The world of sail boats is going through fundamental changes at many levels, whether it be usage and popularity, technology and design wisdom or just how people think about themselves and the sea.
Currently, boat design is being carried out in design offices around the world. While each is jealously protective of their intellectual property, they yet, amazingly, deliver very similar designs. Generally it seems to me the evolution of design thinking is moving forward slowly. The constraint I suggest is the lack of open dialogue, the opportunity to have many different minds contributing to a larger whole.
Our commitment is that not only do we enjoy a superior cruising experience than what currently exists, but that hundreds of people around the world also enjoy state-of-the-art cruising yachts.
In this endeavor, we invite people to use and share our ideas; we want the whole boating world to benefit.
What is all the fuss about?
There is more at issue here than just wanting to share our findings and go sailing; let me explain.
During any period of design history, design thinking follows certain trends or fashions, dictated by the prevailing conditions and preoccupations of folk during that time. For example, sail boat design is currently prevailed upon by our passion for racing and consequently we have become very good at designing very fast, easily driven hulls and sail systems that make boats go fast, very fast. However the concerns of cruising folk living on boats have not attracted the same level of design attention.
We suggest that there are two fundamental problems which are not being addressed:
1 - The ‘would be’ cruising couple are very unlikely to get what they asked for.
Everyone in the sailing world is aware of the endless debate between designers, builders and sailors about the rights and wrongs of yacht design and construction.
Sailors get to test the result of builders and designers handiwork.
The debate and the problems it fuels are real and prevalent all over the world. There is no right or wrong here; but there is the opportunity to go beyond these often futile hindsight arguments and bring together the experience of all stakeholders. This can only be achieved between people who embrace sharing of knowledge and can see the value of open source design.
2 - The woman’s touch is missing.
Traditionally boats have been designed by men, for men and much less attention (design thinking) has gone into the needs or perspectives of women.
My women’s perspective focuses on the following:
- Living aboard, putting the practical daily needs of people first.
- Comfort, both in port and at sea.
- The ability to easily clean the boat.
- Easy to access storage.
- Easy getting on and off the boat.
- Simplicity of operation through out, not just the sailing system.
- Inside beauty, the woman’s touch, not just the beauty of the boat’s exterior lines.
We are building boats for couples, and it does not matter how much the male half of the couple like the boat’s blokey features, if it does not meet her needs, then the couple are not going to enjoy a prosperous time sailing together.
Women, I invite you to email me; wilma@lifestyle-sailing.com with your needs and perspectives on what you value in a cruising yacht.
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