American naval architect who was designer, skipper, and navigator of the yacht Dorade, the winner of the 1931 Transatlantic and Fastnet races, and who was codesigner and relief helmsman of the J-class Ranger, the winner of the America's Cup in 1937.

The Sparkman & Stephens firm of which Stephens was a partner designed many famous America's Cup defenders, including Columbia (winner in 1958), Constellation (1964), Intrepid (1967 and 1970, after her design was somewhat modified), and Courageous (1974). Stephens designed such famous ocean racers as Stormy Weather, Baruna, Blitzen, Bolero, Kialoa II, Kialoa III, and Finisterre, the last a three-time winner of the Bermuda Race (1956, 1958, and 1960). Sparkman & Stephens also designed the Lightning and Blue Jay one-design classes.