Twin flight
Owning a full custom yacht designed by Nuvolari Lenard is like earning a badge of honor in the capitalist hall of fame. Today, they are one of the most sought-after design studios in the world, ready to take on motor or sailing projects of any complexity. The Venetian studio has crafted unique vessels for renowned shipyards such as CRN, Lürssen, Oceanco, and Palmer Johnson. Currently, they’re working on an 80-meter yacht for ISA, and just last year at the Salone Nautico Venezia, they unveiled the concept for a 100-meter sailing yacht named Vento.
While they cater to the bespoke desires of some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, Nuvolari Lenard also designs production models for brands like Montecarlo and Jeanneau. Their portfolio even includes a hybrid-engine water taxi designed for their native Venice.
But their expertise doesn’t stop at yachts. Nuvolari Lenard has also left their mark in the worlds of aviation and private residences, proving their versatility and mastery across luxury design.
Their creative partnership is nothing short of picturesque. As is still often the case in Europe, both men followed in their fathers’ footsteps. Both fathers were architects—Nuvolari’s worked in naval architecture, while Lenard’s focused on land-based projects. This heritage naturally shaped their current division of labor.
Frenchman Dan Lenard is responsible for design, bringing a distinctly Gallic blend of precision and flair to the table. With his silver hair, sunbaked complexion, and demeanour weathered by sea breezes, he’s as charismatic as they come. Often seen sporting a rebellious Belstaff bomber jacket, he looks every bit the Instagram hero—a modern-day magician in a helicopter, shuttling between Dubai and Monaco with a young fiancée, yet still capable of solo sailing from Cádiz to Fort Lauderdale.
Italian Carlo Nuvolari, on the other hand, exudes the poise of a true *signore professore*. Dressed in muted-tone jackets with soft-shouldered tailoring, he oversees naval architecture with a calm and thoughtful demeanour.
“I think we’re good at what we do because our work is also our passion,” Nuvolari explains. “We approach every new project with fresh eyes, as if it’s our very first, and we never allow ourselves to feel jaded or cynical. The key to the success of all our projects lies in the fact that we both grew up sailing. I’ve always found it odd that there are so many designers and builders in this industry who don’t sail or have any real connection to the sea. In my view, if you want to design or build yachts, that connection is absolutely fundamental.”
Here is how the studio came into being: in the late 1980s, Carlo returned home after his navy service. A passionate yachtsman, he began working as a manager at a small yacht shipyard, one of many in the region. His career was steadily progressing when, at an industry exhibition, he met Dan, a successful architect equally passionate about the sea. The future partners immediately recognized a kindred spirit in one another. They shared not only a love for yachting and similar tastes in design but also ambition and a willingness to take risks.
Typically, designers establish their own companies after gaining experience and building useful connections during years of working for others. However, these two skipped that stage entirely. They started from scratch, learning the secrets of the trade on their own.
Nuvolari recalls, “We were bursting with ideas. In search of clients, I began knocking on doors in Italy, but I quickly realized that approach wasn’t working. So, I flew to Australia for a few weeks. There, I presented myself as a trendy international designer, showcased a few fresh ideas, and very quickly sold our first project—I'll never forget it—a 35-foot open boat for a local shipyard.”
The biggest challenge in the capital-intensive, highly conservative, and tightly closed world of the yachting industry is securing that first commission or delivering a successful initial project. These two managed to make their mark right at the start of the major yachting boom.
Nuvolari vividly recalls a chance encounter with Mike Kelsey Sr., the former owner of Palmer Johnson. This meeting led to the young design duo landing a commission for the exterior and interior of La Baronessa (later renamed Pearl). Built in 1998, the 59.5-meter yacht remains the largest fully aluminum yacht ever produced in the United States. This project set the trajectory of their future careers. Without it, there would likely have been no such iconic superyachts as Nord, Alfa Nero, Vibrant Curiosity, Lady M, Quattroelle, and Atlante, nor sailing yachts like Spirit of the C's by Perini Navi, the radical Black Pearl by Oceanco, and many others.
“We’ve worked together on some truly exceptional projects,” says Peter Lürssen. “Without their creative input, these yachts would never have become such outstanding achievements.”
“We value working with partners who aren’t afraid of challenges,” adds Marcel Onkenhout, CEO of Oceanco. “It’s been a pleasure to see Nuvolari Leonard’s designs positively influence the yacht industry over the past 30 years and to collaborate on groundbreaking projects that have redefined what’s possible for superyachts. We look forward to many more iconic projects in the years to come.”
Dan Lenard, Carlo Nuvolari, and the studio’s partner, Valentina Zannier, are deeply engaged in the yachting industry and share a strong belief in nurturing young talent. Five years ago, the studio helped establish a master’s program in yacht design at Università Iuav di Venezia. Additionally, Nuvolari Lenard maintains close ties with the Politecnico di Milano, Coventry University, and Rome’s Guido Carli University (Luiss).
For students, it’s not just about listening to industry masters in a lecture hall. In March, Nuvolari took a group of Luiss students to the Dubai Boat Show. “After thirty years in the business, it would be a shame to lock away all the knowledge we’ve gained and not share it,” he says.
