The La Rochelle-based design office behind the Figaro 2, Lift Class40s, and NEEL trimarans
Marc Lombard founded his naval architecture firm in La Rochelle in 1982, after studying in Southampton and a stint at American shipyards. The firm designs both racing yachts (Figaro Bénéteau 2, Class40, IMOCA, Mini 6.50) and production models for major builders (Bénéteau, Jeanneau, RM Yachts, Neel Trimarans). Over 250 models have been drawn under the labelMarc Lombard Yacht Design Group.
Transfer to a SCOP and Marc Lombard’s passing
Stricken by illness, Marc Lombard transferred his agency to his employees as aSCOP (cooperative and participative society) in late 2022. He passed away on September 18, 2023, at age 64. Today the firm employs around ten people, nine of whom are employee-owners, and is co-led byEric Levet, naval architect who had long been part of the firm’s technical team.
Signature style: powerful hulls and hard chines
The firm is known for early adoption of hulls with wide sterns and hard chines in offshore racing designs, before these choices became standard in Class40 and IMOCA classes.
