team
Set up by Gilles Vaton in 1979, the Vaton
Design Office, its premises located on Marseilles’
historic Old Port, brings together the talents and skills of 4
naval architects and a maritime engineer. The office has
ongoing collaboration with outside consultants for specific
engineering projects and is equipped with the latest tools for
3D-CAD and hull analysis.
Born 12 avril 1952 in the Brittany port of
Quimper, Gilles learned his sea craft from a very young age and
progressed from centreboarders to big ocean racing yachts quite
naturally. He took part in the first Whitbread aboard Kriter
(1973/74), the Transat solo in 1976, the 2nd Whitbread with
Neptune (1977/78), SORC, in numerous Giraglias and the Maxi
series.
His design career started in André
Mauric’s prestigious offices in Marseille where he was
involved in many innovative projects e.g. centreboarders
Méridien and Kriter and many production models like the
Jeanneau Melody and early Bénéteau Firsts. Those
5 years of valuable experience followed several spells in
England and France - with Illingworth, Nicholson and Rouillard
- combined with two round-the-world races (Whitbread and Ostar
76) whilst in the same period designing a one-tonner in
collaboration with A. Maupas. In 1979 he set up his own office
in Marseilles, immediately winning a 40’ competition for
the BEG ROHU national sailing School.
His solid experience at sea provided him
with the practical know-how
indispensable in the designing of units
that have the vital qualities of sea-keeping and reliability :
one must cite his prestigious regatta yacht concepts Charles
Heidsieck III (1981), Coriolan (1983) and Milène V
(1985).
Gilles Vaton
Naval architect IFAN
Manager
Reda Boutebba
Maritime Engineer
Sébastien Grandjean Architect DPLG
Gregory Pelard
Naval architect
Alex McDiarmid MA
Designer (Coventry)
André Simon
Imaging, graphic design
Vaton Design - 19, quai de Rive Neuve -
13007 Marseille - phone: 33 (0)4 91 54 13 17 - fax: 33 (0)4 96
11 20 17 - e-mail: gilles.vaton.bgv@wanadoo.fr
