A Tribute to Ed Dubois

Following a period of illness last year, Ed had been in better health and working as normal. Unexpectedly he was admitted to hospital last week and passed away, Thursday.   Founding Dubois Yachts in 1977, Ed was known for achieving synergy in his designs of power and sail craft, striving for an end result where "form and function are perfectly balanced", marrying seaworthiness with grace.

KOKOMO II under sail

His career spanned decades and his passion, commitment to his work and love of his clients created a unique business, driven by exceptional design and technical talent and a genuine desire to create the most breathtakingly beautiful and technically advanced yachts, now scattered across the globe.
More than a naval architect, Ed will be remembered as a raconteur, consummate salesman and the warmest of human beings, equally passionate about family, the arts and socialising with friends over the occasional Dark & Stormy.

According to a statement from the company, Peter Bolke, who is Senior Designer and has been a valued member of the Dubois team for 23 years, will become Managing Director effective immediately.

SY GENEVIEVE anchored in St Lucia

"Peter and his team will be supported by Ed's great friends, Richard Cunningham, and Andrew Prynne QC, Ed's friend for 50 years. "Ed Dubois was a huge talent, and his legacy will continue as one of the world's great yacht designers. Known not only for his love of all things boat-related but also music, art, travel and most of all his family and friends. Ed leaves his darling wife Honor and four wonderful children, to whom he was completely devoted."

Ed grew up in a landlocked part of England but an innate love of the sea, sailing and yacht design meant his choice of career was set from early teens.

SY SALPERTON designed by Dubois

Graduating in 1974, Ed worked for Alan Buchanan, naval architects in Jersey, for a year then left to design his first yacht, Borsalino Trois. Following the racing success of this yacht, he went on to design many winners of the major offshore racing trophies around the world, including the Fastnet race, the Admiral's Cup and the Sydney Hobart.

Dedicated to working closely with clients to create precisely the boat that would "wrap around their lifestyle", Ed designed with philosophy of comibining ultimate seaworthiness and excellent performance with imaginative space planning and beautifully proportioned, elegant lines.

Ed was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Design by Southampton Solent University in 2004 and was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and Royal Academy of Engineering.

SY DRUMBEAT designed by Ed Dubois

Neville Crichton, who commissioned Dubois to design nine superyachts for him over a period of 35 years, expressed his sadness at his passing. "I have lost a great friend, his family has lost an utterly devoted husband and father and the industry has lost a legendary yacht designer who leaves an unrivalled legacy. Every design expressed both his fine eye for the aesthetics of yacht design and his unbridled passion and the development of superyachts."

Among Dubois' most significant designs are some of the world's most awarded and well-known yachts: 57.5m ketch Twizzle, 46m motoryacht Como, 56.4m ketch Mondango 3, 50m sloop Ohana, 47m Loretta Anne, 181-foot Turquoise, the flagship of Turquoise Yachts, the 152-foot Feadship Kiss, 143-foot Warren Yachts Silver Dream, Alloy-built 169-foot sloop, Red Dragon and 121-foot Masteka 2 from Kha Shing.

MY MASTEKA2 designed by Dubois