Owen Clarke Design Llp
Owen Clarke Design LLP is a UK-based naval architecture firm designing custom sailing yachts from 6.5m craft to 76m superyachts, serving high-net-worth owners and professional racing teams with bespoke design, engineering consultancy, CFD analysis, brokerage, and refit services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersDartmouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Owen Clarke Design Llp does
Owen Clarke Design LLP is a UK-headquartered yacht design and naval architecture firm founded in 1993 by Merfyn Owen and Allen Clarke, operating as an LLP since 2002. The firm designs custom sailing yachts across the spectrum from 6.5m ocean rowing craft and Class 40 race boats to a 76m superyacht, with active programs in IMOCA 60, Class 40, TP52, cruising, explorer, multihull, and superyacht segments. Engineering services include rudder and steering system design, carbon component engineering, appendage optimization, CFD analysis, and physical model testing, supported by a proprietary VPP written in Fortran 77 that has been continuously refined since 1985-86. The firm also operates OC Performance, a brokerage channel for designed yachts, and provides refit and modification services.
The business model is project-based B2B consulting, with revenue derived from design fees, engineering consultancy, brokerage commissions, and refit work. Clients are predominantly high-net-worth individuals commissioning bespoke builds and professional offshore racing teams (named clients include Ellen MacArthur, Mike Golding, Seb Josse, and Cole Brauer), with builders such as KM Yacht Builders acting as build partners. Geographic delivery is distributed, with designers based in the UK, USA, and New Zealand serving an international client base. The firm is privately held with no external investment and operates with a small team (1-10 employees per disclosed scale).
Owen Clarke Design Llp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Owen Clarke Design Llp
- Legal name
- Owen Clarke Design LLP
- Website
- https://owenclarkedesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Owen Clarke Design LLP is a UK-based naval architecture firm designing custom sailing yachts from 6.5m craft to 76m superyachts, serving high-net-worth owners and professional racing teams with bespoke design, engineering consultancy, CFD analysis, brokerage, and refit services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Owen Clarke Design Llp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Yacht Design & Naval Architecture
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Boat Building (336612)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAA), Explorer Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAE), Custom Yacht Building & One-Off Projects (IMAJAEAL)
Keywords
Where Owen Clarke Design Llp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dartmouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Owen Clarke Design Llp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Yacht Design Services: Bespoke yacht design and naval architecture services for racing, cruising, and explorer yachts ranging from 6.5m to 75m
- Project Management: Full project management services for new-build yacht projects from concept through construction and launch
- Engineering Consultancy: Specialized marine engineering including rudder design, steering systems, carbon components, and appendage engineering
- Brokerage Services: Sale and purchase of pre-owned racing and cruising yachts including Class 40s, IMOCA 60s, multihulls, and superyachts
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Owen Clarke Design Llp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Owen Clarke Design is a yacht design and naval architecture firm that creates custom sailing yacht designs spanning racing (IMOCA Open 60, Class 40, Open 50, Wally Cento, TP52, IRC/ORC), performance cruising (12m–30m lifting keel blue water cruisers), high-latitude aluminium explorer yachts, multihulls, and sailing superyachts (24m–40m+). The firm provides integrated naval architecture, engineering, CFD analysis, project management, and construction support, and operates an OC Performance brokerage division for pre-owned yachts.
Product overview
Owen Clarke Design is a leading yacht design and naval architecture firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of custom sailing yacht designs spanning racing (IMOCA Open 60, Class 40, IRC/ORC yachts, Wally Cento, TP52, Open 50), performance cruising (12m-30m lifting keel blue water cruisers), high-latitude explorer yachts, multihulls (catamarans and trimarans), and sailing superyachts (24m-40m+). The firm provides integrated services including CFD analysis, model testing, rudder and steering system design, carbon component design, naval architecture, and engineering. Their consultancy services extend to racing yacht performance development, VPP routing, and yacht refit/modification. The company also operates a brokerage division for pre-owned OC designs and other racing/cruising yachts. Founded by Merfyn Owen and Allen Clarke, the firm manages projects from concept through construction and delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Class 40 Open Racing Yacht Design
Quantifiable outcome
- Class 40 Dragon won Bermuda 1-2 by 200 miles
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Owen Clarke Design Llp
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Owen Clarke Design Llp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Owen Clarke Design Llp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KM Yacht BuilderscoreDutch boatyard that built Qilak, a 66ft aluminium blue water explorer yacht for commercial charter and polar expeditions. OC provided complete design and project management for the build, representing their first aluminium design project.
- Marten YachtscoreNew Zealand boatyard that built Spirit of Adventure 65ft custom blue water cruiser and Kingfisher IMOCA 60. Long-standing relationship for high-performance composite yacht construction.
- Cape Racing YachtscoreSouth African boatyard that built multiple Class 40 designs including #149 Hydra and #157 Cape Racing Yachts. Partnership for building and launching competitive racing yachts.
- Nautor SwanminorConsultancy project providing rudders and steering system design for Nautor Swan 115 superyacht.
- V1D2minorFrench open class specialist yard in Caen that completed fit-out of Class 40 #157 and IMOCA 60 refit work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Owen Clarke Design Llp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bruce Farr Yacht Design: New Zealand-based designer of grand prix racing yachts and superyachts (TP52, IRC, Maxi). Directly comparable peer in performance yacht design, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere market where OC also operates.
- Clay Oliver Design: British America's Cup designer who has collaborated with Owen Clarke on IMOCA 60 projects. Comparable in specializing in high-end grand prix sailing design and CFD-led engineering.
- VPLP Design: French ocean racing and multihull design firm specializing in IMOCA 60, Ultime trimarans, and Class 40 designs. Directly competes with Owen Clarke in the same Vendee Globe and ocean racing customer base, with overlapping brokerage and design service offerings.
- Botin Partners: Spanish naval architecture firm focused on high-performance racing yachts including IMOCA 60 and Maxi designs. Competes with Owen Clarke for the same elite ocean racing clientele and similar high-performance design briefs.
- Humphreys Yacht Design: UK-based yacht design firm with deep experience in racing yachts, IRC/ORC designs, and cruising superyachts. Direct competitor in the same British design market serving both racing and custom cruising owners.
- Verdier Yacht Design: French design office specializing in IMOCA 60s, cruising yachts, and superyachts. Direct peer serving the same ocean racing and custom blue water cruising customer segments as Owen Clarke.
- Marc Lombard Design: French naval architecture firm producing Class 40, IRC, and cruising yacht designs. Directly comparable to Owen Clarke in the Class 40 and cruising racer-cruiser customer segments.
- Juan Kouyoumdjian Naval Architects: Argentine/European design office known for IMOCA 60, Volvo 70, and superyacht projects. Direct peer in the offshore racing design segment and large custom yacht space.
- Mark Mills Design: Independent yacht designer producing IRC/ORC racing yachts, superyachts and cruiser-racers. Directly comparable peer in custom high-performance sailing design for racing and superyacht owners.
Emerging players
- Pogo Structures: French builder of Class 40 and Mini Transat production racing yachts with their own in-house design. Adjacent peer serving the same Class 40 customer base but operating primarily as a series builder rather than custom design consultancy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Owen Clarke Design Llp social profiles
Digital presenceOwen Clarke Design Llp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Owen Clarke Design Llp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Owen Clarke Design Llp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Owen Clarke Design Llp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Owen Clarke Design Llp
What does Owen Clarke Design Llp do?
Owen Clarke Design is a yacht design and naval architecture firm that creates custom sailing yacht designs spanning racing (IMOCA Open 60, Class 40, Open 50, Wally Cento, TP52, IRC/ORC), performance cruising (12m–30m lifting keel blue water cruisers), high-latitude aluminium explorer yachts, multihulls, and sailing superyachts (24m–40m+). The firm provides integrated naval architecture, engineering, CFD analysis, project management, and construction support, and operates an OC Performance brokerage division for pre-owned yachts.
Is Owen Clarke Design Llp a public or private company?
Owen Clarke Design Llp is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Owen Clarke Design Llp founded?
Owen Clarke Design Llp was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Owen Clarke Design Llp based?
Owen Clarke Design Llp is headquartered in Dartmouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Owen Clarke Design Llp make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Yacht Design Services are the primary driver. The others are project Management, engineering Consultancy and brokerage Services.
Who are Owen Clarke Design Llp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bruce Farr Yacht Design, Clay Oliver Design, VPLP Design, Botin Partners, Humphreys Yacht Design, Verdier Yacht Design, Marc Lombard Design, Juan Kouyoumdjian Naval Architects and Mark Mills Design. Pogo Structures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Owen Clarke Design Llp have an API?
No public API is recorded for Owen Clarke Design Llp.
What industry is Owen Clarke Design Llp in?
Owen Clarke Design Llp's product category is Yacht Design & Naval Architecture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAGAO, Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support), with a secondary code of IMAJAEAA, Sailing Yacht Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 3730.