Owen Clarke Design

Owen Clarke Design was founded over twenty years ago and is recognised as being at the leading edge of performance sailboat design. We are particularly known for our earth circling IMOCA Open 60’s such as Ellen MacArthur’s Kingfisher, and as pioneers in the field of canting, lifting, and lifting/canting keel racing and cruising boats. As naval architects our portfolio is however as diverse as our experience, everything from the design of a 75’ sail training yacht to staff who’ve raced around the world and cruised north of the Arctic Circle.

Our philosophy is to be the key to success in all projects, offering creative thinking, challenging existing technology, and providing design excellence. We offer a managed, logical and high tech approach to yacht design with all the necessary tools that a project might need, from research and development, to old-fashioned flair and talent for the job.

First we listen to you. Then we share our knowledge. We also have years of experience cooperating with project teams and other designers to extend their capabilities, as well as our own. Like many good yacht designers, we once built our own boats too and as a company we have project managed numerous round the world race projects so we are familiar with the world of the boat-builder and the yard. We know how to work with builders in partnership. We will be recommending the most cost effective design interpretation, keeping all parties informed and involved, and supporting throughout the construction process – "whatever the program calls for" is our attitude.

Owen Clarke Design provide a full range of design, project and consultancy services for large sailing yachts. We undertake this work from offices in the UK and NZ, both for our own designs and as independent consultants to owners, project managers, shipyards, legal and professional bodies.

Our design team's experience in superyachts dates back to 1995 when Tim Sadler was Sensation Yacht’s design engineer during the construction of the ground breaking ketch Mari Cha 3. More recently in 2010 OCD were part of the team contracted as designers and naval architects to undertake modifications to the Wally 130 Angels Share, which on our part included among other tasks the running of a model test program. Angels Share subsequently won the best refitted sailing yacht at the 2011 Superyacht Awards and the Superyacht Society Awards.

Owen Clarke’s largest commission to date is a 45m performance blue water cruising yacht which remains subject to a confidentiality contract (hence no graphics or design details can be made available). The yacht has been designed and engineered to the yard tender stage, and now we’re looking for new challenges. If as an owner you’re looking for something exciting and innovative, as well as stylish for your next sailing yacht then we would like to share in that dream.

Independent Consultancy

The independent consultancy services provided by OCD are defined in three groups; project consultancy, naval architecture and design/engineering. Work is carried out by our experienced design/engineering staff and/or by our design associates with oversight by ourselves. Undertaken independently or as part of the client's team, from our offices in the UK, New Zealand and through our associates in the United States. No task is considered too large or too small and we work with:

- Design offices and naval architects
- Shipyards
- Owners
- Project management companies
- Skippers and teams
- Legal and professional service groups