Profile

Ker Associates Ltd is a growing and forward-looking yacht design and naval architecture company whose designs are differentiated by a more innovative, rigourous and technological approach.

This is an approach that has resulted in a 100% track record for race-winning designs. With the 55ft “Aera” and 32ft “Voodoo Chile”, Ker Associates set new benchmarks in their respective classes. Aera was chosen by the King of Spain as his yacht for the 2003 Admirals Cup and renamed “Bribon” for the event where she won all seven of the inshore races.

A continual investment in R&D hours and in state of the art software has ensured that we are at the forefront of design technology. Extensive use of CFD software has been invaluable to our appendage design over recent years and our latest investment in Unigraphics NX, as used by Boeing Military, Ford, General Motors and F1 Racing teams, has meant that we have the best possible tools to bring our ideas to virtual reality. This software allows the design team to develop a complete virtual boat right down to the nuts and bolts, ensuring very tight control over the design and enabling potential build/design issues to be identified and resolved well before building starts. We also believe in using the best human expertise available and have ongoing relationships with leading consultants in all aspects relating to yacht design and engineering.

Recent highlights include:
• Cowes Week 2003 – 1st IRC Class Zero, including winning the Britannia Cup
• Top Inshore Boat Admiral’s Cup 2003
• Class Zero 1st Overall IRC National Championships UK, 2003
• Top inshore boat Commodores Cup 2002
• Multiple trophy winner at Cowes week 2001, 2002 including New York Challenge Cup, Rocking Chair Trophy and Queens Cup
• Nominated for British Nautical Awards Yacht of Year 2000

Background

Following his graduation from Southampton Institute’s renowned B.Eng (hons) Yacht & Powercraft design degree course, Jason Ker gained valuable experience working for a companies building custom and production yachts and ships and design offices with widely varying portfolios. A private commission for a 31ft racing yacht in late 1997 started Jason’s yacht design career and her winning performances brought a steady trickle of racing yacht commissions.

Ker Yacht Design continued to grow successfully, branching into the design of more “commercial” vessels such as a 60ft Catamaran Workboat, a fifty passenger Amphibious Ferry and stability consultancy for large motor and sailing yachts. This was signified in July 1999 when the company changed its name to Ker Associates to reflect the diverse nature of its work.

In 2000 Ker Associates Ltd designed the highly acclaimed Race1 Ker 11.3, a fast and uncompromising 37ft production one-design of which 10 have been built. This design is still winning under IRC and IRM as well as having an active one-design class in the UK with the newest boat being launched as recently as October 2003.