Philippe Briand, famous yacht designer and founder of his own studio based in La Rochelle (France) and London, talked to Daily Nautica, media partner for the first edition of the World Yachting Summit in Monaco; he spoke to us about what it means to create a successful sailing yacht design and how events of this kind can become a “crossroads of ideas” to be used to redefine the future of yachting.

Designer of over 12,000 vessels

With his 40 years of experience and over 12,000 vessels sailing the world with his design, Philippe Briand, shared with DN how working as a yacht designer means being able to “forecast the future,” in other words, to “design boats that will be ready for the market in a few years.” Work that is focussing on a new generation of vessels, created for new owners and, most important, following sustainability and zero emission guidelines.

“Clients – said Briand to Daily Nautica – now want yachts for travelling, but also for doing activities on the water. For this reason we always include on board an increasing number of items for entertainment on the water and beach clubs”, which bring the owners closer to the water. All without forgetting that these future designs also imply a revision of energy consumption and emissions in the future. “Maybe – said the French yacht designer – we should look at the size of the yachts, focusing on smaller models, like those travelling the Mediterranean, that still have everything on board to have fun.”

by Marcella Ottolenghi