Briand and Jeanneau reveal new collaborative model

London-based yacht designer Philippe Briand has collaborated with boatyard Jeanneau to design the 13.4 metre Sun Odyssey 440.

The sailing yacht distinguishes itself with a unique form, lack of barrier between cockpit and deck and a “transformer” cockpit backrest. The yacht has been in the design process since 2012 and looks to maximise interior volume without losing performance.

Briand  hopes that the new project will encourage new boat ownership, saying: “Almost all our clients for large sailing yachts were at one time owners of smaller, production boats. As yacht designers and naval architects, we see it as our responsibility to steward the next generation of yacht owners through the process of enjoying life on the water, by making ownership of smaller, more affordable boats enticing.

“This philosophy permeates every detail in the design choices we make, to improve every step of the experience onboard, particularly with these new features on the Jeanneau SO 440.”

Briand and Jeanneau have collaborated on 45 different models over four decades, starting in 1977 with the Symphonie project. Jeanneau is the largest producer of sailing boats in the 40 to 64 feet range.