Michael Leach Design
Michael Leach Design, founded by Mick Leach in 1997, is a British yacht design studio known for award-winning projects including the 96m Palladium, 67m Solemar (now Calypso), and 67m Anna (now Anna I), with Leach's career shaped by early mentorship under Terence Disdale.
From Coventry University to Superyacht Design
Michael 'Mick' Leach founded his eponymous studio in 1997 after graduating from Coventry University's Transport Design course in 1987, alongside contemporaries Jonny Horsfield and Steve Gresham. Inspired by Syd Mead's visionary illustrations and German industrial designer Luigi Colani's organic forms, Leach initially pursued car design before discovering his true passion at the Earl's Court Boat Show in 1985, where stepping aboard a yacht for the first time crystallized his career path. After two years with Bill Dixon styling production motor and sail boats, Leach's career-defining opportunity came working with Terence Disdain on the exterior of the 110m Montkaj.
Signature Projects and Recognition
Leach's studio, operating with business partner Mark Smith, has produced some of the most distinctive yachts of recent decades. The 96m Palladium represents the studio's greatest achievement—a complete design from the waterline up, driven entirely by owner requirements and earning numerous awards. Other significant projects include the 67m Solemar (now Calypso) and the 67m Anna (now Anna I). The 110m Anna (2018) appears in De Klerk's project records, confirming the studio's continued output of large-scale vessels.
Design Philosophy and Process
Leach maintains that sculpting remains the most enjoyable part of the design process, with all designs still physically modelled in the studio. His admiration for Tim Heywood's Pelorus as a 'game changer' reflects his appreciation for timeless, flowing lines. Looking ahead, Leach acknowledges the challenges of designing ever-larger yachts while resisting being typecast for 90m-plus projects only, emphasizing that creative satisfaction comes at any scale.
