Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design

What Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design does

Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design is a privately-held, boutique naval architecture and yacht design studio founded in 1983 by John Reichel and Jim Pugh and headquartered in San Diego, California. The firm designs custom high-performance sailing yachts spanning one-design dinghies, grand prix racers, supermaxis, superyachts, catamarans, and performance cruisers, with a portfolio of over 100 designs across its 40+ year history. Core technical work is performed using proprietary in-house design tools refined over 35 years, complemented by Velocity Prediction Programs (VPPs) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for hull form and appendage optimization; the firm pioneered canting keel technology for 100-foot supermaxis including Wild Oats XI.

The company's revenue model is professional services: project-based custom yacht design fees, supplemented by ongoing collaboration with builders (Baltic Yachts, Royal Huisman, Vitters, McConaghy, Perini Navi, Southern Wind, Hart Marine), stylists (Nauta Design, Design Unlimited), and composite engineering partners (Gurit). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with fees varying by yacht size, complexity, and engagement scope. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with no formal marketing channels — new business is generated through industry reputation, race results, and direct referrals from existing UHNW clients. Customer segments are ultra-high-net-worth yacht owners seeking bespoke racing and cruising yachts, and professional racing teams requiring cutting-edge designs for grand prix competition.

The studio is intentionally small, with five named professionals (co-founders Jim Pugh and John Reichel, plus Anthony Beale, David Oliver, and Kate Herron). It is privately held by its founders with no external funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no parent company. Recent strategic activity includes the 2026 Sangiorgio Marine partnership to develop the Admiral 42 racing yacht, the 2025 Magic 44m with Vitters, the Advanced 72 Maxi Catamaran with Cassetta Design, and continued delivery of race-winning results across 2025-2026.

Name

Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design

Legal name

Reichel/Pugh Yacht

Website

https://reichel-pugh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design is a privately-held boutique naval architecture studio in San Diego, founded in 1983, that designs custom high-performance sailing yachts for ultra-high-net-worth owners and professional racing teams, ranging from dinghies to 100m+ superyachts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Yacht Design and Naval Architecture

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering) (IMAJAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

Keywords

• Custom yacht design
• Naval architecture
• High-performance sailing yachts
• Superyacht design services
• Racing yacht engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Yacht Design Services: Full-service naval architecture and yacht design for custom racing and cruising yachts, from initial concept through construction oversight and racing support. Projects range from small sportboats to 100m+ superyachts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design is a boutique naval architecture studio providing custom yacht design and engineering services for high-performance sailing yachts. Engagements span the full lifecycle from initial concept, hull form design, and structural engineering through builder selection, construction oversight, and ongoing racing optimization for clients ranging from individual yacht owners to professional racing teams. Projects range in scale from 14-foot one-design sportboats to 100m+ superyachts and supermaxis.

Product overview

Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design is a custom yacht design studio offering naval architecture and engineering services for a portfolio of high-performance sailing yachts spanning from small dinghies to 100m+ superyachts. The company designs racers, cruisers, supermaxis, superyachts, catamarans, and performance cruisers. Key products include the Melges dinghy series (Melges 14, 15, 24), WallyCento racing superyachts (Galateia, Magic Carpet³), supermaxis (Black Jack 100, Wild Oats XI), superyachts (Hetairos 66.8m ketch, Nilaya 154ft, Magic 44m), and the new Admiral 42 carbon racer. The company has over 40 years of experience designing winning yachts for every type of sailing competition from one-design dinghies to America's Cup and offshore maxis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hetairos (66.8m Panamax Ketch Superyacht) 66.8m (218ft) Panamax ketch superyacht built by Baltic Yachts with carbon composite hull, lifting keel, and 3,000 square meters of sail area. Designed for ultra-high-net-worth owners seeking technically advanced bluewater cruising with racing performance.
• Reichel/Pugh–Nauta 154 Nilaya 154ft (47m) sailing superyacht built by Royal Huisman featuring Nauta Design. Recognized by Robb Report with 'Best of the Best - Sailing Yacht' award. Design No. 283.
• Magic 44m 44-meter (144ft) fast-cruising sloop built by Vitters Shipyard; a family-centric blue water cruiser with aluminum hull, luxurious living quarters, submarine anchor systems, and a peak shaving battery system. Design No. 298.
• Galateia (100ft WallyCento) 100ft WallyCento racing superyacht co-owned by David Leuschen and Chris Flowers. 2023 and 2025 IMA Maxi 1 World Champion, with multiple Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge victories. Built by Green Marine.
• Admiral 42 High-performance carbon fiber racing yacht developed in partnership with Sangiorgio Marine for elite inshore regattas and offshore classics, engineered around RORC's 2027 Admiral's Cup Class 2 box rule.
• Advanced 72 Maxi Catamaran Luxury maxi catamaran designed in collaboration with Cassetta Design and Advanced Yachts. Design No. 307.
• My Song 130ft supermaxi built by Baltic Yachts; named 'Most Innovative Yacht of the Year' and 'Sailing Yacht of the Year' by World Superyacht Awards and a Transatlantic Race record-setter.
• Melges 24 24ft one-design sportboat; the most successful one-design sport boat in history. Named 'Boat of the Year' Overall in 1994.
• Melges 14 14ft dinghy built by Melges Boats; named 'Best Dinghy of the Year' in 2016.
• Melges 15 15ft dinghy built by Melges Performance Sailboats; named 'Boat of the Year' Overall in 2022.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sydney-Hobart Race: 12 Line Honours wins, 5 overall wins, 3 course records
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sangiorgio MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Strategic partnership to develop a new generation of high-performance racing yachts. Debut collaboration is the Admiral 42, a high-performance carbon fiber design engineered for elite inshore regattas and offshore classics, inspired by RORC's 2027 Admiral's Cup Class 2 box rule.
• Design UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on exterior styling and design for superyacht projects including Magic 44m, in close cooperation with Pieter Laureys and TK Interiors.
• Vitters ShipyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch shipyard builder for Magic 44m fast-cruising sloop, collaborating on naval architecture, deck plan, and exterior design.
• Royal HuismancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder for Reichel/Pugh-Nauta 154 Nilaya superyacht (Design No. 283), launched April 2023.
• Baltic YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish builder for multiple superyachts including Visione 147', Nilaya 112', Hetairos 218', and Claude 68'.
• McConaghy BoatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian builder for numerous R/P designs including Wild Oats XI, Alfa Romeo, Shockwave, Alive, URM Group, and many racing yachts. Long-standing partnership since early designs.
• Nauta DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian design studio collaboration on superyacht interiors and exterior styling for projects including Reichel/Pugh-Nauta 154 Nilaya and R/P-Nauta 100 Morgana.
• Perini NavicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 42m E-Volution Series superyachts (Design No. 275), with GTS and Nauta Design variants.
• Southern Wind ShipyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African builder for Southern Wind 94 and R/P-Nauta 100 Morgana sailing yachts.
• GuritcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposite engineering partner for superyacht projects including Hetairos, My Song, Southern Wind 94, and Gambler/Loki/Lucky lineage.
• Advanced YachtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilder for Advanced 72 Maxi Catamaran (Design No. 307) and Advanced 80.
• Hart MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian builder for Chutzpah 40, Primitive Cool 51, and Aszhou 63 designs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Judel/Vrolijk & Co: German naval architecture firm specializing in high-performance racing yachts, including multiple Volvo Ocean Race / The Ocean Race, TP52, and supermaxi designs. Directly comparable in customer base and design discipline.
• VPLP Design: French multihull and racing yacht design studio behind America's Cup, Ultime, and IMOCA programs. Competes in the same offshore grand prix and supermaxi design space as Reichel/Pugh, with adjacent multihull expertise relevant to R/P's Advanced 72.
• Ker Yacht Design: New Zealand-based designer (Jason Ker) specializing in high-performance racing yachts including TP52s and maxis. Comparable boutique design studio competing for grand prix racing clients.
• Dykstra Naval Architects: Dutch naval architecture firm collaborating with Reichel/Pugh on Hetairos. Direct peer designing superyacht exterior lines and engineering for the same UHNW owner base.
• Farr Yacht Design: Legendary Bruce Farr-founded design house producing America's Cup, Volvo, TP52, and superyacht designs. Direct historical peer with overlapping trophy-winning racing portfolio.
• Nauta Design: Italian design studio co-authoring Reichel/Pugh-Nauta superyachts (Nilaya, Morgana, E-Volution). Directly comparable as superyacht naval architecture and exterior/interior design partner serving the same clientele.
• Botin Partners: Spanish-based high-performance sailing yacht design office led by Marcelino Botin. Designs America's Cup, TP52, Maxi, and superyacht projects and competes for the same UHNW owner commissions as Reichel/Pugh.
• Philippe Briand: French yacht designer with a four-decade portfolio of racing yachts and superyachts. Directly comparable in custom sailing yacht design services for UHNW owners.
• Humphreys Yacht Design: UK-based custom yacht design studio with a portfolio spanning IOR/IMS/IRC racers to large performance cruisers. Comparable boutique size and target clientele.
• Juan Kouyoumdjian Naval Architecture: Argentine-French designer known for Volvo Ocean Race, IMOCA 60, and supermaxi projects. Direct peer in performance yacht design for racing syndicates and high-end owners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reichelpughyachtdesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reichel-pugh-yacht-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design