The range and specification of superior yachts offered by specialist designers and boat builders has reached mammoth proportions over the last decade or so. 
Fairline Yachts, which has been creating beautifully designed, hand-crafted motor boats in Oundle, Northamptonshire, since 1967, is a great example. Its current line-up of yachts includes its spacious flybridge variants from the esteemed Squadron range – currently available from 48 feet (15 metres) to 65 feet (20 metres) and its Targa range – Fairline’s modern express cruisers available from 43 feet (13 metres) to 63 feet (19 metres). The company is also producing a brand new 33 feet (10 metres) express cruiser. This new model will be the first from Fairline’s new project ‘F-Line’ series and will launch in spring 2019. A new larger flagship Squadron model is also in the early design stages.
Miles Moorhouse, head of marketing at Fairline Yachts, says, “Our specialism as a series production builder is in the design and manufacture of superior yachts up to 80 feet (24 metres). We pride ourselves on having great expertise in this size range and can provide our customers with an extensive model range. There are many excellent shipyards that build bigger yachts and our dealer network knows which brands suit their customers should they wish to move beyond 24 metres.
“When choosing, we ask customers to consider how they want to enjoy their yacht, is having a large outdoor entertaining space important or would you rather have extensive interior space? Where you are going to use your boat and for how long are also important considerations. If you plan to be away for more than a few days, you’ll most likely want to opt for one of our spacious Squadron flybridge models, whereas if you are looking for something for quick getaways a Targa model would be ideal.”
Fairline has a truly global customer base and is represented by its extensive dealer network across the key yachting territories all over the world, including Europe, the US, Australia, the Far East and the Middle East. “However, a large proportion of our boats are sold in the Mediterranean,” says Mr Moorhouse, “in fact, the Balearics in Spain has more Fairlines per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world!”
Fairline reports that key developments over the past decade have been in the styling of yachts, the use of available interior volume, greater use of high quality materials in construction, for example marble, and in construction techniques such as the use of resin infusion. “Over the next decade,” continues Mr Moorhouse, “one of the biggest trends in the global yacht market will be for complete customisation in terms of the boat’s interior layout. This is something we have embraced fully and Fairlines can now be configured in a wide variety of ways to ensure every customer gets their perfect boat.
“For example, the Targa 63 GTO is designed to suit Fairline’s varied global client base. There is the choice of either an extended cockpit or extended saloon variants, the former offering large outdoor space, the latter for those where air-conditioned interior space is more important. Maximising space and comfort are the key features of the Targa 63 GTO with every centimetre optimised. Regardless of specification, owners will find a large saloon and cockpit as well as an impressive full-beam master cabin with adjoining en suite. This taps into another key trend, which is to use light and space in highly innovative ways to ensure you feel connected to your surroundings.”
Every Fairline yacht is custom designed and hand-crafted in the UK with prices starting from £500,000 (not including taxes) rising to around £2.5 million depending on the specification.
