Tony Castro (yacht Designer)

Tony Castro (yacht Designer)

Antonio Maria de Lancastre de Mello e Castro, Conde das Antas, Visconde de Pernes, born in Lisbon, Portugal. Has been designing sailing and motor yachts for 35 years, with about 8,000 boats launched to date that include custom boats and One-design production models. His firm is based on the South Coast of England in Hamble, Southampton

After leaving Ron Holland’s design team in 1980, Castro's first significant racing yacht design was Justine III, for Frank Woods of the National Yacht Club, Ireland the first and only yacht to win the One Ton Cup with five straight firsts. The same owner then built JUSTINE IV crowned best Offshore Admiral's Cupper in 1983

Then followed IZTANOTHER PURLA, a 43 footer, which missed being chosen for the British Admirald's Cup Team but then went on to win all 7 races in Cowes Week beating all the Admiral's Cuppers helmed by the late Sir Peter Blake and his NZ crew from Steinlager ! A boat full of innovative ideas.

He followed that up with 2 x Quarter-Ton World Championships, MCDONALDS AND SCANDINAVIAN SEAWAYS

a Half-Ton cup ( Production) with BALTHAZAR and

a 6m JI World Championshop and Coupe de France " THISBE"

• Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Archiotects ( UK - RINA)
• Member of the Society of Naval Architects ( USA - SNAME)
• Chartered Engineer
• Member of FEANI
• Member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club
• Member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club
• Member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club
• Member of the Associacao Naval de Lisboa
• Member of the Clube Naval de Cascais

He was appointed by a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to redesign the J24 to make it into an exciting sports boat. The client expected a bigger mainsail and new deck moulding and an effective keel to give greater stability. What resulted was the 1720 sportsboat. A new Era in Sportsboat racing had started....The boats were built in Co. Kerry, and about 100 were built starting with sail number 1720. Although very successful it was considered that the 1720 had some shortcomings, namely a bit too powerful and requiring too many crew. The SB20 ( Sailing boat for three people), elected Boat of the Year Overall 2008, addressed all of these shortcomings and is now to be seen worldwide, numbering 680 !

For his first job, he was appointed by a Denis Doyle, a member of Royal Cork Yacht Club to advise on the measurement of 'Moonduster' which had been built more lightly that had been expected by the Designer Frers, and was floating above her 'marks'. It was too far for Frers to come from Argentina to give the advise. Some lead was fixed to the underside of the coachroof (!!!) and a hole in the keel reducing her stability, and giving her an exceptionally good handicap for a boat of her size. 'Moonduster' held the Round Ireland monohull record from Wicklow to Wicklow for about 15 years, until the record was broken by a Whitbread around the World yacht.

He works with many of the world best known boatyards, including the Royal Huisman, Jongert, Palmer Johnson, Neptunus, CS Yachts, Laser, and Jeanneau.

His designs have won prestigious Yacht of the Year awards, a Superyacht Design award and his designs have won several World championships. He has also designed yachts for use in television drama productions by the BBC.