How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

I am Mehmet Kunt, 45 year-old Turkish man living in Cambridge, UK. I have sailed in the Aegean Sea in a friend’s Oceanis yatch about 17 years ago, which I still remember vividly. I have recently attended an RYA Start Yatching course. Also I go for scuba diving trips on liveaboards (not all of them are sailboats) a couple of times a year, to destinations such as Maldives, Galapagos, Cocos, Komodo…

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

I would like to be able sail in a reliable and comfortable yatch to far away exotic destinations, but places I want to visit are usually protected marine areas. So there must be a balance of comfort and minimum impact to the environment.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

At sea, scuba diving and snorkelling would be my main interest. When visiting a port, I would go and learn enjoy the culture.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

I think today’s boats have too much impact on the environment. I can tell this from first hand experience: I have seen places which are hot sailing destinations (NOT the ones I have listed above, by the way) where the marine environment has been affected very badly. Also the marinas themselves should be improved, we should aim for NO impact to the sea in a marina. Too ambitious? It can be done – by careful planning and design.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that that are important to you?

A boat should be a vessel to enjoy the sea, not to exploit it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

Several years of regattas in a centre-board dinghy, then ocean races in a Half tonner, Sélection Tour de France sailing, then convoys, cruises, overseer at Moorings and then Dream Yacht Charter in the Antilles, Seychelles, Thailand, New Caledonia, Tahiti.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

The boat that we would need for our customers.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

Ventilation is a factor that needs improvement, especially when you’re sailing in the tropics. Few boats can be correctly ventilated, particularly when it rains. We should be able to ventilate the boat properly in the rain or mist: the boat should be designed for this from the start. Ventilator system integrated in the structure, large portlights with covers at the aft. All of the portlights must be installed to limit the entry of rainwater and mist. Without adapted ventilation, the tendency is to equip boats with air conditioning, which is scandalous for the environment.

Energy: solar panels should be integrated in the initial design. We have to help users consume less energy and use the wind and sun more.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

Solutions that make it possible to not depend on motors or generators for daily living, clean boats to live in harmony with the environment. When you live on a sailboat or want to live outside, you spend more time in the cockpit and on the afterdeck than inside the boat, where you only go to sleep.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

Tomorrow’s sailing yacht is one that will travel without a motor or almost do so, by optimising sources of energy, the wind, the sun, and reducing heat engines and nuisances for the environment.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

Since the age of 10 (I’m 51 now), I went from the centre-board dinghy to the coastal cruiser, from the regatta to the family cruiser. I sail in Belgium, Holland and the Mediterranean. I started cruising at the Glénans and my 3 daughters have taken up the reins since then. We don’t own a boat, but we hire one almost every year for 1 to 3 weeks to sail in the Mediterranean (Corsica, Sardinia, Greece). We’re always just as active, whether using a centre-board dinghy, sailboard or cruise yacht.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

It should feel safe for a maximum of enjoyment. When I was 20, people were sailing on boats that required a serious dose of courage before casting off. The boat would shake and fill with water. You had to work at the foot of the mast or the end of the boom; there were no furlers yet. The sea is still the same, but getting on board is much more reassuring now. There’s still the problem of finding a comfortable place for people who want to rest. The best place is the cockpit, which is leeward, but when there are six or eight people on board, everyone wants to be there. Circulation on the sailboat deck must remain limited in the case of strong wind, but pleasant and safe when wind conditions allow.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

Hauling in a mainsheet when tacking is a great pleasure, but when the wind is strong, no one seems as willing to help. The possibility of rigging a forestaysail with an automatic turning gear track is wonderful when the wind gets strong, especially when it’s cold. Genoas on furlers should automatically be equipped with a self-tacking system and large sails should have reefs or a furler in the boom with battens from the mast to the leech.

An easily accessible secondary anchorage on the aft, making it possible to drop an anchor from the afterdeck on certain moorings, sometimes even at the port (sometimes it’s nicer to have the cockpit overlooking the water rather than the quay). This same anchorage should make double-anchor mooring easy if necessary.

On the mooring, a system that makes it possible to turn the boat to face the swell when the wind pushes it sideways.

An easy to implement system so that the anchor chain does not scrape in the davit, while maintaining safety.

To facilitate ship chandling, you should design storage that fits plastic containers (Curver, for example). This makes it possible to get groceries without plastic bags and to sort them directly (vegetables, fruits, conserves and starchy foods, breakfasts, breads, drinks, etc.). Why not design a system with a folding dolly, integrated in the storage, to easily go shopping with the plastic containers and store them away in an instant?

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

The idea of waste and ecology is important. Unfortunately, because of this, extra costs will increase the cruising budget: obligatory buoys in certain moorings, waste payment in ports. Thanks to a certain design, we have to be able to say that this boat is not harmful to the environment and avoid being confronted with these extra costs.

For fishing, a small area on the afterdeck to store lines and gut fish.

In terms of the cabins (bedrooms), the lack of ventilation is often hard to deal with. 2 people in a room can feel suffocated after an hour! The portlights should always be

placed at the ends of the cabin in order to encourage air circulation. Likewise, in the wardroom, when you have to take refuge due to a squall, for example, you’re obliged to close everything to prevent water from getting in. This makes the atmosphere unbearable after a few minutes.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

Tranquillity. I would like to call attention to the use of generators. On several occasions, I found myself on splendid moorings (Lavezzi, for example) alongside boats that turned on their generator… in order to watch a DVD or light up the cockpit or use the air conditioning. You should put a mandatory alarm signal (1 beep every minute, which cannot be disconnected) inside the cockpits and wardrooms when the generator is on in order to remind the skipper that it is operating and that it is bothering other boats around them.

Conviviality: welcoming friends, even those with little sailing experience, to share a wonderful moment. The friends who I invited to share these moments are very grateful to me.

Ease: handling must remain a pleasure, as well as manoeuvrability in ports and on moorings.

From a financial point of view, although I’m 51 and in a good professional situation, the accessibility of sailing is still a problem. It’s paradoxical that it costs so much while certain boats in ports rarely or never leave.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

Sailing… I was too little to remember when I set foot on a sailboat for the first time. I got my first sea legs on centre-board dinghies, Cadet then Vaurien. Then I started to spend my time on a Bélouga and then, for 30 years, on a Ketch houari from 1920 (it received 1^st Prize for interior design in 1922 in Bénodet for its sink made of faïence!). For 10 years, I’ve been sailing in Southern Brittany and the golf of Gascogne.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

The sailboat must be sturdy and safe, above all. It must be simple to use as a duo or with a reduced crew. It must be designed to be more functional, for example: the toilet area must not be too big and near the hatch, as this takes away from the wardroom.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

First of all, manoeuvrability. As sailing is often done in a duo, the sailboat of tomorrow must be human-sized and easy to handle at the port or with the sails (simple furler) and on the moorings. In the cockpit, you should be stable during heeling. You should be able to keep your footing and be able to sleep on a few bunks during heeling.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

Mooring outside of ports should be easier. Simple, silent solutions to have energy on board.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

Tomorrow’s values will be the same as today’s: freedom, being close to the elements and to nature. Sailing is an activity that puts everything into perspective.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

I’m 50-years-old and I’m an engineer in a major French aeronautics company in the Parisian region (see attached photo). I fell into the sailing world at an early age, when my parents bought their first boat in 1968, a Bénéteau “Galion”. Despite numerous years of cruises in France, Northern Europe and the polar region, regattas in sailing yachts and centre-board dinghies, I definitely don’t consider myself to be a “sailing champion”, because I see myself as average in all disciplines.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

As I often sail alone or with a very small crew lacking experience, tomorrow’s sailboat should be rapid, above all, comfortable but without frills. It should be able to be beached with a low draught and easy to maintain and use. The ideal length would be between 10 and 11 m.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

At sea, it’s important for me to be able to take or put objects or clothing in the cockpit without hassle. Personally, I’m a fan of the tiller, which is so much more pleasant in a 10 m sailboat than these cumbersome helms. On the other hand, I still haven’t found a reliable and simple system allowing the pilot of a tiller to fully benefit from computer systems brought on board (GPS map). An electric control of the “rising” and “lowering” of the canting keel set near the engine controls would be a welcome addition. Finally, all systems that facilitate handling while ensuring safety, such as the genoa furler, full batten mainsail, lazy jack and pulleys in the cockpit are always nice.

Numerous storage spaces are indispensable to store enough material and clothing for 4 to 6 people.

As the years pass, it gets harder to put the dinghy in the water on one’s own. A rigid dinghy adapted to the shape of the open cockpit of the boat would make it possible to close it during sailing (safety) and make it easier and effortless to launch it.

Life inside the boat is mainly spent on the moorings or at port, which allows me to make use of electricity. And I would easily swap the gas oven for a microwave. A special location for a laptop computer would also be great.

Finally, a side step would make access much easier when the boat is at the pontoon.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

Current fashions tend to highlight shapes and interior design to the detriment of real comfort of use. What is missing on the market is a rapid, easy to beach and comfortable 10-11 m boat, a sort of Oceanis 34 or 37 with a tiller, equipped with the keel of a First 25.7 and two rudder blades stabilising the boat and compensating the effort generated during beaching.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

As I live in the Parisian region, it’s easier to simply hire a boat. This solution has many advantages, but doesn’t fully satisfy me, because I cannot personalise the boat in any way. I see boats as an extension of oneself. So they must be customisable, depending on each person’s tastes and plans.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

I started sailing when I was 12. I’ve always been fascinated by boats. I started by renting “mirrors” in Spain. I’ve used the 420, 470, laser, sailboards… I love everything that floats, no matter what the size or shape. I bought an old Flétan in Charente about 15 years ago. That’s how I entered the Bénéteau family. This was followed by a First 210, a First 31.7 and then a Cyclades 39.3. I sail on the weekends in Belgium at Nieuwpoort and during holidays. I’ve never gone on a long voyage, as I don’t have the time (I sail with my oldest son and sometimes with the rest of the family, who aren’t as passionate about it as we are). I’ve sailed in Holland and England.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

For me, the Cyclades is an ideal sailboat in terms of its size and design: good inhabitable space, under-beam height, no superfluous decoration, easy upkeep of the surface. When you sail for several hours a week, you need a practical and operational boat. This is the case of the Cyclades, even though its size requires a minimum amount of time for exterior maintenance. I almost never cook while sailing. It always seems complicated and dangerous to me. When there are two of us and we want to set up the boat, we prefer to eat simple things like sandwiches, terrines or chips… On the other hand, I appreciate the comfort of the kitchen in the port. And the top opening of the fridge isn’t practical at all. The bathroom is okay, but a little bare in terms of storage. On the other hand, the capacity of the reservoirs is very good. The nice chart table seems destined to disappear and be replaced by a multifunction screen or a base adapted for a laptop computer and library area. The charts can be consulted on the wardroom table. I’d like to be able to steer while sheltered from bad weather and the cold (this would be an advantage in the North…). The Cyclades is designed more for sunny seas. I used to dislike two wheels, but now I think this is great, especially in terms of the available space. The cockpit table is ideal, but the plastic is hard to maintain. When the wind is low, we like to go dragnet fishing.

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

In terms of life at the quay, the electrical socket is poorly situated (the cable is cut when you close the locker…). The socket on the First 31.7 on the back board seemed more practical to me.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

I would like sailboats to evolve more, while remaining simple. I want a stable and high-performance boat that doesn’t heel.
I’m sure it’s possible to boost the Cyclades. A bumpkin, a longer boom… Different front sails could be available to owners who want to improve performance while respecting the boat design.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

I think that you have a very interesting approach. In the past, Bénéteau systematically sent us to the dealer. This was a mistake, even though they represent an essential link with whom we maintain good relations. A website link to obtain advice – about maintaining the boat, equipping it, steering it, navigational areas, etc. – could provide a real advantage. Although I already have a little experience, I can’t claim to know everything there is to know about sailing. The opinion of the sailboat designer regarding the navigation programme and the way to optimise it would provide precious information that we often can’t find in the nautical press. My relationship with my boat is a very close one. My boat is a means of getting away. It’s an eco-friendly pleasure, one that’s generally soothing. You can replenish yourself and forget about your daily cares. A boat is a dream. Even when sailing for a couple hours, when you feel that the boat is set up right and that it glides over the water in perfect harmony, it’s nothing less than pure pleasure.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your sailing habits?

My name is Allan and I’m 31-years-old. I live on land, since I don’t have much choice, but I’m an amateur sailor with the UCPA and rentals. Unfortunately, I don’t sail as much as I would like.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

For me, sailing is an opportunity to build a relationship amongst a group to face the elements head on. A sailboat should be a means to do so, and not a hindrance, especially for cruises that last one or several weeks. Life on board should be as unrestrictive as possible so that the crew is comfortable on the boat and not held back by it.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

Right now, especially with the sailboats that I’m familiar with (First 31.7, Oceanis 331), the basics are all there. On bigger sailing yachts, there are a lot of unnecessary things too. But I think that the management of the openings hasn’t evolved too much. We are seeing more and more large athermal windscreens that light up the interiors in cars. When will we see this on a sailboat? I think that on the new ranges, this should be taken into account, as well as the management of energy and energy-draining elements: LED lamps, low-consumption and properly insulated fridges.
Lastly, the management of air flows to ventilate the cabins in order to prevent a build-up of humidity and odours. Something like VMC that we see on pavilions might be considered, as this would be a real advantage.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that are important to you?

For me (and I’m probably not the only one), a boat is one of the last remaining tools that allow men to feel free, to find themselves face to face with nature and to respect it. Tomorrow’s sailing yacht should help me respect this nature even more (improve the management of wastewater, for example), to be able to use a heat engine less (battery recharge) or even go without it (why not replace the heat engine with an electrical generator?). Some people want more equipment and comfort to the detriment of performance and noise. This is a choice. But I think that it’s not a good one when it comes to sailing.

I’ m looking for a sailboat to buy, not very experienced sailor. But quite experienced with boating in nordic climate.

How do you envision the experience on board the sailboat of tomorrow in terms of your defined activity?

To take from how we design our houses. Functional, easy to clean,easy to use. Bright and white not dark an sad (as seem to be the marine tradition, at least here in norway).

What could facilitate life and daily activities on board, whether the boat is at sea or at the quay?

As told easy to use, nice to look at, (maybe sailing for dummies) « user interface » . At quay light, heat, good « beds » easy to use « kitchen » functional.

What is missing in today’s sailboats? What would you like to see on board the sailboat of tomorrow?

More automated sailing, but not more expensive.

What is your personal relationship with boats? How can tomorrow’s sailing yacht incarnate the values that that are important to you?

Non expensive quality. Enviromental friendly, mayby not green boats but « blue boats »,  clean lines,but untraditional. Maybe a « apple(mac) kind of sailboat. «