briand yachts

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Philippe Briand profile: The man whose designs launched more than 12,000 yachts

• October 29, 2020

Philippe Briand commands a reputation for combining beauty with high performance. Mark Chisnell met him at his London studio

Photo: Guillaume Plisson

There have been over 12,000 boats built to Philippe Briand designs in the last four decades in a remarkable career that began with a 25ft wooden boat to the International Offshore Rule (IOR) in the 1970s.

Briand was just 16 when that first boat was built, and he went on to win the legendary Admiral’s Cup – at the competitive height of the IOR – with a French team that included two of his designs.

He drew the French America’s Cup challengers from 1986 to 2000 and then, after moving onto superyachts , he designed the 42m Mari-Cha IV , a superlative ketch that held the Atlantic crossing record for monohulls for over 12 years.

Briand’s ‘fantastic boat’, Mari-Cha IV , held the Atlantic record for 12 years. Photo: Thierry Martinez

It’s a career that had auspicious beginnings. The son of an Olympic Dragon sailor and sail loft owner, Briand first went afloat at the age of three in his father’s boats, graduating to his own Optimist at nine. “I was born in a family where we stick to talking only about boats, racing boats, at the dinner table.

“We were always deeply involved in racing. My father went to the Olympic Games in ’68 [where he was 8th]. He won the Dragon European Championship. He also owned the largest sail loft in Europe at this time,” he explains.

The first boat was a wooden Quarter Tonner (an IOR fixed rating class) that went on to win regattas and was replicated 11 times. “When I was 18 I went to work with Pelle Petterson in Sweden, and he’s been important to me because we worked on so many different kinds of designs.

Every detail falls under the attentive eye of Briand, who designed his first boat aged 11. Photo: Guillaume Plisson

“At this time he was designing a car, the Volvo P1800 sports car, and was a two-time medallist at the Olympic Games in the Star. He also designed a production boat, the Maxi, which was very successful in the Seventies and the largest production boat back then. I’m still very inspired by it.”

Briand worked with Petterson on the design of a World Championship winning 6 Metre and then the 12 Metre that Petterson sailed at the 1977 America’s Cup. It was famous for the below decks pedal-driven winches, “This was Pelle’s idea,” says Briand. It’s an idea that resurfaced very successfully for Team New Zealand at the America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017.

It was 1978 when Briand returned home and started his own design office in La Rochelle. He had no formal naval architecture background. “I was in a hurry and I wanted to get on designing boats.” Just six years later, in 1984, he won the One Ton Cup, probably the most competitive IOR class in the period. It was in a boat of his own design called Passion 2. Briand was just 28 and had already won the Half Ton Cup in Norway the previous year.

“This [setting up his own design office] was very brave of me when I look back. I even tried to set up a French challenge for the America’s Cup… I started designing a 12 Metre… We built two small scale model sailing boats and we had fantastic results…

“Unfortunately, this stopped there because we didn’t find sponsorship. I had to wait a bit, and I waited five more years. I met Marc Pajot and I was the one telling Marc that he should go for the America’s Cup. He found funding with a syndicate and we designed French Kiss , which was an extrapolation of the earlier design.” French Kiss reached the Challenger semi-finals in the ’87 America’s Cup in Fremantle.

Briand spent much of the next 13 years trying to win sailing’s most prestigious trophy with eight designs for six teams. He moved into superyacht design in 1995 after winning the commission for the 44m Mari-Cha III , and then went on to draw Mari-Cha IV .

He has built his subsequent career on the success of these lightweight high-performance cruiser-racers, building boats with many of the world’s most respected shipyards including Alloy Yachts, CNB, Groupe Beneteau, Perini Navi, Royal Huisman and Vitters.

“We design racing boats, we design sailing boats, production boats, big sailing yachts, we also design motor yachts and big motor yachts of different kinds,” Briand says. “We have two offices, one in La Rochelle in France, where the naval architects are based; that’s the original office.

“And since 2008 we’ve also been based in a studio in London, because I live here. The naval architecture and more of the engineering work is done in La Rochelle. We are ten people, so we are split about five and five. We have three designers here in London and an administrator, and in La Rochelle we have five naval architects.

The drawing board: Briand says that he has spent 250,000 hours of his life thinking about the design of boats. Photo: Guillaume Plisson

“Our current developments in super sailing yachts are a 50m design and a 90m preliminary design for one of our repeat clients. In addition, we have always designed racing projects as part of our own R&D. That’s why we developed last winter a preliminary study of an AC75 and a scaled down version at 6.5m designed to be a potential test boat for syndicates. It’s great fun to work on this new kind of monohull defined by another Frenchman, Guillaume Verdier.”

The Briand office also has two 55m motor yachts under construction at Perini Navi, while the 58m Najiba was launched by Feadship last year. “We have two new projects on the drawing board now, which are a new kind of boat: one is an expedition boat for ice class [55m] and its purpose is to cross the north-east passage; and the other has its priority as beauty. So we are designing a very nice motor yacht, a low freeboard, a long flush deck, more inspired by the beauty of sailing.”

Beauty is one of the fundamentals of Briand’s design philosophy. “For me, design is based on values and there are four values which are common in all our designs, sailing or motor. There is ‘beauty’, first and foremost. Then there is ‘performance’, and now we recently added ‘green’ and ‘explorer’. I think these four values give a sense to yachting…

“Beauty of course is basic for yachts and I used to say that the primary function of the boat is to be beautiful. We always intend to design beautiful boats… it’s still our first aim. And although we express this in production boats and our shipyard yachts, I think style in itself does not mean anything.

“The design, the style has to express the internal beauty of the boat, so the guts of the boat, the technical aspect, the efficiency. That’s the reason why we work, we are also naval architects and so we know about the engineering and the technical aspect and for us the second priority is performance, because performance is the meaning of transportation.

“Performance also means to have a good boat at sea, comfortable, seaworthy, a good motion at sea. All the aspects which make you comfortable aboard the boat and getting the special relationship that sometimes you have with your boat, something that sometimes people do not understand. When we are on the boat we have this interaction, like, we could have with another person – this is performance for us, that’s important.

Briand’s flYacht concept is inspired by the AC75 foiling monohulls

“This is also the time that these two other values [green and explorer vessels] also need to be included in yachting; they are a bit related. Green, I think it’s something we could not miss today and yachting is not very advanced on this aspect, to be honest.

“There is still a lot to do, but as a designer I’m looking forward; I think it’s our responsibility to go this way, to create an environmentally friendly boat where the owner will be proud to be on board. Not a boat smoking and pushing the sea and polluting.

“And finally, one important beauty of yachts and boats is that they have this ability to explore 70 per cent of the earth – which is the sea. The boats are not only designed to get between Portofino and Porto Cervo. Of course, we are selling boats today for this purpose, but if we want to develop interest for yachting tomorrow, we should explain that the boat is also useable for more waters; that you can explore the Baltic and not only the Mediterranean . So exploration is something we need to promote… to explain to people that they can use their boat for an infinite territory.” A fine thought.

The distinctive Briand-designed Inouï at the 2014 Superyacht Cup. Photo: Carlo Baroncini

Philippe Briand on his milestone designs

“The boat I love to sail was the Mari-Cha IV , because this was 42m long, but so easy to sail – easy sailing, fast. So this was a real enjoyment. She held the Atlantic record for 12 years and is still a fantastic boat.”

“Of course the most iconic is Vertigo because it’s the largest one, at 67m. There was Galileo , an explorer boat; it was the kind of boat that did 85,000 miles in three years. This boat was really used. That’s a nice boat.”

“We had P2 [38m], we designed a boat for Perini Navi; this also was an achievement because we had to make a Perini fast, which was not the image of the shipyard previously.”

Briand is proud of the success of his production yacht designs, like this CNB 76 for Groupe Beneteau

“In production boats, I am also proud of the big successes like we have today in the CNB 76 or the Jeanneau 64. I am proud of it because if you sail a boat it means it should be a good design, and the cost is part of the design. Of course, there is a lot of soul because it’s a good project, but the project is also good because the designer has considered this aspect. So it’s an achievement.”

“We designed Inouï for an owner who wanted 30 per cent performance yacht and 70 per cent cruising yacht with a timeless look… However, we also succeeded in selling the idea of a high-tech rig and the square top mainsail. Now, ten years later the owner is mainly racing the superyacht ‘tour’ with professional crew and excited about new sails.”

“Of course my preferred design is always the last one! I like simple lines, basically. I like beauty. I like the rubber, not the pen. Take away lines and keep only the one that is absolutely necessary for the functionality – this is usable simplicity.”

Briand in brief

Hobbies: Sailing. “My wife pushes me to travel, so we just came back this morning from Botswana. I tried to find some water there, so I was happy. I am so passionate about design. I did a rough calculation – I’ve spent around 250,000 hours of my life thinking about boats. I believe this has created some kind of background and experience. This is not talent, I don’t call this a gift or talent, but it is only time thinking about designing boats.”

Inspirations: My father, Michel, an Olympic Dragon sailor, and founder of Tasker Sails in France; and Pelle Petterson, Swedish yacht designer, Olympic medallist and America’s Cup skipper.

“I was born in this environment and so, of course, I go sailing and racing. I quickly understood that the technical aspect was the priority for winning a race. My father was also manufacturing the masts, sails, winches. I had this opportunity to meet with the best designers of the time because we were in France and they were coming to the sail loft. That was his network, so I used this network… then I started designing. I was 11.”

Career highlights: “Personally [the highlight was] when I won the One Ton Cup [in 1984] myself as designer and the skipper of the boat. This was an achievement.”

Career lowlights: “I’m still frustrated about racing. I would like to design more racing boats and get successful in this, which is my passion. I think we are in a sport, and like every sport people believe more in young guys, which may be normal when we are on board the boat, but what about technical engineering and architecture? It makes no sense.”

About the author

Mark Chisnell has written 16 books, which have been translated into five languages. He has sailed and worked with seven America’s Cup teams and won three World Championships. He runs the Technical Innovation Group for Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team.

First published in the July 2018 issue of Supersail World.

Briand SY300 : true sailing experience on a 90-metre megayacht

Briand SY300 : authenticity and a passion for performance are the core principles behind Philippe Briand’s new sailing megayacht concept.

Philippe Briand has unveiled the latest sailing yacht concept to come from his London- based design studio: the 90-metre (300-foot) Briand SY300. With a traditional sailing rig, the 1,550-tonne ketch has been created to outperform other sailing megayachts on the water today, as well as to provide a head-turning aesthetic and ultimate comfort on board. The SY300 would be the ultimate prize possession for a passionate sailor who demands speed on the water as well as exceptional design and style.

A TRUE LEADER IN THE NEW WAVE OF “GREEN” SUPERYACHTS

Being fully wind-propelled, the SY300 would be a true leader in the new wave of “green” superyachts; in particular, its hull-form characteristics and predicted performance would put the SY300 at the forefront of this cohort of vessels. Its remarkable hydrodynamic efficiency means more power could be harnessed through underwater turbines to charge the batteries on board. In the best conditions a maximum speed over 20 knots would be reached . Potentialy If 50% of the energy is captured it will be the equivalent of that produced by a 500 kW generator, while maintaining a speed around 15 knots.

Driven by the pursuit of efficiency rather than opting for a faddish design, Philippe Briand chose a conventional two-masted sailing rig to complement the contemporary hull with its inverted bow, as this proves to be the most effective. With its foremast towering 95.3 metres above the waterline, the Briand SY300 ’s upwind sail area is 3,560m2, while its downwind sail area is 6,600m2, including a 3,500m2 spinnaker.

The design of the carbon fibre masts and rigging is heavily informed by the experience Philippe Briand acquired during the development and construction of the landmark 67-metre S/Y Vertigo and 73-metre S/Y Sybaris, two of the most celebrated sailing yachts in recent history.

SPECTACULAR SUN DECK

length. The star attraction of the exterior, the fly bridge will be a magnet for friends and family to come together, where up to 14 guests can experience the uniquely thrilling sensation of movement created by harnessing the natural power of the wind.

Of course, full enjoyment of the Briand SY300 ’s exterior can come at anchor or in port as well as while cruising or racing. The uncluttered decks are contemporary and allow stunning views of the surroundings. Each of the three decks offers guests a choice of swimming pool, paired with oversized sun pads or sun loungers.

An enormous dining table in the heart of the fly bridge seats up to 16 guests, with superb panoramic views and a removable bimini offering protection from the sun. The adjacent convivial seating area features two L-shaped sofas with low tables, while a more secluded seating area on the foredeck is perfect for a romantic sundowner or some private reflection time.

INNER SPACE

A further six guest suites are located on the lower deck, as well as accommodation for up to 17 crew. A full-beam gym on the lower deck has sliding doors and steps leading up to the aft deck pool, and the adjacent spa features a Jacuzzi and massage room.

Philippe Briand commented on the announcement of the Briand SY300 design: “I am a purist at heart. Every Philippe Briand design is guided by the golden principles of balance, efficiency and performance on the water, from the single-handed ocean sailing boats that I raced to victory in my early career, to some of the world’s best-known sailing superyachts. Staying true to our name, this Briand SY 300 design showcases a yacht with purpose that is in keeping with the authentic spirit of sailing. I picture it being ideal for a passionate sailor who wants to stay in touch with the water and the power of the wind. They could even take the helm of the yacht themselves.”

About Philippe Briand

London-based naval architect and yacht designer Philippe Briand – has been conceiving high-performance, visionary yachts since his childhood days sailing in La Rochelle. Today Philippe Briand is the CEO and inspired team-leader coordinator of three different design divisions: sailing yacht as Philippe Briand Ltd, motoryacht with Vitruvius Yachts Ltd and interiors by Philippe Briand – both for yachting and world-class real estate. His technical excellence and precision, accompanied by a strong artistic flair and talent for fashioning innovative design trends in the yachting market, have continued to evolve over what is arguably the most prolific career of any yacht designer today. Philippe Briand is one of real few innovator in yachting – “senior designer” of what is today the expedition/explorer vessels trend.

His successes have led him to build up a loyal client base of extremely discerning owners for custom designs, as well as to encourage a new generation of owners who are attuned to his prioritization of sustainable, intelligent design solutions, efficient and long-range green technologies. Briand’s background in naval architecture gives him the leading edge when it comes to integrating new technologies into his designs, as well as incorporating new materials or considering existing materials in new ways. His technical background and understanding of advanced hydrodynamics and production engineering have led to the creation of dozens of successful production yacht models over the years, accounting for over 12,000 vessels launched. The company’s current projects range from six to 105 metres, both for sailing yachts and motor yachts, including many highly customised and technical designs.

With offices in London and La Rochelle, France – Briand and his team of designers have won 34 international yacht design awards for their work (to date, spring 2018), and have collaborated with some of the most highly respected sailing yacht builders in the world, including Perini Navi, Lurssen (Germany), Pendennis (UK), Royal Huisman (Netherlands), Vitters (Netherlands), CNB (France), Groupe Beneteau (France).

Philippe Briand Website

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You might be interested in

Ocean Alexander 35P, the Puro Series has been launched

Ocean Alexander 32 Legend: evolution makes it better than ever

S/Y MAVI’: Ice 70 No. 4 launched

How the Sharp and Spacious Absolute FLY Has Taken the States by Storm?

14th Monaco Classic Week . Classic boats comes back to Monte Carlo

Lavezzi and Budelli, an anchorage in the clouds

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Subscribe For Latest Updates

Sign up to receive the best of Yachting News, sea trials, boat review and world premieres .

The only ADVERTISING FREE newsletter

Vitruvius Yachts

Naval Architecture and Yacht Design

We work with the Clients to create a design and develop concept sketches and general arrangement ideas, We work with the the Client at all times, ensuring complete involvement in the project. The preliminary naval architecture is essential for the development of the design for the Owner, as well as for the Yards quotation. We ensure that any contractual issues are achievable within the design documentation, general arrangement, specification and will comply with the Owner’s wishes. We are a team of dedicated professionals, with different complementary backgrounds.

Philippe Briand and his team have been designing yachts for over 40 years. AT LEAST 12.000 of his sailing yacht designs are in the water…

Studio locations

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

Philippe Briand

The internationally acclaimed naval architect and yacht designer Philippe Briand made his name designing award-winning sailing yachts (www.philippebriand.com) and building on that experience has led him to create a revolutionary range of motor yachts: Vitruvius Yachts.

Vitruvius Yachts by Philippe Briand

Under the Vitruvius banner, Briand has developed an instantly recognizable aesthetic that is efficient, practical and beautiful, covering the full spectrum of motor yachts from conventional Lifestyle cruisers to exceptionally adventurous Expedition vessels. Believing that the motor yacht market fits onto a spectrum with three major categories: Lifestyle yachts sit at one end, highly autonomous and specialized Expedition yachts are at the other, and versatile Explorer yachts sit somewhere in between the two, depending on their owners’ requirements for equipment. Naturally, all the yachts, whatever their category definition, need to be comfortable, seaworthy and efficient. Vitruvius Yachts are also 30% more efficient than other yachts of comparable size.

The impressive range of Vitruvius Yachts may range in size to over 100m in length, but Briand’s meticulous attention to detail means they are perfected to the nearest millimetre. This dedicated approach to intelligent, sustainable yet stunningly elegant design has been recognised internationally with 34 prestigious yacht awards so far. Philippe Briand has motor yachts under construction at Feadship, Perini Navi, Rossinavi and Sanlorenzo.

Philippe Briand Sailing Yachts

With over 12.000 of his sailing yacht designs are in the water, Philippe Briand could reasonably be considered the most prolific yacht designer of our time. His loyal client base of extremely discerning owners appreciate his collaborative approach to design – they are involved at every stage of shaping their own remarkable superyacht. His designs stand out for their technical excellence and precision, combined with his strong artistic flair and ability to drive innovative design trends as he seeks perfection.

From offices in both London and La Rochelle, Briand and his team of designers and engineers work with yacht owners around the world, who are looking to minimise the impact on the environment from their yachting activities, by choosing vessels that offer higher efficiency and lower emissions.

I agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

+44.2073512700

• www.vitruviusyachts.com
• 53 Stewart’s Grove London SW36PH United Kingdom

Featured Philippe Briand Yachts

Featured yachts, related news, philippe briand yachts available, philippe briand yachts, 1 for charter, yachts in build.

• Go to navigation
• Go to content
• Go to footer

Philippe Briand Yacht Design

• Our designers
• Philippe Briand

I have always tried to give Jeanneau designs for cruising boats, but also designs that benefit from developments in racing that are useful for cruising.

AN INSPIRED AND TALENTED MARINE ARCHITECT 

Elegance, performance and harmony are associated with all of the boats designed by Philippe Briand. The work of Philippe Briand has for a very long time been focused on sailboat design and marked by a joyfully eclectic character, because the architect has designed race boats of every size and style. Philippe Briand has also designed Super Yachts for cruising, including some of the biggest and most elegant sailboats. In all, more than 12,000 boats have left his drafting table, the great majority of which are production boat models. 

A COLLABORATION THAT BEGAN IN 1977 

At 22 years old, Philippe Briand drafted his first production boat model, when the Jeanneau shipyard asked him to design the Symphonie in 1977. In all, he would design 45 Jeanneau boat models in 38 years: the Espaces, the Sun Kiss, the Sun Fizz, the first Sun Fast models, most of the Sun Odyssey line, since 2012, and the Jeanneau Yachts, from the 64 to today.

“My work with Jeanneau has taught me a great deal about the best way to build a production boat model. They are seaworthy boats built by sailors, but also built with the goal of satisfying their many customers, all those who are passionate about the sea.”

You might also like

Type to search

Philippe Briand’s New 60m Ketch Concept

Kaze sets sail, written by emily bunn, march 24, 2023.

Yacht designer and naval architect Philippe Briand is renowned for his award-winning sailing yachts. The celebrated French designer has done it once again with the recently revealed layout for his 60m ketch concept, KAZE .

KAZE has a volume of 499 gross tons, meaning that she is subject to few regulations than larger boats. Her design prioritizes comfort under sail and spacious volume below deck. Briand has employed sleek lines, a low-profile coach roof, and two masts to balance his yacht’s careful composition. 

“My yacht design philosophy combines innovative engineering, sleek lines, minimalism, and performance-oriented luxury,” says Philippe Briand . 

Briand continues, “KAZE will feature the latest in navigation and automation technologies as well as high-end finishes for optimal comfort onboard. It is this combination of modern tech and timeless principles which make a boat beautiful, practical, and easy to handle.”

This proportional setup allows crew members to easily maneuver and enjoy this floating private residence. The slender hull furthers its navigability, as KAZE can self-sufficiently sail in light winds and rarely require a motor. 

Speaking of her efficiency, KAZE can generate renewable electricity. Water streams past the hull and turns the yacht’s propeller. This movement turns an alternator which is integrated alongside the prop shaft, producing energy. 

Adding to the yacht’s energy storage options, large battery banks provide another solution for excess energy retention.

Overall, KAZE emphasizes a high quality of life for its passengers. She is already developed past the concept stage and has received interest from multiple shipyards and build partners.

• french design
• naval architect
• Philippe Briand
• renewable energy
• sailing yacht
• sustainable
• yacht concept
• yacht design

Related Articles

The Best Summer Yacht Charters

Fun in the sun with northrop & johnson, international yacht company, and burgess yachts.

Vanquish Yachts' Fleet

Unfathomable, unbridled luxury.

Dock Talk with Gian Marco Campanino

The italian sea group’s global art director and his approach to yacht design.

ADVERTISE WITH EQ

Recent posts.

Popular Posts

EQ. MAGAZINE

• Destinations & Hotel Guide

• NEWSLETTER Sign up!
• MAGAZINE Subscribe!

No compromise for the 55m M/Y Shinkai, Philippe Briand explains why

The new 55m yacht Shinkai  is the eighth superyacht to be launched by Philippe Briand’s Vitruvius Yachts and the second designed for this owner. Shinkai was recently transferred from Feadship’s construction hallway in Aalsmeer to the builder’s outside dock for final outfitting ahead of her sea trials. As to the construction and co-naval architecture, these were carried out by Feadship De Vries, while Daniela Boutsen provided her interior design. Together, the eminent group has pushed the boundaries of what might be considered both a superyacht and an explorer at the same time. And herein lay the challenge for Briand and his team.

“This is a special project for us, as Shinkai is the second yacht that we have designed for her owner. In fact, he was the first yachtsman to embrace the benefits of Vitruvius’s efficient hulls,” says Philippe Briand. The result is a 55m, 974GT motor yacht demonstrating the following characteristics: high-tech, comfort, explorer layout, aesthetic, sustainability.

Adventurous Shinkai can reach the most remote places on the planet. She is ice-classed and stabilized by a vast mono gyroscope, which has never been specified on a yacht of this scale before. The 23-tonne gyroscope is particularly important for operations of the submersible, which needs a perfectly stable launching platform. It is also beneficial when navigating through waters at high latitudes, replacing conventional fin stabilisers which are at risk of being damaged by ice and flotsam, and are inefficient at low speeds.

A departure from the characteristic low-profile aesthetic of Vitruvius Yachts, Shinkai spans four decks plus an observatory setting, in order that the spaces inside meet the detailed requirements of the very experienced client. The owner’s cabin is positioned forward in the superstructure, with an exceptional area of 73sqm and a 135-degree view through full-height reinforced windows. There are four further guest suites, while seven cabins for 12 crew complete the accommodations.

Shinkai carries a wide variety serious toys, such as her 7,400kg U-Boat Worx submersible for three passengers. “I imagine it would have made Jean Jacques Cousteau jealous of such bright possibility to explore underwater!” adds Briand. The yacht’s design includes an extended aft deck to support the toys that make for a truly adventurous expedition, including 4×4 land vehicle, a large limousine tender, and multiple robust RIBs.

The Vitruvius “touch of design” assures the seamless integration of both “facets” of the project: an attractive superyacht and a powerful explorer. The high freeboard and superstructure are cut by a set of longitudinal lines, each having its own movement and raison d’être . 

With Shinkai ’s far-reaching cruising plans to explore the planet comes the responsibility to be environmentally sensitive in her operations, which Philippe Briand took into account when designing her hull lines. Even with the yacht’s generous displacement of 974GT, her hull resistance has been optimised to deliver a reasonable fuel consumption of 19.5L per nautical mile at a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Once she is delivered, her owner plans to extensively cruise around the world, from the frigid polar regions to the warmer tropics on the equator. With the capabilities afforded by her submersible and other toys, Shinkai is primed to provide those onboard with the chance to explore the oceans in three dimensions, both at the surface and well beneath it, too.

IN THE NEWS

Tankoa’s s501 series at her debut in the ‘evo’ version at..., feadship project 1011 gets ready for sea trials, sirena yachts starts construction of the first 42m superyacht, hydro tec presents its 55m catamaran, inspired by the mediterranean.

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• Boating Safety

Philippe Briand’s 300-Foot Sailing Yacht Concept

• Updated: April 19, 2019

Yacht designer Philippe Briand has revealed plans for his SY300, a 300-foot sailing yacht concept intended to be a true eco-friendly superyacht with carbon-fiber masts.

Briand stated in a press release that he developed 1,550-ton ketch using the same methodology for high-performance racing yachts. Hydrodynamic efficiency would allow underwater turbines to harness power and charge onboard batteries. At a maximum speed above 20 knots, he says, if half the energy were captured, it would be the equivalent of energy that a 500-kW generator produces.

On board, each of the yacht’s three decks would have a swimming pool and sunning area. A dining table on the flybridge would seat 16 guests. There would be a full-beam master stateroom on the main deck with a private terrace, along with six guest staterooms on the lower deck. Quarters would house 17 crew.

Other spaces on board would include a full-beam gymnasium, and a spa with a hot tub and massage room.

“This SY300 design showcases a yacht with purpose that is in keeping with the authentic spirit of sailing,” Briand stated in the press release. “I picture it being ideal for a passionate sailor who wants to stay in touch with the water and the power of the wind. They could even take the helm of the yacht themselves.”

How tall would this yacht be? Its foremast would tower more than 312 feet above the waterline. The spinnaker alone would span nearly 38,000 square feet .

Where to learn more: go to philippebriand.com

• More: Superyachts , Yachts
• More Yachts

“Energy Observer” Zero-Emission Boat Showcases Sustainability

Princess Yachts’ Y95: A Flagship Flybridge

Sanlorenzo, Volvo Penta Announce Partnership

Galeon Yachts 560 Fly Wins The Day

For Sale: Grand Banks 36 Classic

For Sale: 2023 Sirena 68

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Florida Travel + Life
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Yachting may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Yachting. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Vitruvius Yachts

Vitruvius Motoryacht Design

Briand SY300: true sailing experience on a megayacht

Briand SY300: authenticity and a passion for performance are the core principles behind Philippe Briand’s new sailing megayacht concept.

Philippe Briand has unveiled the latest sailing superyacht concept to come from his London- based design studio: the 90-metre (300-foot) Briand SY300 . With a traditional sailing rig, the 1,550-tonne ketch has been created to outperform other sailing megayachts on the water today, as well as to provide a head-turning aesthetic and ultimate comfort on board. The SY300 would be the ultimate prize possession for a passionate sailor who demands speed on the water as well as exceptional design and style.

Briand SY300, a true leader in the new wave of “green” superyachts

Unlike the growing number of sailing megayachts that are effectively motor yachts with sails, requiring engines to assist in propelling them through the water, the SY300 is an authentic sailing yacht in all aspects. It has been developed with a similar design approach to that used in smaller, high-performance racing yachts while boasting the hallmarks of Philippe Briand’s award-winning design pedigree, including clean, dynamic lines and outstandingly efficient naval architecture.

Driven by the pursuit of efficiency rather than opting for a faddish design, Philippe Briand chose a conventional two-masted sailing rig to complement the contemporary hull with its inverted bow, as this proves to be the most effective. With its foremast towering 95.3 metres above the waterline, the Briand SY300 ’s upwind sail area is 3,560m2, while its downwind sail area is 6,600m2, including a 3,500m2 spinnaker.

The design of the carbon fibre masts and rigging is heavily informed by the experience Philippe Briand acquired during the development and construction of the landmark 67-metre S/Y Vertigo and 73-metre S/Y Sybaris, two of the most celebrated sailing yachts in recent history.

Briand SY300: a spectacular sun deck

The yacht’s length at the waterline is 78 metres, with a maximum beam of 14 metres. Although the sailing yacht design includes three capacious decks for ample guest space, Philippe Briand has been careful to ensure well-balanced proportions deliver a sleek overall aesthetic. This includes a spectacular fly bridge in the flush sun deck, which covers an area of 112m2 and 14.8 metres in length. The star attraction of the exterior, the fly bridge will be a magnet for friends and family to come together, where up to 14 guests can experience the uniquely thrilling sensation of movement created by harnessing the natural power of the wind.

Of course, full enjoyment of the Briand SY300 ’s exterior can come at anchor or in port as well as while cruising or racing. The uncluttered decks are contemporary and allow stunning views of the surroundings. Each of the three decks offers guests a choice of swimming pool, paired with oversized sun pads or sun loungers.

An enormous dining table in the heart of the fly bridge seats up to 16 guests, with superb panoramic views and a removable bimini offering protection from the sun. The adjacent convivial seating area features two L-shaped sofas with low tables, while a more secluded seating area on the foredeck is perfect for a romantic sundowner or some private reflection time.

Inner space

Final interior layouts can be tailored to an owner’s desires, but initial drawings of the Briand SY300 allow provision for a large full-beam owner’s suite with his-and-hers bathrooms, an office and a private terrace on the main deck. A vast, full-beam saloon leads forward to a dining room on the port side or a play room on the starboard side, and a second door to the owner’s office.

A further six guest suites are located on the lower deck, as well as accommodation for up to 17 crew. A full-beam gym on the lower deck has sliding doors and steps leading up to the aft deck pool, and the adjacent spa features a Jacuzzi and massage room.

About Philippe Briand

London-based naval architect and yacht designer Philippe Briand – has been conceiving high-performance, visionary yachts since his childhood days sailing in La Rochelle. Today Philippe Briand is the CEO and inspired team-leader coordinator of three different design divisions: sailing yacht as Philippe Briand Ltd, motoryacht with Vitruvius Yachts Ltd and interiors by Philippe Briand – both for yachting and world-class real estate. His technical excellence and precision, accompanied by a strong artistic flair and talent for fashioning innovative design trends in the yachting market, have continued to evolve over what is arguably the most prolific career of any yacht designer today. Philippe Briand is one of real few innovator in yachting – “senior designer” of what is today the expedition/explorer vessels trend.

His successes have led him to build up a loyal client base of extremely discerning owners for custom designs, as well as to encourage a new generation of owners who are attuned to his prioritization of sustainable, intelligent design solutions, efficient and long-range green technologies. Briand’s background in naval architecture gives him the leading edge when it comes to integrating new technologies into his designs, as well as incorporating new materials or considering existing materials in new ways. His technical background and understanding of advanced hydrodynamics and production engineering have led to the creation of dozens of successful production yacht models over the years, accounting for over 12,000 vessels launched. The company’s current projects range from six to 105 metres, both for sailing yachts and motor yachts, including many highly customised and technical designs.

With offices in London and La Rochelle, France – Briand and his team of designers have won 34 international yacht design awards for their work (to date, spring 2018), and have collaborated with some of the most highly respected sailing yacht builders in the world, including Perini Navi, Lurssen (Germany), Pendennis (UK), Royal Huisman (Netherlands), Vitters (Netherlands), CNB (France), Groupe Beneteau (France).

Philippe Briand Website

You might be interested in

NL 50 Plus: striking, sinuous, timeless

NOLIMITS: Rossinavi has launched its new brand

SAGASU, a dreamy 48 meters: Hydro Tec’s new masterpiece

Feadship Dunes, 83 sustainable meters inspired by nature

Subscribe for latest updates.

Sign up to receive the best of superyachts news, world premieres and shipyards new models.

The only ADVERTISING FREE newsletter

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sailing Totem
• Charter Resources
• Destinations
• Galley Recipes
• Living Aboard
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology

Nominee Spotlight: Jeanneau Yachts 55

• By Andrew Parkinson
• October 3, 2023

On the heels of the Jeanneau Yachts 60 and 65, the French boatbuilder synonymous with sailing in style premieres its latest prodigy, the Jeanneau Yachts 55, at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Our editors first saw the 55 as a scale model back at the 2023 Miami Boat Show. A quick study suggested it was anything but another everyday sailboat design. With this new model, Jeanneau has emphasized the idea of building a boat around its potential owners’ needs, with an eye on long-range cruising in more space and comfort than ever before.

The Jeanneau 55 was penned in a collaboration between Philippe Briand Yacht Design, Winch Design and Jeanneau. According to the builder, the 55 sought inspiration from catamarans for space optimization. That approach is evident in the final product.

It starts with the boat’s exterior, in the form of a true dual cockpit setup. The twin helm stations are positioned a bit forward, leaving a wide area abaft for entertainment and relaxation, with two sofas: one U-shaped and one L-shaped, which both convert to sun lounges, and a hydraulic swim platform. Sheltered by an optional hardtop arch, the helm area and forward “exterior salon” include a chart table with a GPS screen and autopilot controls, all protected by a wraparound windscreen with excellent visibility. The streamlined foredeck also includes plenty of real estate for a sun-lounge, which can be shaded with a canopy at anchor.

Below the waterline, it’s a dual rudder system and a sturdy keel (either a traditional L-shaped fin keel with a weighted bulb or an optional shallow-draft version). At 40,878 pounds with a D/L of 125.5 and a 26 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, it extends its beam throughout, adding a topside chine for more interior volume.

Its sail configuration comprises a modern fractional sloop rig, enhanced by an attractive bowsprit. Versatile rig options are available. Downwind performance can be enhanced with an optional asymmetrical spinnaker, spanning 2,690 square feet. 

The Jeanneau 55 employed advanced composite materials in the build, with elegant wooden accents carrying a sense of timeless craftsmanship. Inside, the 55 sports a distinctive three-cabin layout, providing roomy, comfortable accommodations for up to six guests. Designed with a private apartment in mind, the forward owner’s suite occupies nearly two-thirds of the main interior. The cabin has an inviting island berth, while the salon offers an inviting L-shaped settee and two comfortable chaises. Two aft cabins offer cozy double berths, each accessible via its dedicated staircase from the protected cockpit salon. A functional crew cabin can be integrated into the bow as an option.

The starboard-side galley has a streamlined design, incorporating an island with a cooktop, an ice storage unit and a double sink. The 55 has three private heads, one in each cabin. Cabin headroom is also a plus, at over six and a half feet.

Attributed with the 55’s living spaces, design Andrew Winch says ergonomics are essential to the success of any boat design. “I was so pleased with the Jeanneau range, I even bought one for myself,” he says. “I have always wanted a yacht that was as comfortable as this and performed extremely well as an ocean sailing yacht. If there is one unifying thread which runs through all of our design departments, it’s our commitment to designing not just spaces for clients, but lifestyles.”

Jeanneau Yachts 55 Specifications

• More: 2024 Boat of the Year , Jeanneau Yachts , Sailboats
• More Sailboats

Meet the Bali 5.8

Celebrating a Classic

New to the Fleet: Italia Yachts 12.98

Leopard 40 Prelude Listed For Sale

The Moorings Expands in Croatia

C-Map Updates North America Charts

St. Vincent Court Orders Deportation For Hijacking Suspects

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Florida Travel + Life
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Cruising World may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Cruising World. A Bonnier LLC Company . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.