If you have ever wondered how a yacht goes from an idea to a fully defined concept, this course is where that journey begins.
This course is the first part of a two-course series covering the exciting world of yacht design, including both sailing and motor yachts. Across the two courses, all the important aspects of the concept design stage of a yacht are covered. Together, they are intended as an introduction to the knowledge required to design a yacht.
In these courses, you will learn the basic concepts required to carry out the design of a yacht, and you will also develop the skills needed to build that design through several practical case studies covering different yacht types and project phases. These case studies are presented in a high level of detail, mainly using the Maxsurf software suite.
In particular, this first part provides the foundation for the design process. We focus on the early phases of design, understanding the key performance drivers of a yacht and how the decisions made impact the final concept, which is the main outcome of the course.
More precisely, the course begins with the basic notions of the yacht design process and then moves on to how different yacht properties, including stability, speed, and seakeeping performance, influence the design. Once this relationship is understood, the main characteristics of the hull, the appendages — including rudders, keels, and hydrofoils — and the rig can be defined.
From these initial estimates of the main dimensions, a complete yacht design can be developed. To achieve this, we first introduce the modeling process and then apply it through several practical examples using Maxsurf Modeler.
As a result, you will obtain a yacht design able to comply with the different requirements needed to successfully fulfill its intended mission.
As a continuation of this course, a second part addresses additional aspects of yacht design, including performance evaluation in terms of resistance, stability, motions in waves, and sailing performance.
So, if you are interested in yacht design, you are in the right place to start.
Welcome aboard!