Humphreys Yacht Design have been principal designers for Elan Marine since the mid 1990s, working with Elan’s own extensive in-house engineering team. From the first relationship, the Elan 295, Rob Humphreys has been an ever-strengthening presence, consistently helping direct the company’s vision, with a range of boats that offer excellent racer-cruiser balance. It’s what Humphreys has frequently referred to as the 60/60 range, where the racing eye will focus on the boats’ obvious race-winning potential and feel the designs are biased in his direction, while the cruising temperament will see his own particular interest as being the one that commands the 60%.

The Elan range is a series of resilient cruising and racing yachts that appeals to professional and amateur sailing crews as well as families who love to holiday on the water. It combines modern technology and expertise with a respect for tradition, elegance and stylish good looks. All the yachts in the series are designed for fast passage-making, regattas and other racing events, but at the same time they are styled with comfort and safety in mind so that sailing companions — whether experienced or novice — can enjoy both the ride and the destination. For some owners, an Elan is a first yacht or a stepping stone, while for others it is all they ever wished for. Elan also offer the Impression range, a more dedicated cruising line also designed by the Humphreys team. Despite a very impressive turn of speed these boats are designed essentially for comfort and a cruising feel-good factor, and the range has been a huge success for the company.

The Elan/Humphreys team consistently strives to explore new developments and respond to feedback from owners, so that if an owner wants to race he can win, and if he wants to cruise then he will be able to do so in a reassuring fashion, content in the knowledge that he can reel away the miles in comfort. This approach has the won the brand a high level of customer loyalty which in turn translates into a motivated and passionate design team.