Since its creation in 2007, Black Pepper Yachts has developed a distinctive approach to yacht design and construction, combining carbon technology, performance and a strong neo-classic identity.
Whatever the size, sailing programme or naval architect, a Black Pepper yacht is instantly recognisable. Clean lines, distinctive proportions and carefully integrated details give each model a strong visual identity, while preserving the character shared across the Black Pepper range.
Michel Douville de Franssu
An agricultural engineer by training, Michel Douville de Franssu began his career in Africa, where he was born, by founding a company specialising in the processing of natural ingredients for the perfume and flavour industry. Coffee, cocoa, vanilla and black pepper were among the materials he worked with — and the latter would later inspire the name Black Pepper.
A lifelong sailing enthusiast, he returned to the world of yachting in 2007 with the ambition of creating a boat that matched his own vision: elegant, distinctive and performance-oriented. This idea led to the development of the Code 0, the first yacht in the Black Pepper range and the starting point of the shipyard’s identity.
From the beginning, Michel Douville de Franssu drew inspiration from the elegant proportions of classic metre-class yachts. His aim was not to reproduce the past, but to reinterpret it through contemporary naval architecture, modern materials and performance-oriented design. This approach gave Black Pepper Yachts its distinctive neo-classic identity.
Although he is not a naval architect, Michel remains closely involved in the overall silhouette and many of the design details that define the range. Angular doghouses, clean deck layouts and carefully controlled proportions are recurring elements of the Black Pepper style.
“I look for harmony and the most fluid lines possible, with as few unnecessary volumes and visual interruptions as possible.”
This philosophy can also be seen in the Tender 17 and Tender 24, whose proportions are inspired by the elegance of 1960s motorboats. At the same time, Black Pepper remains open to the evolution of naval architecture, whether through new hull forms, rig configurations or construction techniques.
The objective remains the same: to combine timeless lines with modern performance, without compromising the distinctive character of each yacht.
Black Pepper® is convinced that in every field it is possible to progress by bringing together talent, training people, and providing them with innovative technologies, new methods and new know-how.
The design, development and refinement of our yachts are carried out in collaboration with experienced naval architects, sailors and specialist partners. Our design office and engineering team are involved throughout the process, working closely with the relevant inspection and certification bodies.
This approach allows Black Pepper Yachts to develop reliable, high-performance yachts suited to a wide range of sailing programmes, from day sailing to offshore cruising.
Our engineers and craftsmen bring together experience from a wide range of fields, including shipbuilding, composite materials, chemistry, offshore racing, cabinetmaking and traditional upholstery.
This combination of skills is central to the Black Pepper Yachts approach, bringing together traditional craftsmanship, advanced materials and contemporary construction techniques.
Black Pepper interiors combine refined finishes with a distinctive neo-industrial style. Wood, leather, carbon fibre and stainless steel are brought together in spaces designed to balance comfort, functionality and lightness.
The design is deliberately clean and understated, with selected construction details left visible rather than concealed. These technical elements become part of the yacht’s aesthetic and contribute to the distinctive character of Black Pepper Yachts.
The details and meticulous know-how of our craftsmen enable us to achieve the highest standards of quality and unique creativity. At Black Pepper our craftsmen are encouraged and do indeed express themselves freely in their work.
A community of kindred spirits who have made the brand and its style their own, are today at the helm of production, and constantly nurture the creative process. Each yacht is unique, accumulating skills in fields as varied as composite, wood, paint, electricity, electronics, deck fittings, rigging, mechanics or plumbing.
The engineers in our Design Team, always on the lookout to ensure that the brand is at the cutting edge of innovation and new technologies, are constantly working to improve our boats.
Skills acquired in building Imocas for ocean racing are also applied to the construction of our production yachts.
Black Pepper® yacht owners form a community; they like to meet up and sail together; all sensitive to etiquette, savoir vivre and a certain form of sober, timeless aestheticism, they contribute in their own way, every day, to the development of the brand they have, in a way, made their own.
Anything is possible for our yacht owners…
At Black Pepper Yachts, as in the clothing industry, “Made to Measure” means making our pieces by hand. Each element is conceived, designed and crafted individually in accordance with very precise specifications in order to meet the desires and tastes of the future owner. The result is a unique work, the fruit of a co-creation between a craftsman and his customer, which will never be exactly reproduced.
This singular approach, both anachronistic and modern, takes time: time for study, time for exchange, time for production and modification, time for fine-tuning, always with the aim of achieving as closely as possible the future owner’s idea of perfection for his boat.
