Will Sturdy

Chief Designer

Will Sturdy’s lifelong passion for boats and wooden boatbuilding began as a kid down on the Chesapeake building and paddling kayaks, racing keelboats, and working on the sailing and maintenance crew of a local museum’s reproduction square riggers. After a stint as a sailmaker in a Deltaville sail loft, he went to New York to study naval architecture at the Webb Institute. Will first came to Brooklin Boat Yard as an intern during his first year at Webb. It was a perfect fit. The following summer, Will - along with his now wife Kelly - sailed his almost seaworthy Pearson 28 up from New York. He has been an integral part of the BBY team ever since.

When not in the office, Will and his family embrace life on the water. In the summer they live aboard a wooden powerboat based here in Center Harbor and enjoy cruising the local coastline, fishing, sailing, and messing about with an ever-evolving fleet of small craft. Winters are spent in the workshop keeping the fleet afloat!

Will’s designs combine classically inspired aesthetics with contemporary performance to create unique yachts tailored to the particular use profile of the owner. He has a passion for efficiency, whether that be a simple daysailer that slips through the water with little fuss to eking the most speed out of moderate horsepower in a power cruiser. 

“Efficient is fast, and fast is fun!”

With skills honed through time in the workshop and the wide variety of projects built at BBY over the years, Will’s expertise in production engineering has been instrumental in advancing the yard's build capabilities. These varied projects have given Will a unique perspective on integrating traditional wooden boat construction techniques with modern engineering principles and materials as well as high levels of structural optimization.

The Eggemoggin 47+ represents one of Will's most noteworthy sailing yacht designs. His intimate knowledge of the platform, gained from seven years racing aboard Lynette, informed his revolutionary redesign that became Tink. This new interpretation of the classic 47-foot daysailer demonstrates Will's ability to maximize performance while maintaining the timeless appeal of wooden boats. Tink has posted an impressive record through her initial seasons, including sweeping victories at the New York Yacht Club race week and many other races throughout New England in both classic and modern circuits.

Email Will at wsturdy@brooklinboatyard.com