Du Toit Yacht Design was established by Anton du Toit in 2001. In 2007 he was awarded the Disa South African Design Excellence Award.
Anton has over thirty years of practical sailing and racing experience in various locations around the world.
He grew up on boats, spending thirteen years cruising around the world with his family in their Sparkman Stephens Tartan 46 ft sloop. From a young age he started designing boats and his yearning to learn led him to study all available design material.
He was especially inspired by the renowned yacht designers Sparkman & Stephens, Phil Rhodes, John Alden and Herreshoff. On returning to South Africa in 1990 he worked at prominent South African yacht designer Angelo Lavranos & Associates and at world-class yacht building facility Southern Wind Shipyard. He decided to go on his own in 2000, and with the business growing steadily, he hired additional designers.
His partner, Charmaine du Toit, gave up her nursing career to join when her interest in the business grew to a passion. She is no stranger to boats having lived at the sea all her life and crewed with Anton on a Rio-Cape Town delivery in 1993.
She is responsible for all interior design work and manages the administrative side of the business.
Tom Lewis, an innovative Mechanical Engineer (B.Eng Stellenbosch University) has been with DTYD for over a year bringing a comprehensive range of additional talent and skill.
With fluid dynamics his main area of expertise, he provides valuable knowledge in the fine-tuning of our designs. Thomas is also responsible for the structural design aspects (mechanical and composite) as well as appendage design.
Deborah Dancig contributes mainly to the HR and PR side of the business on a part-time basis.
Du Toit Yacht Design undertakes a broad range of projects, which include sailing and powerboats in mono and multi-hull forms, commercial vessels, RIB’s, kayaks and other small craft.
In addition DTYD is closely associated with the prestigious racing yacht designers Botin & Carkeek on various projects, where we are involved with structural and detailing aspects on cruisers and the GP, TP and VO70 classes.
Whatever the project, each design is carefully conceptualized and detailed according to the client’s brief, the use of the vessel, construction requirements and costs. This process is facilitated by the powerful Catia V5 and Rhino software for 2D & 3D design deliverables.
Once construction begins, we liaise closely with the builder providing them with all required information ensuring the project proceeds as planned.
