Nigel Irens

Nigel Irens RDI is a yacht designer. He is the designer of the Adventure which is a 35m trimaran motor yacht which completed a circumnavigation in 1998. He also designed the B&Q/Castorama [fr] which is a 23 m sailing trimaran used by Ellen MacArthur to break the world record for solo circumnavigation in 2005.[1]

In addition to performance yachts, his design portfolio includes cruising designs such as Roxane,[2] and other sailing designs of traditional appearance such as the Westernman[3] cutters. He also designed the launch Rangeboat which is a 12m power craft of traditional appearance.

Irens' designs are recognized for their simplicity, efficiency, and, essential elegance.[4] They synthesise traditional forms with modern materials and methods of construction, with Carbon fibre masts,[2] laminated frames,[3] and epoxied strip wood[5] strongly in evidence.

The late Ed Burnett worked for Irens at the start of his career as a yacht designer. They collaborated on projects and worked together on designs such as Zinnia, a 30ft gaff cutter, Kilrush Nomad II, a 43ft gaff cutter,[6] the Westernman cutters[3] and the King Alfred dinghy[7] to be built by King Alfred School in London. By 2012, the school had built three, and use them to introduce students to dinghy cruising.[7]

  1. ^ NIGEL IRENS yacht designers from the UK www.solarnavigator.net, accessed 10 November 2019
  2. ^ a b website for Irens' Roxane-Romilly family www.roxane-romilly.co.uk/, accessed 9 November 2019
  3. ^ a b c details of Nigel Irens' Westernman 40-ft-Pilot-Cutter sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk, accessed 9 November 2019
  4. ^ Bergamini, Alessandra (23 December 2023). "Simplicity as the essence of good design". IFDM. Retrieved 23 April 2024.[failed verification]
  5. ^ Rangeboat details nigelirens.com, accessed 9 November 2019
  6. ^ Rob Peake: Celebrated naval architect Ed Burnett has died www.classicboat.co.uk, accessed 10 November 2019
  7. ^ a b King-Alfred Dinghy page at school website Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine