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            Yachting for Forests aims for more sustainability aboard superyachts
            Yachting for Forests: Sustainability Standards for Woods on Your Yacht

            March 27, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            Junior SeaKeeper students learn about water sampling from superyachts
            Junior SeaKeeper Program Wants Young Ocean Ambassadors

            July 20, 2022 By Marie Cullen

            superyacht company Northrop & Johnson is supporting Water.org
            Water.org Gains Support From Northrop & Johnson

            June 11, 2022 By Marie Cullen

    • Brokerage
          • Brokerage Recent Posts
            the yacht Yersin is for sale
            Yacht Yersin Hits Brokerage Market for New Adventurous Owners

            August 17, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Graceful is alleged to be among Russian-owned superyachts
            Imperial Yachts, Several Superyachts Added to U.S. Sanctions List

            June 3, 2022 By Diane M. Byrne

            a new Y.CO partnership with YachtAid Global will see superyachts step up for sustainability
            Y.CO Partnership With YachtAid Global Supports New Sustainability Efforts

            June 12, 2021 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Motoryachts
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            hull of ISA Yachts' yacht Project Future, a.k.a. Gran Turismo 80
            The Future of Yacht Project Future Is Now

            November 28, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            the yacht Maverick by Cantiere delle Marche
            Yacht Maverick Preparing for Multi-Year Journey Well Beyond the Med

            November 27, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Baglietto hull 10262 is the second T60 yacht
            Baglietto T60 Yacht Hull Two Starts on Spec

            November 22, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Sailing Yachts
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            the Drift Energy MVY design is a catamaran
            Drift Energy MVY Design Can Supply Green Fuel for Your Superyacht

            November 29, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Perini Navi yacht Project 605 sugar scoop stern
            Perini Navi Yacht Project 605 Available for 2025 Sailing

            November 17, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            the Baltic 175 yacht refit ex Pink Gin
            Baltic 175 Yacht, Ex-Pink Gin, “Back Home” for Major Refit

            November 16, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Superyacht 101 Series
          • Superyacht 101 Series Recent Post
            Buddy Darby
            Superyacht 101 Series: Advice From Fellow Owner Buddy Darby

            November 9, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            Mark Robba
            Superyacht 101 Series: Advice From Fellow Owner Mark Robba

            October 31, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            superyacht 101 owner's representative
            Superyacht 101 Series: Selecting an Owner’s Representative

            July 29, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Tenders, Toys, &
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            Thoa Lamp Is a Portable Solution Specifically for Superyachts

            November 25, 2023 By Megayacht News Staff

            the AnchorGuardian anchor module
            AnchorGuardian Pledges to Keep Your Crew, and You, Safer: WATCH

            November 18, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            Ethereal Blooms preserved flowers
            Ethereal Blooms: Keeping Flowers Vibrant for Months Onboard Superyachts

            November 15, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

    • The Superyacht 6
          • The Superyacht 6 Recent Posts
            The Superyacht 6: 6 Superb Charter-Yacht Crews

            October 23, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

            The Superyacht 6: 6 Must-See Megayachts at the Fort Lauderdale Show

            October 9, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

            The Superyacht 6: 6 Editor’s Picks From the Monaco Yacht Show

            September 24, 2011 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Photo Galleries
          • Ferretti Yachts Infynito 90 yacht bow lounge
            Ferretti Yachts Infynito 90 Yacht Opens Up, Quite Literally, New Lounging Options: Photo Gallery

            November 9, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Sunseeker Ocean 182 yacht in NYC
            Sunseeker Ocean 182 Yacht: Megayacht News Onboard

            November 1, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the dramatic staircase aboard the yacht Virtuosity
            Yacht Virtuosity Is a Perfect Party Platform: Photo Gallery

            October 25, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

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            November 6, 2023 By SPONSORED CONTENT

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            J'Ade is among iconic CRN superyachts
            6 Iconic CRN Superyachts From Yard’s 60-Year History

            November 7, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Marine Group Boat Works is modernizing
            Marine Group Boat Works Modernizing for More Megayacht Services

            October 11, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            Bradford Marine has acquired Roscioli Yachting Center
            Bradford Marine Acquires Roscioli Yachting Center

            October 5, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

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            the master suite aboard the yacht Scintilla Maris
            Yacht Scintilla Maris Will Take You to Svalbard, Greenland, & More

            November 23, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the superyacht tenders of the yacht St. David
            Yacht St. David Cruises Back to Your TV in Below Deck Season 11

            November 6, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the dramatic staircase aboard the yacht Virtuosity
            Yacht Virtuosity Is a Perfect Party Platform: Photo Gallery

            October 25, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

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            chartering in Costa Rica: sunsets
            Why Chartering in Costa Rica Is an Immersive Natural Experience

            August 4, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Newport is among American megayacht destinations
            American Megayacht Destinations for the Fourth of July

            July 4, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            visit Bahia De Los Angeles when cruising Baja by superyacht
            Cruising Baja by Superyacht: 5 Must-See Spots

            May 5, 2023 By Megayacht News Staff

    • Marinas News
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            Safe Harbor Marinas is developing a San Juan superyacht marina
            San Juan Superyacht Marina Opening in 2024

            November 22, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            Harbour Town Yacht Basin in Hilton Head
            Harbour Town Yacht Basin Earns Clean Marina Certification

            November 11, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            the Antigua Yacht Club Marina in 2016
            Antigua Yacht Club Marina Devastated by Fire

            October 3, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

  • People
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            Camper & Nicholsons Corporate Services is for superyacht tax help and more
            Camper & Nicholsons Corporate Services to Help Superyacht Owners Navigate Complexities

            November 15, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Adrienne Gang is organizing culinary and interior courses for Blue Oceans Yachting
            Blue Oceans Yachting Offering Courses for Superyacht Chefs and Foodie Fans

            September 23, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            the Ocean Titans docu-series honors the Water Revolution Foundation
            Ocean Titans Docu-Series Honors Water Revolution Foundation: Sunday Superyacht Video

            September 3, 2023 By Marie Cullen

    • Crew
          • Crew Recent News
            the 221-foot yacht Loon and toys; Nina Wilson is aboard as The Crew Chef
            Breakfast Is Served With The Crew Chef: Sunday Superyacht Video

            November 19, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            the Honours awards recipient Zoran Selakovic
            Honours Awards Fete 3 Significant Superyacht Industry Innovators

            September 30, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            superyacht industry careers are varied
            Superyacht Industry Careers Website Strives to Guide and Help Retain Crew

            September 6, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

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            Pulina Exclusive Interiors is working with ARTEP
            Pulina Exclusive Interiors Unites Realistic Sustainable Décor Solutions

            October 21, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Designers' Protocol focuses on sustainability
            Designers’ Protocol to Guide Superyacht Owners Into More Sustainable Projects

            October 7, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            Vripack is upcycling with North Sails to get superyachts to help clean beaches
            Vripack Is Upcycling Sails Into Beach Cleanup Bags—and You Can Get One

            December 3, 2022 By Marie Cullen

    • Leadership Series
          • Leadership Series Recent Posts
            Alexander Dreyfoos
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Alexander Dreyfoos, Silver Cloud Owner

            September 6, 2016 By Diane M. Byrne

            Roberto Zambrini
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Roberto Zambrini, Mondomarine

            August 1, 2016 By Michael Verdon

            Antonio Romano Hot Lab Yacht & Design
            Megayacht News Leadership Series: Antonio Romano, Hot Lab

            July 1, 2016 By Frances and Michael Howorth

    • Owners
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            Dossier says Putin owns two more superyachts, including Victoria
            Vladmir Putin Owns 2 More Superyachts, Russian Critics Claim

            November 21, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Honours awards recipient Zoran Selakovic
            Honours Awards Fete 3 Significant Superyacht Industry Innovators

            September 30, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the winning bid for Alfa Nero is in question
            Winning Bid for Alfa Nero Withdrawn, Runner-Up Bidder Files Suit  

            September 11, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

    • Yard Staff
          • Yard Staff Recent Posts
            Giuseppe Taranto was the vice chairman of The Italian Sea Group superyacht conglomerate
            Giuseppe Taranto, The Italian Sea Group Vice Chairman, Dies

            February 27, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Jan-Eric Nyfelt, a co-founder of the Baltic Yachts superyacht yard, as a young sailor
            Jan-Erik Nyfelt, Baltic Yachts Co-Founder, Dies

            February 7, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            Donald L. Blount left an indelible mark on superyachts
            Superyacht Owners & Industry Figures Who Died in 2022

            December 29, 2022 By Diane M. Byrne

  • Events
    • Awards
          • Awards Recent Posts
            Amos Nachoum may attend the Bal de la Mer
            Bal de la Mer Gala Marks 25th SeaKeepers Anniversary

            October 6, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            the Honours awards recipient Zoran Selakovic
            Honours Awards Fete 3 Significant Superyacht Industry Innovators

            September 30, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            superyacht crew awards nominations
            The Crew Awards Nominations: Seeking Superb Yachties

            April 15, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

    • Boat Shows & Seminars
          • Boat Shows & Seminars Recent Posts
            the Benetti Ubiquitous is among FLIBS superyachts to see
            FLIBS Superyachts to See This Month

            October 16, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

            Adrienne Gang is organizing culinary and interior courses for Blue Oceans Yachting
            Blue Oceans Yachting Offering Courses for Superyacht Chefs and Foodie Fans

            September 23, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            the annual Monaco Superyacht Finance Forum is in Monte-Carlo
            Annual Monaco Superyacht Finance Forum Approaching

            September 16, 2023 By Ken Kremsler

    • Fundraisers
          • Fundraisers Recent Posts
            Amos Nachoum may attend the Bal de la Mer
            Bal de la Mer Gala Marks 25th SeaKeepers Anniversary

            October 6, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            superyacht companies support the London to Monaco cycle ride
            Join the Fifth London to Monaco Cycle Ride to Support BLUE

            September 3, 2022 By Ken Kremsler

            superyacht owners can aid Mikoko Pamoja via Yacht Carbon Offset's blue carbon initiative
            Yacht Carbon Offset’s First Blue Carbon Project

            March 27, 2021 By Marie Cullen

    • Rendezvous & Events
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            IGY Marinas Miami Grand Prix packages include superyacht dockage and race tickets
            IGY Marinas Miami Grand Prix Packages Available

            April 11, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            Marina Port Vell is the Preferred Superyacht Marina for the 37th America's Cup
            Marina Port Vell Named Preferred Marina for Superyachts for America’s Cup

            January 17, 2023 By Diane M. Byrne

            the Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 has high interest
            Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 Set to Kickstart the Summer

            April 12, 2022 By Marie Cullen

    • The Superyacht Cup
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            the Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 is the 27th year of the race
            Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 Setting Sail: Sunday Superyacht Video

            January 29, 2023 By Marie Cullen

            The Superyacht Cup Palma regulars and newcomers are excited
            Superyacht Cup Palma Regulars and Newcomers Set to Race

            January 29, 2022 By Marie Cullen

            the Superyacht Cup Palma is exclusively for sailing superyachts
            Superyacht Cup Palma to Celebrate 25th Anniversary, With Changes

            February 27, 2021 By Marie Cullen

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            Triton Submarines makes superyacht submersibles
            Beyond the Surface With Superyacht Submersibles: Safe Deep-Sea Adventures Await

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            yacht insurance is complex
            Yacht Insurance: What You Don’t Know May Cost You

            November 24, 2023 By Megayacht News Staff

            Nicole Haboush of TJB Super Yachts creates luxury yacht charter experiences
            Luxury at Sea: The Art of Crafting Unique Yacht Charter Experiences

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    • Yacht Videos
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            the Bolide 80 yacht
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            the Wally wallywhy150 yacht underway
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    • Builder Videos
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            Inside the Shed at The Italian Sea Group
            Come Inside the Shed at The Italian Sea Group: Sunday Superyacht Video

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            the Nordhavn 96 series includes the yacht VivieRae (not shown)
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            the Swan Shadow superyacht chase boat
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  • About
Home / People / Leadership Series / Robbie Doyle, Doyle Sailmakers: Megayacht News Leadership Series
Robbie Doyle established the superyacht sail maker Doyle Sails

Robbie Doyle, Doyle Sailmakers: Megayacht News Leadership Series

October 1, 2014 By: Michael Verdon

After earning his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in applied physics, with a focus on fluid flow, Robbie Doyle joined Ted Hood’s renowned sail-making operation. Doyle, who had been making sails since he was 15, thrived under the master sail-maker for a decade. When Hood sold the company in 1982, Doyle started Doyle Sailmakers in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

“Our original slogan, ‘Better Engineered Sails,’ is the same as it is today,” he says. “We took a more engineering-focused, high-tech approach to sail-making. In the early days, nobody seemed to know the exact loads on sails. We wrote some programs to predict and analyze sail loadings, while taking the time to measure loads to verify our programs.” Doyle Sailmakers was the first to apply the principle of Elliptical Aerodynamic Loading to sail shapes, leading to fast and efficient sails for racing customers. Technical breakthroughs include Code Zero asymmetric spinnakers, the Doyle D4 fiber-membrane manufacturing process, and Stratis, which pioneered load-path, laid-fiber sails. It has also introduced many innovations to cruising sails.

In this Megayacht News Leadership Series, Robbie Doyle explains how Doyle Sailmakers became a powerhouse on the marine stage. It has 80 lofts in 30 countries, with the leading-edge technology coming from its flagship facility in Salem, Massachusetts, and Stratis facility in New Zealand. Its latest project, Perini Navi’s Perseus³, has the world’s largest sail. Her A2 spinnaker measures 28,010 square feet (2,602 square meters), another milestone for a global sail-maker that promises to keep pushing the boundaries of technology and sailing.

Megayacht News: How did you get into the megayacht market?

Robbie Doyle: A “mega-boat,” as we called them in the 1980s, used to be 30 meters and above. We got our first order for the 125 Freedom in 1985. It was built by S&S for William Simon. A few years later, Tom Perkins came to us to build some sails for his 45-meter Andromeda. Perkins was a performance sailor and wanted light, strong sails that had good shape to them. After analyzing the loads, we designed an Aramid composite fabric that we had made especially for that project. Those sails turned out to be successful, lasting close to 100,000 sailing miles.

 

Megayacht News: How much has the technology changed since you started?

Robbie Doyle: It has changed continually. With the latest computation fluid dynamics and finite element analysis (CFD/FEA), we can fine-tune the technology. We’ve always updated our equipment to be able to harness that new technology. The really large projects like the Maltese Falcon, Athos, and even some larger boats we are currently working with, are handled mostly through our offices in Salem or alternatively New Zealand.

We’re also now running full hydro analysis of the yachts to help us identify the most appropriate sails to meet the owner’s goals. We’re currently in the process of running “full volume of fluid” analyses on some very large boats to help make decisions to improve performance. In some cases, this has led to new keel forms such as on Shockwave or Axia. In others, it has helped us divide the sail plan for better balance.

 

Megayacht News: Are most innovations client- or company-driven these days?

Robbie Doyle: It’s a combination. Clients in this range always want the impossible, or at the very least, what has never been done before. It’s our job to let them realize their dreams and make sure they don’t end up as nightmares. We always do the proper up-front analysis to ensure we can deliver what they are envisioning.

 

Megayacht News: Has the rise in superyacht regattas influenced the cruising side of the business?

Robbie Doyle: The superyachts that are driven hard in Bucket racing have definitely found the weak spots in these boats. It has led not only to more appropriate deck gear, but to a much better understanding of sails, sail materials, and sail-handling systems that are of greater benefit to cruising sailors.

 

Megayacht News: Do you think the high-speed sail-handling systems created for sailing superyachts pushing things too far and too fast?

Robbie Doyle: Speed in sail-handling systems is usually an advantage, since it minimizes the time things are truly out of control—flogging or whatever. However, it is critical that there be safeguards in any system. Many of these systems will be moving line at a meter/second. When Perseus³ jibes with a spinnaker, for instance, there is about 100 meters of sheet that need to be trimmed.

 

Megayacht News: How involved is the process of fitting a sail for a superyacht?

Robbie Doyle: The process of designing sails for a yacht that large is very involved. The sails for Perseus³ took 32 months from design through actual sailing. It requires starting with an accurate 3D model that includes all aspects of the rig, including all hardware and the deck layout. Then sailing performance needs to be modeled, so one can build the most appropriate sails for all points of sailing. CFD needs to be run to define corner loading and to measure the stresses within the sails so we use the most appropriate materials. In many cases, there are no appropriate materials on the market, so we need to work with fabric suppliers so the materials can handle the loads. For Perseus³’s spinnaker, we had to find a special blend of polyester and Dyneema to provide the needed strength, but also to make sure it was light enough to be handled by the crew. Of course, we have to share the information with builders and gear suppliers along the way to make sure everyone is on the same page. Then we have to build the sail one piece at a time. The assembly needs to be carefully choreographed.

 

Megayacht News: Any favorites?

Robbie Doyle: For me, the greatest challenge in sailing and, therefore the most fun, is the Shockwave program. This is a Maxi 72 competing with the best professional teams in the world in boats with similar speeds. At almost six years old, Shockwave is the oldest of the competitive boats. But by continued development, we have been able to win some of the biggest races of the year, including the Caribbean 600, Bermuda Race, and recently the Copa Del Rey in Palma de Mallorca. Our CFD team has worked with designers Reichel-Pugh, and mast-makers Future Fibers, to continually refine the small details. It’s always fun to be trying theoretical improvements and then testing them in real time.

Related posts

Megayacht News Leadership Series: Malcolm McKeon, Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design Megayacht News Leadership Series: Peter Wilson, MCM Megayacht News Leadership Series: JB Turner, Front Street Shipyard

Categories: Leadership Series, PeopleTags: Doyle Sailmakers

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