Tony Castro (Yacht Designer)
Encyclopedia
Antonio de Lancastre de Mello E. Castro has been designing sailing and motor yachts for 25 years, with about 6,000 boats launched to date that include custom boats and One-design
production models. His firm is based on the South Coast of England in Southampton
After leaving Ron Holland
’s design team in 1980, Castro's first significant racing yacht design was Justine, for Frank Woods of the National Yacht Club, Ireland the first and only yacht to win the One Ton Cup
with five straight firsts.
In 1989 he designed three half tonners. 'Miss Piggy', 'Dippin' the Pink' and 'Linn Hi Fi'.
'Dippin' the Pink' was built by Curtiss and Pape in Looe , Cornwall and finished 2nd. in the Admirals Cup in 1989.
'Miss Piggy' finished 4th. in the Half Ton Cup in Howth in 1990.
'Linn Hi Fi' was built for a Scottish owner and raced on the Clyde.
He was appointed by a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to redesign the J24 to make it into an exciting sports boat. The client expected a bigger mainsail and new deck moulding and an effective keel to give greater stability. However what resulted was the 1720 sportsboat. The boats were built in Co. Kerry, and about 100 were built starting with sail number 1720. Although successful it was considered that the 1720 had some shortcomings. The Laser SB3 ( Sailing boat for three people) addressed all of these shortcomings and is now to be seen worldwide.
He was appointed by a Denis Doyle, a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to advise on the measurement of 'Moonduster' which had been built more light lightly that had been expected by the Designer Frers, and was floating above her 'marks'. It was too far for Frers to come from Argentina to give the advise. Some lead was fixed to the underside of the coachroof reducing her stability, and giving her an exceptionally good handicap for a boat of her size. 'Moonduster' held the Round Ireland monohull record from Wicklow to Wicklow for about 15 years, until the record was broken by a Whitbread around the World yacht.
He works with many of the world best known boatyards, including the Royal Huisman
, Jongert, Palmer Johnson, Neptunus
, CS Yachts, Laser
, and Jeanneau.
His designs have won prestigious Yacht of the Year awards, a Superyacht Design award and his designs have won several World championships. He has also designed yachts for use in television drama productions by the BBC
.
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
production models. His firm is based on the South Coast of England in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
After leaving Ron Holland
Ron Holland
Ronald John Holland is a yacht designer, who came to prominence in the 1970s with his successful racing designs, and is now best known for his superyachts such as Mirabella V and Ethereal...
’s design team in 1980, Castro's first significant racing yacht design was Justine, for Frank Woods of the National Yacht Club, Ireland the first and only yacht to win the One Ton Cup
One Ton Cup
The One Ton Cup is a sailing trophy open to yachts that displace approximately one ton . It has been raced since 1899 and was awarded by Cercle de la Voile de Paris.From 1999 the Cup will be given to the Corel 45 Class World Championship....
with five straight firsts.
In 1989 he designed three half tonners. 'Miss Piggy', 'Dippin' the Pink' and 'Linn Hi Fi'.
'Dippin' the Pink' was built by Curtiss and Pape in Looe , Cornwall and finished 2nd. in the Admirals Cup in 1989.
'Miss Piggy' finished 4th. in the Half Ton Cup in Howth in 1990.
'Linn Hi Fi' was built for a Scottish owner and raced on the Clyde.
He was appointed by a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to redesign the J24 to make it into an exciting sports boat. The client expected a bigger mainsail and new deck moulding and an effective keel to give greater stability. However what resulted was the 1720 sportsboat. The boats were built in Co. Kerry, and about 100 were built starting with sail number 1720. Although successful it was considered that the 1720 had some shortcomings. The Laser SB3 ( Sailing boat for three people) addressed all of these shortcomings and is now to be seen worldwide.
He was appointed by a Denis Doyle, a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to advise on the measurement of 'Moonduster' which had been built more light lightly that had been expected by the Designer Frers, and was floating above her 'marks'. It was too far for Frers to come from Argentina to give the advise. Some lead was fixed to the underside of the coachroof reducing her stability, and giving her an exceptionally good handicap for a boat of her size. 'Moonduster' held the Round Ireland monohull record from Wicklow to Wicklow for about 15 years, until the record was broken by a Whitbread around the World yacht.
He works with many of the world best known boatyards, including the Royal Huisman
Royal Huisman
Royal Huisman, founded in 1884 is a family-owned builder of unique custom sailing and motor yachts, classic or modern, between 26 and 90 meters. The yard was awarded the Royal seal by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1984...
, Jongert, Palmer Johnson, Neptunus
Neptunus
Neptunus is the baseball team of the Neptunus Sporting Club in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The title sponsor of the club is currently DOOR Training so that the official name of the team is DOOR Neptunus....
, CS Yachts, Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
, and Jeanneau.
His designs have won prestigious Yacht of the Year awards, a Superyacht Design award and his designs have won several World championships. He has also designed yachts for use in television drama productions by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Achievements
- 4 International Offshore Racing (IOR) World Championships
- Designer of the only IOR boat ever to win all its races in a World Championship
- International 6m World Champion
- Designer of 4 "Boat of Year" awards in the UK, France and US
- Admirals Cup Winner 1989
- Co-Designer for "BLUE ARROW" a British America’s Cup ChallengeAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...