Bernard - Nivelt

Joubert-Nivelt then NMYD: the La Rochelle design duo behind the Surprise, Stars & Stripes, and the Swift Trawler range

Firm founded in 1974 in La Rochelle byMichel Joubert (1944–2016) andBernard Nivelt. Over 25,000 units built to their designs in fifty years. Joubert specialized in motor yachts and expedition sailboats, Nivelt in racing and cruiser-racer sailboats. Since Joubert’s passing in 2016, Bernard Nivelt continues withAlexis Muratet under the labelNMYD (Nivelt-Muratet Yacht Design), based in Arès.

Achievements

• Admiral's Cup 1983: victory with Diva, the duo’s first major title.
• America's Cup 1988: Bernard Nivelt recruited by John Marshall for the design team of the catamaran Stars & Stripes US-1 (Dennis Conner), which defeated the New Zealand monohull.
• La Rochelle–New Orleans 1982: victory of the catamaran Charente-Maritime.
• Rolex Middle Sea Race 2022: overall win for the NMYD 54 Teasing Machine by Éric de Turckheim (Nivelt-Muratet-Pages design, launched in 2017).

Flagship sailboats

• Surprise (Archambault, 1976): 7.65 m one-design, over 1,700 units built. Still actively raced fifty years later.
• Côte d'Or (1985): 60-foot Open in Kevlar built for Éric Tabarly.
• Biscuits Lu (1985): 60-foot Open, 4th in the 1986 BOC Challenge.
• Petit Navire (1998): 60-foot Open with canting mast.
• Archambault A31, A35, A40 RC: IRC cruiser-racer from the 2000s. The A35 remains a reference in IRC inshore/offshore amateur racing.
• M34 (Archambault, 2010): 10.34 m one-design selected for the Tour de France à la Voile 2011–2014, replacing the Farr 30. Co-designed by Joubert-Nivelt-Mercier.
• Teasing Machine NMYD 54 (2017, King Marine): IRC one-off by Éric de Turckheim. Winner of the 2022 Middle Sea Race, class winner in Sydney–Hobart, Fastnet, and RORC Transatlantic.

Motor yachts and expedition sailboats

• Swift Trawler (Bénéteau, since 2002): Joubert designed the Swift Trawler 42, then the 34, 44, 50, and 52. Semi-displacement trawler concept capable of speeds over 20 knots, with large interior volume. Still in production.
• Fleur Australe: 20 m polar expedition sailboat by Philippe Poupon and Géraldine Danon, aluminum Strongall hull, lifting keel, based on Michel Joubert’s designs.
• Elisabet: 47 m motor yacht.

Skysat on board

Skysat occasionally equips units from the Joubert-Nivelt portfolio for regattas and offshore racing—see the list of tracked boats below.