Gilles Ollier

Composite engineering and gigantism

The design office of Gilles Ollier, inseparable from the history of the Multiplast shipyard in Vannes, redefined naval architecture standards for high-performance multihulls as early as the 1980s. Its specialty lies in end-to-end mastery of a project’s lifecycle, from hydrodynamic design to the implementation of complex carbon/Nomex structures. The office has established itself as the global reference in the field of giant catamarans, capable of withstanding extreme dynamic loads linked to around-the-world records.

System integration

In Gilles Ollier’s vision, naval architecture is not limited to hull design; it encompasses mass management and the reliability of energy flows. On units exceeding 30 meters, the complexity of electrical and hydraulic networks requires precision engineering from the early design phase. System integration must meet a dual requirement: lightness and resistance to corrosive environments.

Flagship projects

The portfolio of Gilles Ollier’s design office includes units that dominated the global record circuit for three decades:

• Jet Service V (1987): 22.85-meter catamaran, the first sailboat to exceed 500 nautical miles in 24 hours.
• Club Med (2000): Sister ship of the "G-Class" series (33.50 m), winner of The Race, the millennium race around the world.
• Orange II (2003): 36.80-meter catamaran, holder of the Jules Verne Trophy in 50 days and structural basis for the current Vitalia II.
• Geronimo (2001): 34-meter giant trimaran designed for Olivier de Kersauson, exploring innovative aerodynamic solutions for the time.

Innovation

The current research focus of the office, driven by the continuity ensured by the Multiplast team, revolves around three technological pillars:

1. Hybridization and high-performance refit: Like the Vitalia II project, the office develops methodologies to convert competition platforms into fast cruising units without significantly degrading the weight/power ratio.
2. Structural instrumentation: Integration of optical fibers within the composite for real-time monitoring of structural stresses (SHM - Structural Health Monitoring).
3. Decarbonization of maritime transport: Transfer of expertise gained in offshore racing to industrial sail transport, via the development of masts and rigid wings with high aerodynamic efficiency.