Ultimate Bluewater Cruiser

The bar was set high: Elan aims to conceive the ultimate bluewater cruiser. She should be easy to sail with a shorthanded crew, comfortable, safe, and performing better than any comparable yacht.

These benefits can only be achieved by a light and strong boat - leading us to the highest standard of carbon/epoxy technology.

 

What Was Leading The Design?

Clean. Simple. Efficient. Functional.

The exterior design is dominated by the winning naval architectural knowledge,  designed by hydrodynamics, the sea and wind, and minimalistic functionality. Form strictly follows function, pure, revolutionary but with full respect of tradition. The result is a geometry that will look pleasant  and balanced to the eye at all times.

 

Interior Design and Decor

Less is more. Light, elegant and balanced. Bold fabrics are used with care and attention, combined with monochromatic tones to ensure balance and visual harmony. The goal is to enrich the space subtly, letting textures and motifs add depth without overwhelming the overall composition.

Attention to detail and quality of finishes and craftsmanship confirm the statement, creating a sense of inviting comfort and softness. Combining leather-look materials with soft, tactile fabrics within the same upholstery composition adds a refined, layered character, balancing structure with warmth. This contrast not only enhances visual depth and material richness, but also contributes to a more inviting, residential feel, where formality is softened by comfort.

 

Shipman Carbon Yacht Heritage

Working in 2003 with America’s Cup and IMOCA Round-the-World racing experts (among others including Douglas Peterson, a 3 times America’s Cup winning designer, Bill Greene, the most prominent America’s Cup, Volvo race and IMOCA builder, Giovanni Belgrano, world’s leading carbon yachts structural engineer, Michel Desjoyeaux, the solo-sailing legend with two Vendee Globe round-the-world wins, and Guillaume Verdier, the young rising star of French naval architecture) J&J tried to bridge the huge performance gap between the stripped-out world of offshore racing and the comfort-oriented world of cruising. The result was the Shipman Carbon Yachts concept of a bluewater performance yachts based on carbon/epoxy technology and intended for shorthanded sailing. 

The resulting boats, launched under the Shipman Carbon Yachts name, were the first true carbon/epoxy bluewater cruisers built in series. They used pre-preg technology adapted from racing but simplified for efficient production: computer-milled moulds, vacuum-infused laminates, and precise CNC-cut bulkheads bonded with structural epoxy.

Shipman 50 Carbon was launched in 2003, followed by a 63, 72 and 80 feet models. The line was received with open hands by the clients and 54 yachts were built. Shipman 50 and 63 received the European Yacht of the Year Awards in 2004 and 2006 respectively.

The bestseller was the Shipman 63, with 26 units built between 2003 and 2012. Owners considered it the largest yacht that could still be sailed comfortably without crew. Several completed circumnavigations, some single-handed. Recorded top speeds ranged from 24 to 31.7 knots, unprecedented for an ocean-going cruiser.

Today, the Elan SixtyFive is a spiritual successor to Shipman Carbon Yachts. Many competitors offer yachts of similar concept between the 60 and 80 feet in size, yet none delivers a similar shorthanded capacity - or performance.