12 meter America’s Cup Class through to his continued involvement with the newest A.C. Class boats, the technical expertise demonstrated by David’s design group reached its recent peak with the unique the 48m 20 knot sailing yacht Mit-Sea-Ah, built at Pendennis in England.

Other designers and builders from the likes of Sparkman & Stephens, Palmer Johnson, Ed Dubois, Alloy Yachts and Perini Navi and others continue to design, build and break new ground while knocking down barriers in the pursuit of designing and launching a new bread of sailing yachts, some looking ahead with break-through technology, whilst other are launching their newest designs incorporating the traditions and aesthetics’ of the classics.

New technology with solid tradition is producing magnificent vessel of 80’ and above to satisfy all whims or conservative desires of any buyer. The designers featured here are all able to bring ideas to fruition based on the most conservative or outlandish concepts.

I hope you enjoy the visits to their individual sites, and I offer my assistance to you, should it be required.

Contact Mike for more information about yacht brokerage, charter, new construction and support.