This story doesn’t begin in a design office, but on the water, somewhere between sea spray and the taut sails of a family catamaran. Long before the birth of Yoctoline, there was already a visceral passion, a quest for harmony between people, wind, and sea.
Driven by the same demand for excellence and this constant desire to evolve, a meeting that became a long-standing collaboration naturally led to the birth of Yoctoline. This new chapter embodies the union of complementary expertise around a shared vision of yachting, where innovation, performance, and elegance combine seamlessly.
Today, Yoctoline stands out for a highly artisanal and holistic approach, where each vessel is designed as a piece of clockwork, crafted with the precision of an engineer, the eye of a designer, and the experience of passionate sailors. More than an evolution of identity, Yoctoline embodies a unique approach of designing yachting: demanding, custom-made, and deeply focused on excellence.
Thomas Serré discovered sailing alongside his father. At a very young age, he felt a deep need to go beyond steering: to understand how a boat behaves, why one hull glides better than another, how shapes interact with the elements. At the helm of demanding multihulls, he sharpened his intuition. He didn’t just want to sail. He want to create.
This desire led him to the University of Southampton, a global reference in maritime engineering. He obtained his degree in Yacht & Powercraft Design and developed a rigorous methodology nourished by naval sciences and exceptional design. He then joined Sunreef Yachts, the world leader in luxury catamarans, where he spent nearly ten years working on projects that have left their mark on the market. There, he learned how to combine aesthetic boldness, technical innovation, and industrial precision.
In 2015, driven by this singular vision, he founded SB Yacht Design. His objective: to offer fully bespoke naval architecture, free from all constraints except excellence. An independent studio capable of reconciling performance, elegance and the unique needs of each owner.
Maxime Vergnaud’s passion did not take shape in a textbook or behind a desk, but on the water, shaped by the rhythm of the tides, summers spent on board, freediving and board sports. From a very early age, he developed an instinctive bond with the ocean. He is not satisfied with simply sailing; he seeks to understand, analyse and master the invisible mechanisms that bring a boat to life.
Graduated from ENSTA with a degree in naval engineering and architecture, he has turned this passion into a career. Self-taught and endlessly curious, he is constantly exploring new horizons: CFD and FEA simulations, the design of on-board systems, structural and spatial design, and the development of multi-domain analytical tools. Every project becomes an opportunity to push the boundaries of naval engineering and to translate scientific rigour and creativity into innovative and elegant solutions.
A partner and CTO since 2019, Maxime plays a central role in the company’s technical structure and long-term vision. Convinced that the naval sector is undergoing a transformation comparable to those in the automotive or aerospace industries, he is committed to anticipating its future applications and technologies. As a competitor and high-level athlete, he brings discipline, high standards and a drive to excel to his work. For him, designing a ship means translating the power and beauty of the sea into masterful engineering and design, with a forward-looking approach.
Good design isn’t seen, it’s felt. It embraces the sea, anticipates constraints, and enhances experience.
Every project signed by Yoctoline is built on a holistic vision, combining advanced engineering with sophisticated design. From the curve of a hull to the smallest interior detail, true distinction is born from the subtle balance between technical mastery and aesthetic refinement.
Our philosophy is rooted in four core values that bring rigor and coherence to every creation. First, exigence, where no detail is left to chance, whether it concerns stability, finishes, weight management. From this requirement arises useful innovation, every tool developed, every technology integrated is born from a concrete situation, experienced, analysed, and resolved. Then comes aesthetics, because while form follows function, it must also elevate it, making it clear, beautiful, and fluid. And within this harmony, listening remains essential, because a yacht is not limited to its design, it embodies an intimate part of its owner, a fragment of their desires, their inner world, their maritime dreams.
Intent is a core aspect of our service. We believe that a ship should be more than just a means of transportation on the water. It should embody a unique and unforgettable experience.
Interior Designer
Apprentice Engineer
Naval Architect
Designer
CTO
CEO
At Yoctoline, excellence doesn’t rely on a single name, but on synergy. Each team member has been carefully selected for their specific expertise and their ability to enrich a coherent overall vision.
Naval architects, engineers, designers, performance or ergonomics specialists, each contributes in their field with passion, precision, and commitment, while maintaining an ongoing dialogue with other areas of expertise.
This complementarity allows us to approach each project in its entirety, from the waterline to the technical plan, from exterior design to energy choices, with fluidity and a constant requirement. It is this diverse, dedicated, and perfectly aligned team that shapes the strength and uniqueness of Yoctoline.
