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Frers close down their Milan office

From September 2009, the German Frers design office will be centralised in Buenos Aires, in a move to improve the utilisation of technology, design inspiration and the streamlining of design at the conceptual stage.

In 1970 following his return from New York, after a period with Sparkman & Stephens German Frers took control of the design office established by his father in 1928, and developed it effectively to become a world leader in yacht design.

In 1989 German Frers set up a design office in Milan for the successful Il Moro di Venezia America’s Cup campaign. In 1992 German Frers Jr. (‘Mani’) took responsibility for the Milan office in Italy concentrating on high performance racing and cruising composite designs.

The father and son team worked together on a number of custom projects comprising Amerca’s Cup challengers, racing yachts, superyachts, classic yachts and daysailers that set a standard for high performance, leading edge engineering and an always distinctive elegance.

Their association supported by a strong design team contributed to the growth of the business which today includes strong ties with High Quality Builders and exclusive contracts with series production builders Nautor Swan, Hallberg Rassy and Queen Long.

Frers Junior explains: "But as our business has developed and grown, and our use of technology and science has developed, we now feel it is important that the creative and technical team is fully-integrated in one studio.

"Thanks to the actual technology, rather than spending time behind a desk we are able to work on the spot where the action is assisting builders and owners with their work and decisions".

German Frers Senior added: "We firmly believe that this consolidation will allow us to become more efficient and as a result we will be able to devote greater resource into design software and R&D that will benefit the entire design team and, ultimately, our clients and their yachts."

Over the next few months the new consolidated Frers team will oversee the launch of several projects including two Wally 100s, an 85m motor superyacht, a 40.5m sailing superyacht, a 105ft sailing superyacht, a special 60ft day sailer, two identical 44ft day sailers, a 58ft high tech semi-production cruiser and new models of the production yards.

Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering will continue to be represented in Europe however. A new contact office will be opened in Monaco early 2010 and the office in Milan will be deactivated.