“The best designs challenge convention while standing the test of time”
Inspired by the legacy of Ken Rose
Brief
What if we could build a sailboat that our 8 year old could get us back to harbour safely in?
This is the story of how we bring to life the one, single USP above. Designing a vessel from the keel up is not child’s play. With the expertise of our naval architect and the Team that we have put together, this is a challenge for everyone involved. Pushing the boundaries of tradition, we demand something more.
With today’s technology, in theory we can exploit and implement systems using AI in such a way that our 8 year old daughter can bring us home, or to the closest port, safely. Choosing intuitive and reliable systems, that if the worst should happen to the adults on board, she would feel confident and capable getting us back to land.
This isn’t about reinventing the so-called wheel. Its about looking at the boat from a different viewpoint – an alternative path, a way to exploit the technology currently available.
A skipper’s objective is to get everyone on board to their destination safely. As parents, its our job to keep our children safe. It is programmed within us to our very being, whatever walk of life we come from. From observing nature, we can see that every creature known to mankind has the same drive, to keep their bloodline alive.
This is the fundamental difference between this new range of yachts, and other aluminium sailboats currently available on the market.
A bespoke yacht, based on a combined 5 decades’ experience of conception, designing, construction and sailing in many conditions, in many different types of sailboats.
The sea has never respected borders.
It connects places, people and generations. It carries ideas, craftsmanship and ambition across oceans.
Borderless Marine was founded on that simple truth.
Inspired by a legacy that crossed oceans, we build yachts designed to travel further, endure longer, and belong anywhere in the world.
At what stage is this project today?
Its mid-April 2026. This week we are working the details with the naval architect, Vincent Lebailly and our good friend Antoine Ehly, director of Ogham Yachts, exploring our options and what is and isn’t possible. The initial drawings are well on their way. From the crazy ideas and paper sketches drawn by Leigh (YouTube’s SV Tonic_BoatWives), its a very exciting step handing them over to Vincent and his team. Its then the job of Loïc of Bord à Bord, to bring this range of yachts to life, starting with the Aura 42.
The idea is to create a range of three yachts in the series: 42′, 47′ and 52′. Each one will have a lot of standard equipment, chosen by us specifically to keep the list of options to a minimum.
When enquiring on the price of a yacht is given, typically the dealer will give you the basic price with a “but”. There are always “optional extras” that are recommended, although usually they are vital to finishing the boat ready to sail. Its not like buying a car, where the car is actually finished and on the forecourt. The experience of buying a yacht can mean potentially long waiting times running up to four or five years, unless its a demo boat or a cancelled order. We might be dead by then!
This is the reason we have opted to go with a custom boat yard, reducing the waiting time massively, from five years to just a matter of eighteen months.
And the price…?
With so much equipment as standard and just a few options such as colour schemes and some tech upgrades, it is our intention that the first price you see is the price you pay. The Aura series of yachts are packed full of goodies. The only thing you’ll have to wait for is one Christmas, not four or five, to take delivery and sail away into the sunset.
So what other USPs will the Aura yachts have that other yachts don’t?
Everything about the Aura yacht has been carefully considered, right down to the way the lines work from the cockpit. We have tried to learn and adapt from other pre-existing concepts, taking from the best and making as few compromises as possible. Because building and owning a yacht is a compromise. This is something we understand and appreciate that it cannot be escaped. It is inevitable.
Let’s dive straight into the list of USPs that will be on board all our boats.
- An aft stateroom in a smaller vessel, thanks to the clever design of the hull and a raised saloon. Access to this cabin can be found via steps down on both sides of the boat. This stateroom will have an island bed, ensuite heads and separate shower.
- Mostly aluminium based, the only other structure on the sailboat is the roof, which is made up of fibreglass. This makes the most of both worlds – the strength of aluminium (with the possibility of recycling later on), and the lightweight aspect of fibreglass.
- The doghouse, which whilst not new, is an integral part of the design concept of the Aura. Sailing in poor conditions, even for an 8 year old, is safe. There is no need to go forward to adjust the lines when tacking. Everything is to hand.
- A lower, in-line galley which is usually seen on bigger vessels. Positioned below the height of the saloon, maximising space. Because underneath the saloon, there is a hidden cabin, accessed via the galley.
- A long view forward from the cockpit with increased visibility. Many sailboats can boast this as an USP. Indeed, it is the reason why have kept this feature.
- Twin engines
- A hidden gem lies aft, in the transom. A hidden space that, at the push of a button, transforms into an extra relaxation area situated mid-way between the stern and the bathing platform. Many hours could be spent here, relaxing in the sun with your feet in the water.
A Different Kind of Yacht
The Aura is not just another aluminium sailboat. It is a rethinking of what safety, usability, and design can achieve when guided by a single idea: