The list of speakers from the 2012 Superyacht Design Symposium is preserved below:
Nigel Campbell, Chairman, Superyacht Design Symposium
Nigel Campbell is an international mediator, conference facilitator and journalist. He has brought his experience to bear on projects as far ranging as a series of complex public consultation meetings regarding a major oil and gas infrastructure project in eastern Russia to facilitating a landmark international symposium on Tsetse Fly control in Kenya.
He works extensively in the transport and energy sectors where he regularly chairs debates between CEOs of European rail and utility companies and officials of the European Commission on matters of competition and regulation. He has worked extensively during the past 15 years as a mediator and conference facilitator at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Energy Agency.
As a journalist, Mr. Campbell has contributed to the travel pages of The Telegraph newspaper and is currently writing a novel inspired by his work with international organizations in Africa. He is delighted to have be invited back to chair the Superyacht Design Symposium for a second year.
Sailing and the sea have always been close to his heart as much of his childhood was spent yachting in the Solent and cruising along the south coast of England and Ireland.
The Owner of a new Cantiere delle Marche Darwin class explorer yacht
Luca Bassani, CEO, Wally
Passionate and visionary yachtsman and entrepreneur, he founded Wally in 1994 introducing a new concept of sailing cruiser that opened up a new route in yacht design.
After having revolutionised the sailing yachts, in 2000 he launched the innovative full carbon Wallyski, and in 2001 the Wallypower line changing the whole powerboat design.
Bassani’s innovative approach and design skills, generated an iconic brand. Luca developed Wally into the world leader in yachting innovation, combining latest technology with contemporary design, constantly looking at ways of improving on the water enjoyment with performance, comfort, and style. Wally launched yachts which still are unmatched reference points, and keeps innovating the product through an intensive activity in research and development.
The Bassani family has owned over 25 boats and Luca has been sailing for over 39 years winning World and European championships in different classes.
In 1999 he founded the Wally Class, the world’s largest fleet of performance yachts over 24 meters.
A graduate of Bocconi University, Milan (Business and Economics), Luca was CFO of BTicino Group, a world leader in electrical devices. In 2004, he received the honorary degree in Industrial Design from the University of Genoa, recognising his revolutionary work in design.
Martin Baum, Managing Director, Pantaenius
Despite travelling extensively to supervise his nine international offices, Martin Baum, Managing Director of the Pantaenius Group, enjoys life with his wife Sophie and his three sons, living close to the company’s headquarters in Hamburg.
He started his work career as an insurance apprentice for AON in Hamburg and later studied at the London School of Economics, graduating with a Masters in IT systems. Subsequently, he joined the family company in 2002. His achievements have included notable developments within the Pantaenius group, especially in the fields of IT, sales and marketing.
Martin started his career with a major restructuring of the Pantaenius IT department; he implemented a client service program with an automated enquiry form that shortened response times to clients to a minimum and created Europe’s first online yacht insurance provider, that today is still very successful. He also increased market share by widening international co-operation with boat builders, dealers and sub-brokers; plus developed a new superyacht team, which operates in EUROPE, ASIA and USA.
During his ten years to date as managing director, Martin Baum has directed the company to go beyond the borders of Europe and to become the only globally installed yacht insurance specialist acting in six languages worldwide.
Vasco Buonpensiere, Sales & Marketing Director, Cantiere delle Marche
Vasco has always been passionate about yachting. Following tweve years experience as a sales broker, Vasco began working as Sales Director of Custom Line and CRN (Ferretti Group) and later, Brand Manager of CRN. In almost six years, Vasco and his team sold more than 50 yachts from 30m to 80m and in 2010, together with an experienced team of shareholders, decided to take over a brand new facility in Ancona, setting up Cantiere delle Marche.
Drawing on the skills of acclaimed design and engineering professionals, in collaboration with a network of highly successful firms that belong to its corporate group, Vasco focused the Cantiere delle Marche production into explorer yachts; built with the same approach of working vessels in terms of engineering and specifications, but with all the necessary detail of pure yachts. In less than 24 months from startup, Vasco can count seven orders to international clients, three of which already delivered.
Pascal Conq, Managing Director, Finot Conq
Twenty years old when he designed and built the first regatta boat equipped with a canting keel in 1982. With a degree in architecture, this regatta sailor won the sailing “Tour de France” in 1985. In the same year, he met Jean-Marie Finot, for a fruitful cooperation of more than 25 years, and quickly became his associate. His involvement at that time concerned every racing project, such as their famous open 60′s, with an unmatched result of 4 wins in the single-handed round the world non-stop race known as the “Vendée Globe“. He has huge experience as well as race results in fast open sailing boats. 40 000 boats sail with the Finot-Conq signature.
In 2000, he moved to Vannes and is now the manager of finot-conq. Their recent successes are the results of their continuous involvement in both racing design and series production boats: 2 European Yacht of the year awards in 2012 with the Beneteau Oceanis 45 in the Family cruiser Category, and Structure’s Pogo 12.50 in the Performance Cruising category. Last July, a Pogo 40S2 won first place in Class 40 in the Québec-Saint-Malo race.
He is now taking the superyacht market by storm with the first FCcube100’
Paul Cook, CEO, Advanced New Technologies ([ANT])
Paul is the Business Development Director of [ANT], a company renowned for integrating Superyachts and Residences with sophisticated technology, including entertainment systems, IT, communications, bridge systems and high level security.
Having grown up in the UK sailing Mecca of Lymington, Paul continued his maritime upbringing with a career spent connected to the sea as a Royal Navy officer, with 3 command appointments, before becoming a Superyacht Captain. He then established various businesses connected with Superyachts before joining the board of [ANT] in 2008.
A certified petrol-head and classic car owner he is a committee member of the British Maritime Federation.
Bill Duker, owner of 70m new build S/Y Sybaris
Bill Duker is the former owner of S/Y Coconut and S/Y Shanakee. He is currently building a 70m S/Y Sybaris with Perini Navi. In addition to the Perini team, led by Giancarlo Ragnetti and Franco Romani, Bill is working with the Miami interior design firm PH Design Studio, the Naval architect, Philippe Briand, Robert Tobin of Döhle and Bill’s son and business partner, West Duker.
Sybaris is expected to be delivered January, 2015.
Chris Dlugokecki, USA Country Manager, RINA
Chris has been active in the marine industry for over 20 years, graduating from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Throughout his career, Chris has worked in positions which have exposed him to the many various aspects that make-up the marine industry, including: engineering and design positions with Gibbs & Cox in New York; shipyard representation for Astilleros Espanoles in the US; technical and commercial operational positions with the world’s largest ship management organization, the V. Ships Group, including Marine Superintendent and Business Development Manager for North America from 1997 thru 2002; shipyard new construction and repair experience as Supervisor of Initial Design and Naval Architecture with General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego from 2002 thru 2006. Chris’ last assignment was as Business Development Manager with Lloyd’s Register from 2006 until earlier this year.
Chris joined the Italian Classification Society (RINA) in February 2012, and is currently based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, responsible for RINAs commercial and technical operations as Regional Manager for North & Central America and the Caribbean area, for the groups’ Marine Classification, and Management System Certification businesses.
Chris currently lives in Palm Beach with his lovely wife, Maria and two sons, Christopher and Michael.
Martin Francis, Designer, Francis Design
Martin trained at the Central School of Art and Design and worked as a cabinet maker before, in 1967, starting work with architect, Norman Foster, on a wide range of projects.
In 1988 he got his first commission for a motor yacht. The 73 meter gas turbine powered yacht named ECO, (then Katana, now Enigma) launched in 1991, was extremely radical for its time.
Among relevant projects he has undertaken are:
• Golden Shadow, a 65 meter Discovery Yacht/Support Vessel, carrying a Cessna floatplane together with complete diving and marine research facilities
• Senses, a 57 meter global expedition yacht, which carries a helicopter, micro-light, sailboat, and numerous tenders. She has done several circumnavigations.
• Yacht ‘A’ the radical 118 meter joint project with Phillip Starck, for which Martin was responsible for the general arrangement and the naval architecture.
He also assisted IM Pei in the design of the structure of the Louvre Pyramid.
Current projects for Martin include luxury villas on the Cote d’Azur, a 120 meter new build at Lürssen and the technical development of a 14 meter Mercedes-Benz styled limousine tender for Silver Arrows Marine.
Germán Frers, CEO, Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering
Germán Frers’ interest for yacht design began at an early stage while sailing with his family. He started training at his father’s office and at 16, designed his first boat – a 10m offshore racer. In 1965 Germán moved to New York to work with the legendary design group, Sparkman & Stephens. In 1970. he moved back to Buenos Aires to take charge of the office founded in 1928 by Frers Sr. Since then the office has produced more than 700 designs.
Frers’ designs have won all the major trophies around the world. He moved to Italy in 1989 to lead Raul Gardini’s Il Moro di Venezia’s design team for the 1992 America’s Cup and in 2000, won the Louis Vuitton Cup with team Prada. Frers has forged a reputation as a designer of strong, seaworthy and stylish ocean-going yachts. Each design is imbued with the unique combination of Frers’ design ingredients: experience handed down over generations, coupled with advanced technology and concepts.
Paul Greenman, Business Developer, Bradford Products
During his 7-year tenure with Bradford, Paul has collaborated with architects, designers, engineers, contractors, and aquatic designers, ensuring they have a working knowledge of stainless steel and how it relates to the aquatic industry. He has developed CSI specifications for stainless steel pools, spas, and steam rooms, along with AIA accredited courses on stainless steel aquatic vessels. Paul with Bradford’s Design/Build team has provided the hotel, resort, government, municipal and boating industries with significant insight on integration of innovative stainless steel products within their projects. His understanding of functionality, durability and the “green” qualities of stainless steel is essential to this process.
With a B.S. in Public Communications from Syracuse University, Paul has over 30 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience, and is a Certified Pool Operator. His knowledge of water chemistry, chemical sanitization, filtration systems, heating and maintenance are vital to any safe and efficient operation where on-board aquatics are concerned.
Paul has been involved with numerous high profile projects in North America and the Caribbean. Most recently he worked with HOK Architects to design the water features at the new U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., currently undergoing manufacturing and installation by Bradford Products.
Marnix Hoekstra, Partner, Vripack
Vripack is a third generation Studio that is lead by designer and naval architect Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix J. Hoekstra. As a graduate in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Marnix J. Hoekstra, B.eng. is one of the third generation owners of Vripack, the Dutch Naval Architecture, Design, Engineering and Brokers firm which was founded in 1961 by Dick Boon.
“To seamlessly blend the sailing wishes of our clients in to a design that first throws them off their feet and later on is embraced as if they thought of every inch themselves, gives our team and thus me a great pleasure. You can see this right from our first Doggersbank like “Beothuk” and the invention of the first expedition yacht “Turmoil”.
“The quality of our work is the sum of experience and enthusiasm”, according to Marnix.
Ron Holland, Ron Holland Design
Few have achieved the level, diversity or longevity of success in international yacht design that define Ron Holland. From modest beginnings as a young sailor and apprentice boat builder in Auckland, New Zealand, Ron went on to become a highly accomplished ocean racing sailor, the world’s leading racing yacht designer and the creator of a new generation of 100ft plus performance superyachts – going on to consolidate Ron Holland Design’s reputation as one of the most innovative and capable superyacht design teams in the world.
With the accumulated experience and expertise of almost four decades of success, Ron Holland continues to look to the future, remaining extremely hands-on and relishing new challenges. In recent years he has extended his repertoire into award-winning motor yachts and opened an additional office in Vancouver to service the Canadian / US west coast and the Pacific Rim. In addition, he has been instrumental in developing part of the curriculum for a post graduate course in Master of Engineering Studies, Yacht Engineering, at the University of Auckland, where he features as a high profile guest lecturer.
With recent projects as diverse as the classic 32.4m ketch Kestrel, the first 60m Perini, the 45m RMK motor yacht Karia, and a refit of the 75m sloop Mirabella V (now m5) Ron has lost none of his fascination with exceptional challenges to which he applies such a remarkable wealth of experience.
Neil Howard, CEO, Howard Spa Consulting
Neil has gained 32 years of worldwide 5 star experience in the creation, design direction, preopening and operation of spas for resorts, urban hotels, high-end retail stores, yachts, apartment buildings & private residences worldwide.
One of Howard Spa Consulting’s recently completed projects gained the prestigious Tatler Spa award for ‘Best International Newcomer’ – a feature of the forthcoming 2013 Tatler Spa Guide. Furthermore, Howard Spa Consulting is responsible for not one, but two of the ‘11 Best-Designed Spas in the World’ as featured in this month’s Architectural Digest.
Since forming his own consultancy company in 1994 as one of the pioneering consultants in the field of spas, Neil has assisted the creation of exclusive spas for some of the world’s most prestigious properties & brands, accruing an enviable client list placing his company at the forefront of spa consultancy practises
today.
Justin Iserhardt, Naval Architect & Marine Engineer, American Bureau of Shipping, Houston
Justin Iserhardt is a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering. He gained experience in the design and construction of yachts from some of the world’s top builders while at Murray & Associates in Ft. Lauderdale, a design firm specializing in refits and new construction of yachts.
As a Senior Engineer at ABS, Justin manages the group that reviews yacht structures for ABS’s North American clients. In addition to aluminum and steel, he has recently been specializing in the review of FRP and wood structures to ABS rules. He has also been instrumental in revising the ABS Guide for Building and Classing Motor Pleasure Yachts with a scheduled release date of October 2013.
Justin spent his childhood living aboard a 40ft sailboat in the Caribbean and Southern US and sailed competitively through high school and college while also teaching sailing at the local yacht clubs. Justin is based in Houston with his wife and daughter, and is restoring and repairing a fiberglass Snipe class dinghy to a competitive level.
Ches King, Marine Manager for West Coast USA, Lloyds Register
Ches K. King – Lloyd’s Register North America, Inc. (LRNA) Marine Manager West Coast USA resides in Seattle, WA area.
He obtained M. Sc. degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in Gdansk, Poland in 1973. He has worked with classification societies since 1983; Lloyd’s Register in Seattle, WA since August 2002, Det norske Veritas 1983 through 2002 and marine design and consulting 1973 through 1983.
Ches K. King held various technical and managerial positions in Lloyd’s Register and DnV at different locations in Canada and USA and has been involved with mega yachts project, new construction and in operation, supervised construction and conversions of ships and drilling units East and West coast in Canada and Atlantic Northeast, Southeast and Pacific Northwest in USA. Ches is a member of Lloyd’s Register Yacht Forum.
Currently, manages marine operation and development of Lloyd’s Register West Coast USA including account management of 50 (+) large Cruise ships and 15 (+) mega yachts. Ches K. King maintains competence in a wide variety of issues related to new building and ship-in-operation for ships, Certification of Material and Components as well as in the human element, especially the impact on maritime safety. Additionally, Ches K. King is a qualified auditor of marine safety and security management systems instructs training courses for the marine industry on hull inspection, damage, repair and classification and statutory services.
Ches K. King is married to Nina with four children.
Ioanna Marinopoulos, Interior Designer and Owner of M/Y Doubleshot 2 Ioanna Marinopoulos
Ioanna Marinopoulos is an architect-interior designer and for the last 15 years she has been focusing on the decoration of luxurious residences and yachts.
Doubleshot 2 is a wonderful example and the fourth in a row of her accomplishments in this area.
Ioanna started by designing big, open windows in unusual sizes and styles. Her idea to start from quite low, for both practical and styling reasons, resulted in the corresponding lowering of the bulwark and also in the total elimination of the handrails, a particularly challenging issue with RINA.
The redesign of the stern with a full beam stairway leading down to an extremely wide platform created the main aft deck. Ioanna eliminated the staircase from the main inner salon, and placed it outside, leading to the sundeck, so that she could create space for a second tender.
By eliminating also the second staircase to the cabins from the main salon, she created a stylish laundry, independent from the crew area, with a big opening window and a view of the sea.
Ioanna wanted the yacht to reflect a floating contemporary “Caribbean house”. All of the lighting fixtures are in art deco style, designed by Ioanna, as well as authentic pieces matching the comfort of cotton piquet in conjunction with the Caribbean wooden shutters. The polished nickel dominates throughout and gives a clean ambiance to the area. The design of most of the furniture and bathrooms by Ioanna makes anyone feel that they are at home and not on board a fast, offshore yacht.
Bonnie McIvor, Managing Director, mcIvor&team Ltd
After graduating with an engineering degree from the University of Alberta, Bonnie started her career in the Canadian mining and oil/gas industries. She returned to academia and completed her MBA, graduating at the top of her class in 2005. She entered the superyacht world when she took a position on the owner’s team overseeing the refit on a 70m motoryacht. She has held a variety of roles since then, including AV/lighting Project Management, Project Manager on a 120m refit, Electrical Design and Consulting on a series of large production yachts, Technical Sales Specialist to name a few. In complex projects for mcIvor&team, Bonnie combines her considerable expertise in project and business management with her technical competence in electrical systems and sophisticated electronics installations.
She is passionate about providing creative solutions to projects in distress and bringing the professionalism of her early industrial career into yachting. She is fiercely client-orientated and enjoys the challenges of international projects. She has worked and lived in 7 countries and considers it one of the privileges of her career to have that opportunity.
Stuart McClure, Shipyard Project Manager, Trinity Yachts
Stuart served for 13 years in the Royal Navy rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer specializing in Communications and Electronic Warfare. After leaving the Navy in 1989, he joined the 80m motor yacht Golden Odyssey as Electronics and Electrical Engineer Officer during its construction at Blohm & Voss. Three years later, Stuart was appointed Chief Officer and then as Relief Captain on the Odyssey. He also consulted on the construction of the 212ft support yacht, Golden Shadow.
After moving ashore, Stuart was Production Manager at Intermarine and joined Trinity Yachts in 2000. Stuart has project managed ten new yacht constructions ranging from 142ft to 196ft and is currently the Shipyard Project Manager of the new construction steel displacement 242ft (74m) New Horizon and of a 120ft raised pilothouse yacht.
He is a Member of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and of The American Society of Naval Engineers and is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Marcel Müller, Managing Director, Green Marine
Marcel born in Germany is a qualified boat builder and holds a degree in aeronautical engineering. He initially started his career in the aeronautical industry before joining Marten Spars in New Zealand as their operations manager. During his 6 years at Marten Spars Marcel became a well known figure in the superyacht industry. Prior to joining Green Marine he was appointed Managing Director for a German automotive industry subsidiary of Marten Marine specialising in the manufacturing of mid to high volume composite component parts.
Marcel competed for many years as a member of the German national sailing team and took part in international events in the Olympic Tornado Class. He also has extensive cruising experience and circumnavigated his own yacht around the world.
Frank E.H. Neubelt, Yacht Designer
Frank grew up sailing on his uncle’s 43ft Cruiser-Racer, a 1969 Huisman, which today he owns with a friend. In 1990, Frank started his career as a yacht designer working with friends, and is the founder of one of today’s most internationally acclaimed yacht design studios, NEWCRUISE.
NEWCRUISE developed several custom sailing yachts up to 88ft and motor yachts. In 1997, the studio launched the Moonen built 120ft Xanadu followed by the award-winning White Heaven.
This success inspired Frank to invite one of his team to co-partner in setting up a design company under the label NEWCRUISE-Yacht Project & Design. This new venture produced many celebrated yachts including Triple-Seven, Siren, Sapphire and 300ft Luna.
Frank is currently taking some time out and looks proudly upon his significant design and creative involvements over 20 years in the yachting industry, with continued passion and enthusiasm.
Merfyn Owen, Partner, Owen Clarke Design
Merfyn Owen is a graduate of University College London and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. He is Owen Clarke Design’s senior naval architect and until recently mainly focused on the design of racing yachts and the co-ordination of R&D programs for grand prix projects.
OCD are the most recent design office to cross the divide from the racing world to designing and providing consultancy services to the superyacht industry. They are the UK’s leading offshore race-boat designers with a portfolio that includes Ellen MacArthur’s Kingfisher and Acciona 100% Eco-Powered, their eighth and latest IMOCA Open 60. In performance terms a ground breaking yacht but also the first to enter the Vendee Globe powered entirely without fossil fuels.
From offices in the UK and NZ they provide a range of naval architecture, yacht design, engineering, and consultancy services for both new commissions and the refit of large sailing yachts. The company has been working quietly as naval architects/designers behind the scenes in the superyacht world for six years. First consultants on modifications to the record breaking schooner Mari Cha 4, their latest project in 2010 was the refit of the award winning Wally 130, Angels Share.
Jonathan Rhoades, Director, Rhoades Young Design
A qualified architect, Jonathan began his professional career working in London on various prestigious projects for CZWG Architects, and later for a conservation architect restoring chapels and grade listed buildings.
This was followed by 2 years at Thomas Eriksson Architects in Stockholm, one of Sweden’s most highly regarded modern furniture, industrial and interior designers. This stage of Jonathan’s career provided great experience into furniture construction, wood joinery and fine detailing, as well plastics and moulding.
A job at Nokia preceded five years working at Ken Freivokh Design, where Jonathan worked on a variery of prestigious projects including a 90m sailboat, a range of Sunseeker Yachts, as well as large motoryachts.
Jonathan joined what is now Rhoades Young Design in 2001, and quickly made himself an invaluable asset to the company, becoming a company Director and Partner in 2002. Since Jonathan’s arrival, Rhoades Young Design has gone on to design some of the world’s most prestigious Motor and Sailing yachts.
Ed Roberts, Director of Sales, Hodgdon Yachts
Ed Roberts has spent a 25 year career in the boat business. Having left design graduate school in the early 80’s after becoming hooked on sailing he started a charter sailing and yacht brokerage business in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Ed left the sailing business to serve at far East builder Grand Banks for 16 years, leaving as V.P. of Sales and Marketing followed by a similar position at Hinckley of Southwest Harbor, Maine before joining America’s oldest boat builder, Hodgdon Shipbuilding, in 2010. He remains an avid sailor and design enthusiast.
Simon Rowell, Partner, Bannenberg & Rowell Design
Simon Rowell joined Dickie Bannenberg in 2003, the year after the death of the studio’s eponymous founder Jon Bannenberg.
Creative Director of the Company from the moment he joined, and subsequently business partner of Dickie, Simon had previously worked for several years in the high-end hotel design business, working on a number of notable projects for Rocco Forte and others.
Together with Dickie, they set to the task of restarting the Bannenberg clock and from 2004 onwards, a string of award-winning interior projects emerged out of the studio, including the rebuild of the classic Blue Bird (once owned by Malcolm Campbell), Feadship’s startling Predator; Bacarella, the largest Trinity ever delivered (until earlier this year) and, most recently, the 85m Pacific, delivered by Lurssen.
The studio continues to work at many of the leading shipyards including Heesen, Abeking & Rasmussen, both Feadship yards and Benetti, whilst developing exterior designs for Lurssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, CMN, Benetti and Oceanco. Residential projects include a lakeside house in Geneva, a modernist “man-cave” in the Middle East and a contemporary waterside family home in the English countryside.
The studio was renamed Bannenberg & Rowell in 2009.
Jonathan Saltman, President, International Aero Services
Ronno Schouten, Head of Design, De Voogt Naval Architects
Ronno Schouten has a master degree in both naval architecture and marketing. He worked on several yards mainly involved in yacht building before he joined Feadship in 2003. He started as manager Yacht Services responsible for refits. Thereafter he became manager of the Naval Architecture department. Currently Ronno is manager of Feadships design department responsible for layout, styling and technical feasibility of new projects.
Tommaso Spadolini, Design Studio Spadolini
Tommaso Spadolini started designing yachts under his father’s supervision even before he graduated from University and has been doing just this for the last 30 years. Today more than 200 yachts that navigate the world seas bear his signature. In the last year 5 special yachts were delivered to their owners: among them in May 2011 the 70m M/Y Numptia built by RossiNavi in Viareggio, and, just recently, an innovative 45m M/Y ASLEC 4 built in Viareggio Italy by RossiNavi with interiors by Remi Tessier and a 46m M/Y 2 Ladies, exterior design by Frank Mulder with the interior by Tommaso built at RossiNavi in Viareggio. Both ASLEC 4 and 2 Ladies were on display at the 2012 Monaco Yacht Show.
Tommaso and his design team are committed to developing solutions with attention to detail, technical innovation and an eye to the environment in order to deliver distinctive, “green” and successful projects. He and all of his staff always work very closely with clients, both owners and/or shipyards, to translate their dreams into reality.
For Tommaso Spadolini, a yacht ‘lives’ on the water and interacts with the sea in all weathers. He thinks that a designer’s job is to interpret the desires of the clients, who invariably want to be able to enjoy the sea environment in safety, luxury and comfort.
This year, Numptia was nominated for the 2012 World Superyacht Awards and the 2012 Showboat Design Awards.
Benjamin Julian Toth, Young Designer of the Year 2012
With his background as an Industrial Designer from Austria, Benjamin Julian Toth gained experiences in the field of product and transportation design and discovered his affection towards maritime themes within a cooperation project, where he developed a jet-ski for the Porsche Design studio.
Following the challenging offer from another design studio to develop a 60ft motoryacht concept as his thesis project, he eventually found his passion for designing yachts and shortly after registerd at the 2012 Show Boats Design Awards within the young designer category.
Benjamin’s solution for converting a former 50m survey vessel into a yacht of ‘cutting edge design’ showed sympathy with the original vessel, but also incorporated novel design features within its avant-garde appearance.
His project ReSeadence50 was chosen by a panel of international judges making him the winner of the coveted gold neptune trophy as the young designer 2012 which as a result has re-assured him that the yacht industry is the area of design that he will pursue further as a career. Consequently, Benjamin begins working with renowned design studio Redman Whiteley Dixon in October 2012.
Bill Tripp, Tripp Design
Bill Tripp spent his childhood on the water sailing and racing in boats his father designed. Bill’s father, William H. Tripp, Jr., designed such well-known yachts as the Bermuda 40, the Block Island 40 and the Columbia 50. Bill studied Naval Architecture at the University of Michigan (M.E. & B.E. in Naval Architecture) and joined up with Doug Peterson right out of school, working on designs that would be victorious in regattas such as the SORC, the Admirals Cup, the Sardinia Cup, and the Southern Cross series. After spending several years as chief designer with Peterson, and as a construction engineer for Maxi Yachts Kialoa, and Condor, as well as a brief stint at Baltic Yachts, Bill struck out on his own, founding Tripp Design in 1984.
Tripp Design is a team of Naval Architects, Engineers and Design Project Managers specializing in the design and engineering of modern yachts. Their current projects range from 43-feet to 80+ metres. Recently launched is the Wally 50m Better Place (awarded RINA Green Star Certification). Other notable designs include the 42.6m Sarissa (winner of the 2012 Showboats Design Award for Naval Architecture), the 45m Saudade (winner of the 2007 Boat International Superyacht Award Best Sailing Yacht 45m’+).
Christian von der Heyde, Director, Alexseal
Christian was born in 1942 in Berlin, Germany. He has been residing in the US since 1969.
Since the beginning of his work history, he participated in the development, research and application of reaction polymers, Isocyanate cured Polyurethane and Polyisocyanates for the paint and coatings industry.
He is a contributing member of the pioneering application and introduction of the Polyurethane chemistry to the aviation and global marine market.
He retired from the US. Paint Corp., (manufacturer of AWLGRIP ) after 15 years as President and CEO in 2002.
From 2002 to present, he is Director at Mankiewicz Coatings (manufacturer of Alexseal Yacht Coatings).
Derik Wagner, Managing Director, MTN Satellite Communications
Derik Wagner brings more than 10 years of global sales and management experience to his role as managing director of the MTN yacht services business. He is responsible for leading the yacht business’ continued growth in providing global satellite communications solutions to large luxury yachts around the world.
During his tenure, the MTN yacht services business has rapidly achieved recognition as the preferred supplier of global managed VSAT services for the megayacht industry, with more than 50 percent of the world’s top 100 largest yachts using MTN for their broadband communication requirements.
Prior to joining MTN, he served as senior account manager at France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) where he represented over 30 distributors throughout the Americas for mobile satellite services, including Inmarsat, Iridium, and Thuraya Equipment and Airtime. Previously, Derik worked on the first VoIP gateways and Softswitch technology as an engineer at Lucent Technologies.
Wagner graduated from the University of South Florida.
Erik Wassen, Naval Architect, Dykstra Naval Architects
Growing up on the shores of Holland’s biggest Lake the Ijsselmeer, Erik grew a passion for boats and water at an early age. Drawing and building radio controlled model sailing boats, glider planes and shaping windsurf boards when he was a child, was the start of his naval architect and engineering career.
The study for Naval architect was a logical continuation, and whilst graduating from an education for Marine engineering Erik started working for Dykstra Naval Architects, where he already works for almost 20 years.
Erik has been designing yachts such as “Christoffel’s Lighthouse”, “Meteor”, “Hetairos” and “Kamaxitha”. Dykstra Naval Architects was founded in 1969 by Gerard Dijkstra and has become a leading specialist in the design, re-design, naval architecture and marine engineering of classic and modern performance yachts, using in-house developed software as well as first hand practical experience.
Erik has been the lead designer and naval architect for “Hetairos”, the Panamax Project, built at Baltic Yachts. “It has been a big challenge designing and working on the creation of “Hetairos”” says Erik Wassen, “the fine balance between modern technology , functionality and classic appearance was the most challenging part”.