Bertrand Cardis

Bertrand Cardis: Precision, Performance, and Swiss Sailing Ingenuity

Early Childhood and Initial Connection to Sailing

Bertrand Cardis was born in 1956 in the engineering-rich culture of Switzerland. While the country has no coastline, it boasts an exceptional sailing community along its lakes—and Lake Geneva became Cardis’s proving ground. His fascination with sailboats extended beyond sailing them; he wanted to build better ones.

Journey to Nautical Success

With a degree in mechanical engineering, Cardis competed in the 1984 Olympics in the Flying Dutchman class, proudly representing Switzerland. But it was in the realm of design and boatbuilding where he made his most profound impact. That same year, he founded Decision SA, a cutting-edge boatyard that would become a cradle of innovation.

Major Career Achievements

Under Cardis’s leadership, Decision SA became synonymous with advanced composites and precision builds. The yard constructed racing machines for America’s Cup teams, most notably for Switzerland’s Alinghi during their victorious 2003 and 2007 campaigns. His work also extended to revolutionary designs like the Hydroptère—an experimental hydrofoil that shattered speed records—and the sleek Decision 35 catamarans on Lake Geneva.

Cardis changed the way high-performance boats were conceived in Europe, introducing aerospace-level craftsmanship to the world of sailing.

Personal Life and Broader Impact

Reserved and pragmatic, Bertrand Cardis has always preferred to let his work speak for itself. His contributions have helped position Switzerland as a leader in boatbuilding technology. Through mentorship and collaboration, he’s inspired a generation of engineers and sailors to think beyond limits. In the world of competitive sailing, Cardis is the man behind the curtain—the one who made the magic real.