Profile
Giovanni Ceccarelli, engineer and yacht designer, is today at the helm of Ceccarelli Yacht Design & Engineering, one of the longest-established Italian studios to have operated continuously in the field of pleasure craft design. Born in Ravenna, where he continues to live and work, he has built over time a professional path that combines design culture, direct construction experience, research activity and a deep understanding of the real behaviour of a yacht.
His working method is rooted in an approach that is both classical and contemporary: every new yacht begins with a hand sketch, the first moment in which intuition, proportions and vision come together, and is then developed using the most advanced tools for drawing, modelling and calculation. His projects are always conceived with the human dimension, the sea, and the relationship between functionality, beauty and respect for the environment at their core.
Shipyards and Design Activity
Over the course of his career, Giovanni Ceccarelli has collaborated with numerous Italian and international shipyards, developing projects in both sailing and motor yachts, across custom design and series production. Italian collaborations include Carnevali Yachts, Rimar, Cantiere Navale De Cesari, Italo Galletti, Cantiere Carlini, Marine Composite, Tencara, Cantiere Soleri, Neo Yachts, Eleva Yachts, Cantiere del Pardo, Manda Yachts and Mylius Yachts; international collaborations include Sirena Marine in Turkey, as well as shipyards in Russia, Poland and Spain.
This experience has enabled him to develop a broad and practical vision of yacht design, capable of bringing together style, naval architecture, engineering, production processes and final product quality. His work is distinguished precisely by this ability to transform an idea into a yacht that is credible, coherent and buildable.
America’s Cup and Racing
One of the most significant chapters in Giovanni Ceccarelli’s professional career is his experience in the America’s Cup, where he served as Principal Designer in two high-level campaigns: in 2003 in Auckland with Mascalzone Latino, led by Vincenzo Onorato, and in 2007 in Valencia with +39 Challenge. These were experiences of exceptional technical and design intensity, which further strengthened his expertise in performance research, hull and appendage development, and the use of advanced simulation and optimisation tools. A passion for sailing has always been an integral part of his identity. A competitive sailor from a young age, Giovanni Ceccarelli won three Italian championships in dinghies and offshore sailing as helmsman. His designs have gone on to win ten world titles under the IOR and IMS/ILC rules, numerous major podium finishes, and five Italian titles in offshore sailing. Among the most notable achievements are the success of Dimore del Garda, the 100 Miglia del Garda record, victory in two classes at the 2014 Rolex Middle Sea Race with NEO 400 and Azuree 33, second place at the World Championship in 2017 with the IOM Sedici model, and the world title won in 2022 by the IOM Venti model.
Costa Concordia, Offshore and Marine Infrastructure
From 2012 to July 2014, Giovanni Ceccarelli played a leading role in the Costa Concordia wreck removal project, serving as Engineering Director and as one of the principal designers within the activities carried out for Titan–Micoperi. His studio was involved in both engineering and project management, contributing to one of the most complex maritime operations ever undertaken. Giovanni Ceccarelli was also responsible for the first conceptual ideas concerning the methodology for righting the wreck.
For the work carried out in that context, he was awarded the honour of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Giorgio Napolitano. Alongside this experience, Giovanni Ceccarelli is also active in coastal and offshore engineering, with projects involving ports and harbour infrastructure, as well as design and consultancy assignments for the offshore sector.
Teaching and Professional Associations
Giovanni Ceccarelli’s professional activity has long been accompanied by a constant commitment to promoting yacht design culture. He has taught within master’s programmes and university courses, holding teaching appointments at the University of Bologna and the Politecnico di Milano, contributing to the education of new generations of designers.
He is also active in the professional and association sphere: he has served as President of AS.PRO.NA.DI., the Italian association of pleasure craft designers, and is a full member of SNAME. His presence in these contexts reflects a view of the profession founded not only on design practice, but also on the cultural and institutional responsibility of the designer.
A Design Vision
Giovanni Ceccarelli’s experience spans different worlds — sailing, motor yachts, racing, production, custom design, offshore engineering, technical consultancy and teaching — yet it remains grounded in a deep coherence. In every field, design is understood as a synthesis of intuition and rigour, of form and function, of technical culture and sensitivity to the sea. It is this continuity of vision, developed through direct engagement with shipyards, owners, competition and real construction, that defines his profile and the character of the studio that bears his name.
