The design office behind the winning Ultim trimarans and IMOCA sailboats of the Vendée Globe
VPLP Design was founded in 1983 by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, who met at the Southampton School of Naval Architecture. The firm is based in Paris, Vannes, and Nantes, and employs around thirty staff across four divisions: racing, pleasure, commercial shipping, and special projects. In February 2021, the two founders handed over management to an executive committee chaired by Simon Watin.
Racing multihulls and oceanic record-breakers
VPLP first made its mark in offshore racing trimarans. The firm designed Pierre 1er (60-foot, built by Jeanneau JTA in 1989), with which Florence Arthaud won the 1990 Route du Rhum. On the latest generation, VPLP designed the Ultims Banque Populaire XI and SVR-Lazartigue (formerly Macif 100, launched in 2021 for François Gabart, central hull by Multiplast, floats and arms by CDK Technologies, assembled by MerConcept). The firm claims five victories in the Jules Verne Trophy (1997, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016).
IMOCA: three consecutive Vendée Globe wins with Verdier
Since 2006, VPLP has collaborated with Guillaume Verdier on racing monohulls. The duo designed the three consecutive IMOCA winners of the Vendée Globe: Macif (François Gabart, 2012–2013), Banque Populaire VIII (Armel Le Cléac’h, 2016–2017, first victorious foiling IMOCA) and Maître CoQ IV (Yannick Bestaven, 2020–2021). In the 2024–2025 Vendée Globe, thirteen IMOCAs in the race featured a VPLP design (including nine co-designed with Verdier), among them Charal (launched in 2018 for Jérémie Beyou, first new-generation foiling IMOCA monohull).
Cruising catamarans, Lagoon range and diversification
VPLP designed the first Lagoon (55-foot, for Jeanneau) in 1984 and has since been the exclusive architect of the range. The firm also works with Outremer (5X, 48) and has designed superyachts both sail and power. In the America’s Cup, VPLP designed USA 17 (rigid-wing trimaran winner in 2010 with BMW Oracle). In 2018, the firm created the subsidiary Ayro, dedicated to rigid sails for cargo ships and yachts (aiming to reduce CO₂ emissions in maritime transport).
