Meet the Team
John Mountain
John lives in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. His passion for boats and the sea started young, when his dad introduced him to the world of speedboats. Given his love of the sea, it’s no surprise that he became an adept diver, revelling in the ocean from above and below. Ever on the look-out for new challenges, eventually John was bitten by the sailing bug. He found huge pleasure and satisfaction in learning from the incredibly accomplished sailing community in Cape Town.
After experiencing extended periods of life aboard his own 50ft catamaran since 2019, John dreamed of sailing around the world. However, he was on an uncompromising quest for a combination of ultimate sailing efficiency and true luxury. Nothing he looked to buy quite ticked all the right boxes. So he decided to partner with great maritime minds to build the Air Yacht 80, optimised for speed, seamless functionality and sheer luxury.
With over thirty years' experience in design, the multi-skilled and multi-talented team at Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design offers a rare global approach to their projects. World multihull specialists, recognised experts in ocean-going yachts, award-winning in design and style, and with a strong culture of performance, the team’s DNA is everything the Air Yacht 80 project needed to achieve its ambition of being the ultimate high-end multihull.
Oliver Racoupeau – Naval Architect
Isabelle Racoupeau – Interior Design
“North Sails’ 3Di technology: Designed for Fast. Engineered to Last”
Air Yacht 80’s 3Di sails were custom-designed and produced by North Sails, regarded as the world’s best in sail innovation. North Sails wins more races than any other sailmaker because of its relentless commitment to innovation, technology and performance. Founded in a decidedly scientific approach to sailmaking, North Sails remains rooted in the core values of in-house analysis and development of materials, performance-led design, quality craftsmanship and customer service. The company employs the industry’s best sailmakers, utilises high-quality equipment and maintains high production standards.
Developed to push the boundaries of performance in the America’s Cup, North Sails’ 3Di technology means these sails are lighter, stronger, more dimensionally stable and remain faster for longer.
“Can it be lighter? Does that add line speed? Will it be flawless under higher load?”
The leading manufacturer of performance sailing hardware since 1967, Harken’s constant commitment to light, flawlessly functional sailboat hardware makes it the supplier of choice for Air Yacht’s winches and capstans. With sophisticated machinery, high levels of technician training, innovative ideas from engineers and optimised workflow models, it’s no wonder Harken gear dominates events like the America’s Cup, the Ocean Race, the Olympics and the Maxi World Championships.
“We make no compromise on quality and control on each part. That is the reason why those who sail far, choose a mast fabricated by the team at LORIMA.”
From world-class superyachts to high-performance racing yachts, Lorima is a leader in the manufacture of carbon-fiber masts and spars. Lightweight yet able to withstand extreme loads, Lorima products are manufactured using top-end technology. Their location in Lorient is the home of France’s high sea racing, which facilitates relationships with all hi-tech nautical professionals. This area also enjoys near-constant temperature and hygrometry, which is ideal for construction with carbon.
The company’s dual experience in racing and cruising allows it to move forward faster than its competitors in terms of technical expertise and innovation. New ideas developed on boats for the Vendée Globe, the America’s Cup or maxi multihulls such as Banque Populaire are directly transposed on masts for cruising boats.
“Custom solutions lie at the heart of Rigging Projects”
With a reputation for excellence built on providing expert advice, design, engineering and supply of the right product for the right application, it’s no surprise that Rigging Projects is the rigging designer of choice for the sail-handling needs of some of the most iconic yachts in the world. Coupled with their in-house design capacity, Rigging Projects is able to supply the perfect package from the deck up.