Germán Frers: What drives me to fulfil my work is the pleasure of creativity

Let’s make it clear from the start: there are three generations of yacht designers in Frers family business, and they are all complete namesakes! And while each of them has achieved success, the article below will focus on the middle representative of the dynasty 

There is not a single person in the world of sailing who has not heard this name. And it is only natural: Germán Frers is perhaps the most prolific of yacht designers, working with boats of literally all types and sizes, from large superyachts to the most popular small-size segment.

This year Argentinian Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering turns a hundred years old. The founder of the company is Germán Frers Sr, whose yachts were in demand, because they won regattas both in Europe and in the USA. 

His son, named Germán, too, started as a draftsman in his father’s firm and designed his first yacht when he was just 16, back in 1957. It was a 10-metre sailing racing boat, which was the first to be built of GRP in Argentina. 

In 1965 the young designer went to New York to work for Sparkman & Stephens, which was the most prestigious naval architect firm in America at the time. In the course of his three-year internship, Frers did not only contribute to several landmark projects, but developed some of his own, which were recognized as benchmarks in their class even at that time. 

In 1970 Germán came back to Buenos Aires, where he took over his father's firm. From that moment on, his career without exaggeration was triumphant. Today his sailing, motor, cruising and racing yachts ranging from 7 to 140 metres can be found on all continents. 

There is a joke that the list of Frers’ clients and yachts reads like the who's who in yachting around the world. His boats set numerous speed records and became regular participants and prize winners of top regattas, including Admiral’s Cup, Transpacific, Whitbread Round the World Race, Sardinia Cup, Copa del Rey, San Francisco Big Boat Series, Giraglia Race, Two Ton Cup World Championship, Maxi World Championship.

Frers' participation in three America's Cup campaigns made him a cult figure: his Il Moro di Venezia, which won the first World Championship for the new America’s Cup Class in May 1991, and set the trends and parameters for the design of all contenders and defenders for years to come. 

During his long career, Frers designed over 1300 models for a lot of shipyards, including Beneteau, Cantiere del Pardo, CNB, Doomernik Yachts, Dufour, Lürssen, Royal Huisman, Sirena Superyachts, Wally. He became the key designer for some brands and developed entire ranges and series for them. For instance, Storebro motor boats, Hallberg-Rassy sailboats and Hylas line of sport cruisers produced by Queen Long Marine. Since 1980s and up to now he has been an exclusive designer for Finnish Nautor’s Swan.

Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering has offices in Argentina and Italy. The third representative of Frers dynasty, Germán «Mani» Frers Jr, is currently working in Milan office.

Frers is happy with his son’s work, but he doesn’t even think of retiring. He just lives life to the fullest, enjoying lots of different pursuits:

“Besides cruising in the Aegean and Mediterranean or racing classic yachts anywhere in the world, I like the country life and enjoy riding a horse in the Pampas of Argentina and travelling across the deserts of North Africa or Patagonia. I like skiing, going to the theatre and the movies, dancing, and life in general. But overall, what drives me to fulfil my work is the pleasure of creativity.”