Guillaume Verdier is a French naval architect noted for his designs of high performance sailboats.

Life

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Verdier was born 28 September 1970.[1] From 1990 to 1993 he studied at MSc in Yacht and Powercraft Design at what is now Southampton Solent University before moving to do a post graduate master at the University of Southampton in Naval Architecture from 1994 to 1995.[2] On completing his degree and then became a member f Naval Architecture Research Department of the University of Copenhagen developing design tools.

Awards

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In 2016, the Solent University, his alma mater, awarded him with an honorary doctorate of engineering degree.[3]

Career

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Verdier was recruited in 1997 by the company Finot-Conq, Which is known for its designs of 60-foot sailboats. He worked notably on the development of Christophe Auguin's Geodis, Yves Parlier's Aquitaine Innovations and on the conception of Sodebo, Somewhere and on PRB 3 as well, the winner of the Vendée Globe in 2000–2001 with Michel Desjoyeaux.

In 2001, he founded his own company, whose first design was the Yves Parlier's Hydraplaneur.[4]

In 2004, he was part of the design team for the Areva Challenge, which participated in 2007 America's Cup.

From 2006, he began working with naval architects Marc Van Peteghem et Vincent Lauriot-Prévost of VPLP design. Together, they created numerous 60-foot boats:

  • Safran[5]
  • Groupe Bel for the Vendée Globe 2006–2007,
  • PRB 5,[6]
  • Virbac Paprec 3,
  • Banque populaire and
  • Macif[7]

In 2010, he joined the Emirates Team New Zealand to design the AC72 with the team of Grant Dalton for the America's Cup in 2013.[8] He contributed to the development of foils that permitted the sailboat to leave the surface of the water and to attain speeds in excess of 40 knots.[9]

In 2014, he designed the monohull Comanche with the intention of creating the fastest monohull in the world.[10][11]

Following his experience with ETNZ, Verdier worked on Banque populaire VIII of Armel Le Cléac'h, a 60-foot monohull launched in 2015.[12]

In 2017 the trimaran Maxi, designed for Edmond de Rothschild, was launched.[13][14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Guillaume Verdier". Banque Populaire, la Banque de la Voile. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. ^ "BIO".
  3. ^ "Renowned naval architect and yacht designer awarded honorary degree". Solent.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Ces Français de l'ombre qui servent la Coupe de l'America". L'express.fr. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Premier 60' - 2005 - Safran Sailing Team". Archived from the original on 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  6. ^ "News – PRB 5 is launched – Vendée Globe". Vendeeglobe.org. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Courses Nautiques : Guillaume Verdier: Pourquoi ses bateaux sont en tête". Nautisme.meteoconsult.fr. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Guillaume Verdier chez Team New Zealand !". Voilesetvoiliers.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Coupe de l'America: l'abécédaire de la 34e Coupe". Eurosport.fr. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Launched: the fastest monohull ever? – Yachting World". Yachtingworld.com. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Video: Designing the Volvo Ocean Race yachts of the future". Ybw.com. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  12. ^ Nouvelle, L'Usine (19 January 2017). "Armel Le Cléac'h grand vainqueur de la 8e édition du Vendée Globe – Construction navale (civile ou militaire)". Usinenouvelle.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Voile: le "magnifique" Maxi Edmond de Rothschild a pris son premier envol". La Croix. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  14. ^ "GALLERY Ecco Gitana 17, il più grande maxitrimarano volante del mondo!". Giornaledellavela.com. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Maxi-trimaran "Gitana 17". Josse, le pari de voler !". Letelegramme.fr. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
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