Reichel-Pugh Yacht Design

For over 40 years, Reichel/Pugh has occupied a rare tier in naval architecture, defining "The Art of Yacht Design" by turning visionary dreams into victorious realities. From the revolutionary Melges 24 to America’s Cup winners and record-breaking canting-keel supermaxis, the studio stands alone in creating the world’s most consistently rewarded designs. Every Reichel/Pugh design is engineered for longevity and performance, built to support thriving families and elite racing teams alike.

The Performance Edge: Innovation & Safety

The Reichel/Pugh reputation for "iconic beauty and outstanding performance" is backed by decades of technical investment. Racing yachts from the Reichel/Pugh drawing board have long defined many of the world’s historic ocean races and set new standards of innovation. From the 1999 record-setting ultra-light Transpac sled Pyewacket to high-tech canting-keel legends like Wild Oats XI and Alfa Romeo (now Black Jack), these designs have paved the way for new standards in technology and safety.

A "Safety First" mandate is integrated into every design, from 14' dinghies to 220' ocean-racing ketches. The studio utilizes advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and world-class Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes to optimize structural integrity, weight, and stiffness. This comprehensive approach ensures all loads are tracked from sail to structure, advancing the performance curve without sacrificing reliability.

A History of Champions

Reichel/Pugh's dominance is quantified by an unmatched record in the world's most prestigious regattas:

Rolex Sydney-Hobart: R/P designs have taken Line Honors 13 times and secured the overall win (Tattersall Cup) seven times. In the historic 2018 edition, the studio achieved a first-ever podium sweep, taking 1st and 2nd overall, alongside 1st and 2nd in Line Honors.
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: The studio has produced 41 class champions since 1997, including the 2023 Maxi World Champion Galateia and 2021 champion Magic Carpet 3.
Transpac Race: R/P maxis have broken the course record four times, winning elapsed time honours in seven out of eight editions between 1999 and 2013.
America’s Cup: The firm served as Principal Designer for the 1992 winner, America, and has led five subsequent challenges for the Cup.
Benchmark One-Design Classes: The award-winning Melges Performance Sailboats Melges series (9', 14', 15', 17', 20', 22', 24', and 32') continues to set the benchmark for high-performance sport-boat racing.

Collaborative Excellence

A distinctive yacht requires a cohesive team. Reichel/Pugh plays an integral role in the entire project lifecycle, forging deep, long-term partnerships with the industry's leading shipyards and engineers to produce ever-faster performance yachts. Our designs come to life through the technical mastery of the world’s premier builders:

Royal Huisman: Collaborators on the groundbreaking 47m cruiser-racer Nilaya, recently honoured by Robb Report as the "Best of the Best" Sailing Yacht.
Vitters Shipyard: Home of the 44m fast-cruising sloop Magic (2024), featuring naval architecture and deck design by Reichel/Pugh.
McConaghy Boats: Partners in pushing carbon fiber limits for legendary hulls, including the 2025 Fastnet Course Record-holder Black Jack (ex- Alfa Romeo /ex- Esimit Europa 2), 9-time Sydney-Hobart winner Palm Beach XI (ex- Wild Oats XI), and the record-setting Rambler 90, Shockwave 3 (ex- Alfa Romeo), Ourdream, Windquest (ex- Zephyrus V) Capricorno (ex- Morning Glory II).
Baltic Yachts: Setting the standard for modern cruiser-racers with projects like Visione (147'), My Song (130') named “Most Innovative Yacht of the Year” and “Sailing Yacht of the Year,” and the record-breaking Hetairos (220'), which holds the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup record and was named World Superyacht Awards for the “Notable Contribution To The Technical Advancement Of Sailing Superyachts,” and Shagala Bagala (ex-Nilaya).
Southern Wind Shipyard: A flourishing partnership featuring the award-winning 100' Morgana (“Judges’ Commendation for Exceptional Naval Architecture”), Allsmoke, Aragon, Lady G IV and Magic Blue.
J Class Heritage: Reichel/Pugh was selected to recreate the 1937 Starling Burgess and Olin Stevens design Ranger, which won the J-Class category at the 2022 St Barths Bucket.
As well as long-standing collaborations with premier builders such as Cookson (Pyewacket IV, Vera), Green Marine (Galateia, Maria Alba II), and Wally (Tilakkhana II / Magic Carpet 3) and now Sangiorgio Marine.

By fusing our racing heritage with technical innovation and sleek styling, Reichel/Pugh continues to lead the sport, defining how the next generation of high-performance vessels look and perform—tailored to the unique vision of the owner and the rigorous demands of the ocean

Services & Expertise

Naval Architecture & Engineering

Custom Hull Design: High-performance racing and cruising profiles.
Advanced Appendage Packages: Keel and rudder optimisation for Grand Prix and Superyacht fleets.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Utilising RANS code analysis and proprietary in-house tools to predict underwater turbulence and motion.
Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP): Sophisticated performance forecasting validated across four decades of modern yacht data.
Structural Engineering: Specialised in high-tech composite construction and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

Design & Styling

Exterior Design & Deck Layouts: Focused on the "iconic beauty" and functional ergonomics required for both elite racing and luxury cruising.
General Arrangement (GA): Creative space planning that reconciles high-performance engineering with sophisticated interior living.
Collaborative Styling: Seamless integration with world-class interior studios to realise the owner's aesthetic vision.

Consultancy & Project Management

Builder & Vendor Evaluation: Independent analysis of shipyards based on quality, budget, and project-specific technical requirements.
Build Supervision: Daily involvement with builders and composite experts to ensure design integrity from lofting to launch.
Rating Rule Optimisation: Strategic design and refinement for IRC, ORCsy, and America’s Cup class rules.
Performance Audits: Post-launch analysis and ongoing optimisation for the active life of the yacht.

At the Company Helm

John Reichel | Founder A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Naval Architecture program, John has been at the forefront of performance design for over 40 years. After apprenticing with Doug Peterson, he co-founded the studio, earning a reputation for finding the "technological sweet spot" where art and science meet.

Jim Pugh | Founder Liverpool-born Jim Pugh is the strategic driving force behind the firm’s design concepts. With four decades of competition experience, he works intimately with clients to realise their vision and establish new paradigms in Grand Prix yachting through a culture of "outside the box" collaboration.

Anthony Beale | Senior Design & Naval Architecture A graduate of the Webb Institute, Tony joined the studio in 2005. He bridges the gap between commercial engineering precision and high-performance yachting, ensuring R/P architecture remains grounded in competitive, real-world performance.