User-Centric Design in Sailing Yachts: Why Your Boat Should Fit You, Not the Other Way Around

User-centric design in design of sailing yachts changes how we sail, whether you’re racing, cruising, living aboard, or chasing adventure.

Here’s the blunt truth: most yachts aren’t made for you. They’re made for everyone, which means they fit no one. That’s why you find yourself climbing over hardware in the middle of the night, bruising your shins in the galley, or wondering why reefing feels like a CrossFit session.

Arthur Peltzer, Head of Design at Project Made in Holland, has a different approach. He designs yachts around people, not the other way around. As he puts it, “A yacht should feel like an extension of your body, your crew, and your ambitions.”

What is User-Centric Design in Design of Sailing Yachts?

Think of it this way. Production yachts are like one-size-fits-all shoes. They’re okay, but wear them across an ocean and you’ll have blisters.

User-centric design flips the script. The yacht adapts to you, your crew, your purpose. Racing a regatta, crossing an ocean, or setting up for liveaboard life with kids? The design answers to that. It’s about ergonomics, safety, and comfort—without losing speed.

Arthur explains it simply: “We look at what you really do at sea. We take your routines, your strengths, your frustrations, and we build them into the design.”

No More One-Size-Fits-None Compromises

Most production yachts are compromises. They’re made to tick many boxes for many people. Which means they never tick all the boxes for you.

With user-centric design, compromises disappear. The boat is tuned to your exact program. Racing crew aiming for ORC wins? We adjust performance to the certificate. A family setting off on a world trip? We make the layout manageable for one parent to handle while the other rests.

It’s like swapping that ill-fitting sailing boot for a custom carbon shoe. Suddenly, you’re faster, safer, and less tired.

Want to see what that looks like? Book a DesignLab session with Project Made in Holland. Bring your race program, or your liveaboard dream. Let’s turn it into a yacht that fits.

A Yacht That Evolves With You

Life changes. Boats should adapt too.

Your ambitions shift. One year you’re racing ORC or IRC events. Next year, you’re heading off for a circumnavigation. Or maybe your crew size drops from six to two. Or you start sailing with your children. Or your own strength changes over time.

User-centric design makes those transitions possible. Adjustments can be made to layouts, sailplans, and systems so the yacht grows with you. For liveaboards, it means the boat can truly function as a home—safe, ergonomic, and comfortable for years on end.

As Arthur says, “Your yacht shouldn’t be fixed to one purpose. It should evolve with your life.”

Performance Meets Ergonomics

This is where it gets interesting. Performance isn’t just about sails and hull shapes. It’s about how you use human strength—the most limited resource on board.

Layouts should let you do more with less. Winches placed where they save energy. Reefing systems that work for one person. Lines that flow in a way that avoids chaos.

Picture this. A couple is sailing around the world. It’s 3 a.m., the wind picks up. One goes on deck while the other sleeps. Thanks to user-centric design, reefing is straightforward, winches are within reach, and the cockpit feels safe. No circus moves needed.

For families, it means kids can be part of the crew without danger. For racers, it means smoother manoeuvres under pressure. For liveaboards, it means energy saved for the moments that matter.

Safety and Comfort Under Real Conditions

Let’s be honest. Fatigue is the true enemy offshore. And poor design makes it worse.

Fast sailing is comfortable sailing. The boat stays steady, less rolling, fewer spills in the galley. That’s a quick win. But there’s more.

Practical fixes include:

• Handholds where you need them, not where designers thought they looked pretty.

• Galley setups that actually work on both tacks.

• Navigation stations you can think straight in at 3 a.m.
  

And then there are deeper solutions:

• Rudder and keel redesigns for stability and control.

• Adding water ballast to balance the boat under pressure.

• Redesigning the sailplan so you manage fewer square metres when sailing with fewer crew.
  

These aren’t luxuries. They’re the difference between a safe crossing and a risky one. Between enjoying the adventure and suffering through it.

A Yacht That Evolves With You

Life changes. Boats should adapt too.

Your ambitions shift. One year you’re racing ORC or IRC events. Next year, you’re heading off for a circumnavigation. Or maybe your crew size drops from six to two. Or you start sailing with your children. Or your own strength changes over time.

User-centric design makes those transitions possible. Adjustments can be made to layouts, sailplans, and systems so the yacht grows with you. For liveaboards, it means the boat can truly function as a home—safe, ergonomic, and comfortable for years on end.

As Arthur says, “Your yacht shouldn’t be fixed to one purpose. It should evolve with your life.”

How Does Project Made in Holland Make It Happen?

Here’s how the process works:

1. Define Your Purpose

   Racing, cruising, liveaboard, or adventure? Every choice starts here.

2. Crew Profiling

   We look at crew strength, size, routines. From winch loads to galley ergonomics, the boat adapts to real people.

3. Scenario Simulation

   We walk through your actual sailing life. Race start, stormy night watch, ocean passage. We test what flows—and what breaks down.

4. Co-Design Workshops

   You sit with us, sketch ideas, make adjustments. It’s practical and fun.

5. Refit, Optimisation or New Build

   • Refit: optimise ergonomics, tweak sailplans, add smarter systems.

   • New build: design from the keel up. No compromises.

6. Go Deeper: Rudder, Keel, Certificate

   We design better rudders or keels for either comfort or performance. And for racers, we optimise certificates to help you perform to your ambition.

7. Fit to Budget

   Not everything requires a full rebuild. Sometimes small changes make a big difference. Think smarter layouts, smooth underwater hull, added handholds, or new sail-handling systems.

Arthur laughs when he says this: “Sometimes it’s a string change, sometimes it’s a whole new set. Both matter.”

Real Use Cases and Stories

• A racing team wanted better ORC results. By optimising their layout, weightplans and tweaking their sailplan, they gained performance without overloading the crew.

• A couple set out on a world trip. By redesigning their reefing system and winch placement, one could handle the boat safely while the other slept.

• A family turned their yacht into a live aboard home. Ergonomic upgrades made daily life simpler, and the yacht felt safe even with kids on board.

These are not abstract ideas.
They’re real stories of sailors who chose design that fits them.

Why This Matters for Every Sailor

Production yachts make you adapt. User-centric yachts adapt to you.

That’s the big difference. Whether you race, cruise, live aboard, or seek adventure, a boat designed around your life is safer, more comfortable, and more fun.

Arthur sums it up: “A yacht should feel like an extension of your body. That’s when sailing feels natural.”

User-centric design in design of sailing yachts is about making the boat fit you, your crew, and your life. No compromises, no wasted energy, no unnecessary risks.

So let me ask you this. What’s the most frustrating design flaw you’ve dealt with at sea? Share it with us.

Or better: bring it to a DesignLab session with the experts of Project Made in Holland. Let’s turn your pain points into better design. Because user-centric design in design of sailing yachts is the difference between a compromise and a yacht that truly fits you.

FAQs About User-Centric Design in Sailing Yachts

Q1: What’s the difference between production yachts and user-centric yachts?

Q2: Is user-centric design only for professional racers?

Q3: How much does it cost to optimise a yacht for user-centric design?

Q1: What’s the difference between production yachts and user-centric yachts?
Production yachts are standardised, built for many, and thus compromises. User-centric yachts are designed for of the owner(s) keeping in mind your specific goals, crew, and lifestyle.

Q2: Is user-centric design only for professional racers?
Not at all. It’s for anyone who wants a safer, smarter, more comfortable boat. Cruisers, liveaboards, adventurers—everyone benefits.

Q3: How much does it cost to optimise a yacht for user-centric design?
It varies. Sometimes small ergonomic tweaks make a big impact. Sometimes you go for a full refit or new build. It depends on your ambitions, the (state of) your yacht and your budget.