What is the boat you have designed that you are most proud of?
I have a lot of pride in several boats. I like the little First that was born 210 back in the day and still exists today. It gives access to cruising. I also like Nomad IV, the 100-foot boat we built. It is the largest boat we have designed.
What I like about being a naval architect is trying to move from dream to reality. The boats, the sea and the way we evolve in this nature.
The architect is necessarily associated with an owner or a yard. To build a boat, we need these two interlocutors. We are obliged to work to a set of specifications. We try to give an interesting answer to these specifications, with our vision. That's how it works sometimes. We manage to make a project that interests the owner or the construction site, and that sees the day. It comes from an exchange.
What boat would you have liked to draw?
I like record boats. For example, the Vestas Sailrocket 2, built in 2011. It broke the world sailing speed record in 2012 in Namibia with a speed of 65.45 knots over 500 m and a peak of 68.01 knots.
What is the project you would have liked to work on?
Lately, things are changing and so are the speeds of the boats. It's crazy to be able to race at speeds that used to be world record speeds. We can now race at 50 knots, whereas it took us a long time to reach 50 knots with record-breaking boats. It fascinates me!
If I had a project, I would design a boat for the records. Well, rather a machine. We worked on record boats with Jean-Marie, but it ended a little early. I was a bit frustrated and I would like to start again.
