Dutch design studio Van Geest Design has teamed up with British naval architect Rob Doyle Design for a new 93m performance ketch. Named Ripple, Van Geest and Doyle have taken an interesting approach to large sailing yacht design by replicating the volume and performance of a motoryacht in an attempt to attract a broader audience.

This isn’t the first time that Van Geest and Doyle have collaborated, as the two were actually colleagues at Ron Holland design studio in 1999 when S/Y Mirabella V was designed, which at the time was the largest ever composite built sloop. Today, this proven design collaboration has joined together once more to produce a yacht which is said to target a demographic of owners that would want slightly more volume than sailing yachts tend to have, without compromising the yachts aesthetics. 

“There is a big tendency for sailing yacht clients to go for very classic vessels rather than opt for sailing yacht with larger volumes like motoryachts have,” says Pieter Van Geest, founder of Van Geest yacht design. “We are seeing a number of larger sailing yachts coming out so what we did here is increase the volume as much as possible without making the yacht look ugly.”

We are seeing a number of larger sailing yachts coming out so what we did here is increase the volume as much as possible without making the yacht look ugly.”

- Pieter Van Geest

With project Ripple, getting the aesthetics right was an absolutely essential to the project, the process required some unique design solutions that have resulted in quite a futuristic looking vessel. For example, the portholes have been disguised within the yacht’s hull stripe, which results in an uninterrupted design.

“There are a number of larger sailing yachts that don’t look that nice because of their large volumes,” Van Geest continues. “There are other sailing yachts that have large bulwarks which take away from the interior, which on Ripple we have also tried to avoid.”

Ripples caused in the sand on the ocean floor was at the heart of the inspiration for the yachts design along with cuttlefish bones, which set the tone for a more natural and simplistic design. But, having said that, the yacht certainly has a presence with her striking and futuristic exterior, as well as an interesting lighting display which Van Geest says “enables you to do something truly fantastic with the yacht.”

However, Ripple certainly isn’t just an aesthetical project, with naval architecture by Rob Doyle Design. The hull package has been created to provide fantastic sea keeping capabilities and comfort, which is a is aimed to target a broader demographic which wouldn’t necessarily opt for a sailing yacht.

Profile links

Van Geest Design

Rob Doyle Design

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