Interview ~ Rob Humphreys Rob Humphreys turned his youthful passion for yacht design into a hugely successful family business. Mike Taylor discovers the secret to that success A design for life ymington in Hampshire Appropriately, when yacht ABOVE surrounded by sailing. “Much to Kingfisher, a Rob has a delightful profusion designer Rob Humphreys set up his Humphreys design my parent’s dismay from the outset of elegant properties studio he located it on the that found fame with I was clear that I would become a Ellen MacArthur including stylish waterfront of this charming ast the helm yacht designer and by university Georgian-type houses, community. In 2009 Humphreys age I was pretty much fixated on the town being located on Yacht Design moved to a specious this as my career,” says Rob smiling. Lthe west bank of the Lymington ex-farmhouse close by and today is “In those days there were no River facing Yarmouth and the Isle of run by Rob and son Tom. courses on yacht design, only naval Wight. For sailors there is a wealth of architecture more akin to large facilities including boat yards, a Youthful enthusiasm commercial ships. The alternative marina and the prestigious Royal Yacht enthusiast and designer in was taking an industrial design Lymington yacht Club. equal measure Rob’s life began course as boats are just another 58 AUGUST 2020 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting An unforgiving road During the 1970s the main (though rather unforgiving) route into yacht design was through racing yachts. These were principally designed under the International Offshore Rule (IOR), ensuring commonality of craft under a measurement guideline. “You lived and died on your last race success,” asserts Rob. ”Even then wins didn’t guarantee orders. Moreover, I had no clearly defined business plan, it was all in my head. Inevitably there were several set-backs with a fairly barren work period over the next 2-3 years before taking on the commission for Conquest 23, a Mini Tonner in 1978. Then followed Gem 18, which was a successful, production-built day race boat.” form of design architecture. addressed my letter and sent it in. ABOVE RIGHT Both of these craft helped establish Rollercoaster, an early However, I became something of a Luckily, I got the job and stayed Humphreys design Rob on his road to success. rebel as I concentrated only on with the magazine for about three “There have been several times in drawing boats.” years.” the company’s history when a University over, as part of his He still harboured dreams of commission represented a pivotal passion for yachts Rob was always yacht design, however. Yet with no point in its evolution,” reflects Rob. buying yachting magazines. Rather track record or reputation, In 1979 he penned the lines for a than find a job as a designer in a commissions for designing boats half tonner called Roller Coaster. boatyard as a stepping stone toward were thin. However, in 1974 Rob Together with Conquest 23 his goal Rob’s plan was to apply for completed his first work with sail customer Gordon Hoyle, it became a post on Yachting World magazine maker, Eddie Hyde of Musto and the first Humphreys’ boat to make a which always carried extensive Hyde for a Quarter Tonner named major statement on the design reviews. “However, on my Midnight Special. “I realised that in international yacht racing world, way to participate in an off-shore order to to progress further I the entire programme being race to Ireland I bought a copy of needed to move into the design achieved at breakneck speed to Yachts & Yachting. Turning the world permanently so in 1972/3 I coincide with the start of the Half pages I saw an half page left the magazine, continuing to Ton season; it came home first in advertisement for an editorial work for them as a freelance the Round the Island Race and took vacancy. My course dissertation contributor for 5-6 years while I second place in the world was entitled, ‘The Evolution of the became established,” continues championship in Holland. PHOTOS C/O HUMPHREYS YACHT DESIGN YACHT HUMPHREYS C/O PHOTOS Offshore Yacht’, I quickly re- Rob. For any yacht designer the Ton Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting AUGUST 2020 59 Interview ~ Rob Humphreys Cup Championships and Admirals antidote to the extremes of the IOR. ABOVE LEFT competition,” Rob explains: “In the Apriori, a Cup represent huge milestones. Apriori’s success (twice RORC breakthrough design world championship of 1985 “For the One Ton World Yacht of the Year) was a catalyst for for Humphreys Richard was competing in a boat Championship in 1985 I designed a more sympathetic direction in ABOVE RIGHT designed by Holman and Pye while Jade, a 40 footer and despite being yacht design. She bucked the IOR Humphrey’s work I was racing in Jade; fortunately we on America’s Cup one of the most competitive events trend over disposal once a craft was yachts helped cement won. Then, as Holman & Pye began ever staged Jade was crowned as no longer racing. Over thirty years his reputation winding down, Richard started world champion. Significantly, on John Dare is still happily BELOW LEFT investigating other designers and he following a series of second and cruising his yacht extensively The Humphreys came to me for the next generation designed Oyster third finishes Jade was the first around Europe and the 885 Lush of Oyster. Now, over a twenty five Humphreys design built to achieve Mediterranean.” year period we have designed more world champion status.” On the world stage of racing and BELOW RIGHT than twenty Oyster models, which The Oceantec commissions Rob’s business began 50 in build represents some 5-600 individual Dare to dream to attract the attention of boats.” Another project which placed established yacht builders. “At the In 2001 came another example of Humphreys’ studio in high esteem time I became involved with Rob Humphreys’ involvement in among its peers was Apriori, companies such as Sigma and yacht design on the international designed for John Dare, Contessa, and later I began to work stage, working on an Open 60 for Commodore of the Royal Ocean for Richard Matthews of Oyster. Ellen MacArthur and her solo Racing Club. “It was the perfect “Initially, he and I were racing in Vendée Globe entry sponsored by 60 AUGUST 2020 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Kingfisher plc in which she finished ABOVE early days, even with the large A family affair The Challenge 72 second. “Our office was responsible So what influenced son Tom to join was an interesting Grand Prix racing boats, I always for all the naval architecture and the company? “I have always been commission for tried to give my designs the Humphreys as the hull design,” says Rob. “And despite very close to my dad’s business and brief was for a yacht capacity for a second post-race life the risk I could see in Ellen the grew up fascinated by all the grand that was bulletproof in cruising.” Rob reflects: “Today, it with strong upwind same tenacity and huge drive I have prix and round-the-world race performance is more about rationalizing an in myself. I related to her ambition.” yachts dad was designing,” Tom owner’s requirements.” Adds Tom, BELOW Other notable round-the-world explains. “After taking a degree in Father and son at work ”Before starting work on the projects included some Whitbread/ biology and spending a few years computer it’s vital to listen to the Volvo racing yachts, and the rugged working in a London-based sports client and form a mental picture Global Challenge fleet for Sir Chay marketing company, I went out to over how their ideas will Blyth’s Challenge Business. “We New Zealand in 2002/3 to witness materialize. calculated that this fleet covered the America’s Cup when dad was “Yacht design is a series of over one million sea miles, 300,000 one of the principal designers for compromises; when you enhance of them in the Southern Ocean, the GBR Challenge. That cemented one element, invariably this will battling ‘the wrong way’ into the my interest in yacht design, I went impact on another aspect of the prevailing winds, some of this back to University and joined the project. distance being attributable to Dee company full time in mid 2006.” “Balancing all these often- Caffari, as the first woman to sail What has been the secret behind conflicting requirements is crucial non-stop, the ‘wrong’ way round.” the company’s success? “From the in the design process.” sailingtoday.co.uk AUGUST 2020 61 Interview ~ Rob Humphreys Breaking new ground Moving on to the evolution of incorporating powerboats into the HYD product portfolio how did this come about? “At the outset I become pigeon-holed as a race yacht designer,” explains Rob. “This morphed into designing yachts for cruising. Significantly, there is a common factor between sailing yachts and motor boats; that of reducing fluid resistance and making the hull shape move through the water more efficiently, it’s a common principle shared between both sail and motor boat disciplines.” Tom interjects saying, “The design for powerboat ERMIS 2 was a key project for the company. It’s a 38m luxury yacht, built investigate increasing levels of detail ABOVE yacht designs. We are working on Tom Humphreys by McMullen & Wing and delivered at the design stage than would have at the helm while an ever-increasing number of in 2007. She is powered by triple been possible even ten years ago.” Rob looks on projects with clients looking to MTU 4000 Series diesel engines Adds Rob, “I’ve always had a big BELOW harness greater levels of renewable with a maximum speed under trials appetite for computer technology A couple of ther energy in combination with hybrid latest commisions; of 58kn.