William H. Tripp, III

Founder & Head Designer

Bill Tripp spent his childhood on the water sailing and racing in boats his father designed. Bill’s father, William H. Tripp, Jr., designed such well-known yachts as the Bermuda 40, the Block Island 40 and the Columbia 50. “I was very lucky to grow up in a sailing family. Sailing, and tinkering on a boat to get something just right, has always been a source of enjoyment. Growing up in a design family added the dimension of creation to the sailing.”

Bill studied Naval Architecture at the University of Michigan (M.E. & B.E. in Naval Architecture) and joined up with Doug Peterson right out of school, working on designs that would be victorious in regattas such as the SORC, the Admirals Cup, the Sardinia Cup, and the Southern Cross series. After spending several years as chief designer with Peterson, and as a construction engineer for Maxi Yachts Kialoa, and Condor, as well as a brief stint at BalticYachts, Bill struck out on his own and founded Tripp Design in 1984.

Tripp Design is a team of Naval Architects, Engineers and Project Managers specializing in the design and engineering of modern yachts and is noted for its winning race boat designs that have participated in such challenging venues as the Fastnet, Hobart, Bermuda, and IMS Championships among others. Our collaboration with structural engineers, boat yards, design houses, mast makers and hydrodynamicists has fostered development, synergy and expanding views in design, technology and performance.