The Naval Architecture of the Orphie 29
The boatbuilder's brief
“To share the passion for the sea, preserve the coastline, and work sustainably. To pioneer the future of electric leisure boating, by creating a company that offers professional nautical centres a different kind of day on the water.”
This is the brief that Yann and Cyril, founders of ORPHIE, entrusted to us at the outset of this adventure.
Their starting point was a simple observation: conventional combustion-engine boats simply don’t suit them. Noisy and polluting, they crowd out the anchorages along their coastline — a quick and easy way to reach a beautiful cove, but at the cost of any real pleasure underway.
Our challenge was therefore to combine the pleasure of sailing, the thrill of gliding through the water and the joy of shared time underway — together with the enjoyment of a beautiful anchorage — while keeping things simple and creating a boat that is quiet and kind to the environment.
Our approach is to root the design and naval architecture in the history and personality of each brand, and in the values held by its founders, in order to bring their DNA to the fore. That is how we have advanced, step by step, with Orphie.
Berco & Partners' approach
The first step was to gain a clear understanding of the intended uses, the client’s expectations, and the type of sailing on offer:
- Target speed
- Range
- Sea and wind conditions encountered
- On-board comfort
- Size
- Desired feel underway
- etc.
The second step was to develop a thorough understanding of electric propulsion technology, with its three non-negotiable variables — Speed, range and endurance — in order to guide the choice of hull type and hull form. Yann and Cyril’s answers were clear:
- Average speed of 9–12 knots, with the ability to reach 17–20 knots over a short burst.
- A range of 30 nautical miles, corresponding to a day’s coastal passage from the Hyères peninsula, taking in Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Brégançon before returning to Hyères.
- Capacity for 5 to 10 passengers, with a comfortable cruising experience offering simple but essential Mediterranean amenities: shaded and seated areas alongside a sunbathing space, a small interior for stowage and a heads, and a refrigerator.
The design we proposed reflects the studio’s identity: a fresh perspective and an uncompromising determination to create beautiful objects — simple, clean, efficient and functional, timeless and responsive to evolving uses, environmental realities and materials.
The Naval Design of the Orphie
The Hull Design
For a given displacement, we opted for fine hulls that slice cleanly through the water, combined with a low centre of gravity and low freeboard, in pursuit of lightness. This led us to distribute the weight across three hulls rather than one or two.
- In pursuit of light weight: marine plywood hulls and simple carbon beams.
- To double the usable deck area for a given size: a fabric trampoline, Hobie-Cat style.
Eight people sitting down to lunch around a proper rectangular table, in the shade, on comfortable benches and seats — no more picnics balanced on your lap or tables that seat four.
The Deck Layout and Its Functionality
- A sheltered area within the central hull
- Two more open, sun-drenched spaces on the trampolines, for the sensation of skimming over the water
- A shaded area with a T-top and canopy.
- A large dining table
- Comfortable seating, convertible into benches
- A separate area for the helmsman
- A cabin: dry stowage, a heads, and a small bunk — ideal for a child, for example
- Sunbathing area
- Swim step, well clear of the engine
- Views of the water rushing past beneath the trampoline
The Overall Design Philosophy
- The simplicity of a clean, timeless design using noble materials.
- Unconventional proportions for a unique, eco-conscious experience and measured energy consumption.
Possible Developments
- Foils to further improve the speed/endurance/range equation, enabling greater distances and/or higher speeds.
A study is currently under way on this subject.
The Design Team
Berco has been working with Jean-Marc Piaton and his team for several years now, across a range of projects. His team brings together designers, naval architects, engineers and stylists — an enthusiastic network of complementary experts at the leading edge of innovation.
Piaton Yacht Design takes a holistic approach to naval architecture. Brand strategy, functionality, aesthetics, innovation, performance and environmental concerns are all at the heart of their work.
“The arrival of designers in the boatbuilding world almost certainly grew out of competition and the need for differentiation. Yards’ original priorities were manufacturing capability, structural strength, functionality and cost. Before a boat could be beautiful, it first had to be effective. Today, both criteria are equally important and expected by clients. (…) Our designs are truly dictated by the brand. But I believe we do have a kind of signature — simplicity of line, crispness of form, harmonious proportions, and a pursuit of elegance: a well-worn word, perhaps, but one that matters enormously to me.”
Jean-Marc Piaton (Interview by Pierre-Yves Poulain, Voile et Moteurs, 10 November 2022)