Fairline Yachts
Fairline Boats Ltd[1] is a British luxury motor yacht builder, currently owned by Wessex Bristol.
Started in 1963 by Jack Newington, the company builds motor yachts in both its original Oundle base as well as in Corby, Northamptonshire
History
The company started when Newington bought a series of gravel pits on the River Nene and built the Oundle Marina. In 1967 he launched the first Fairline boat, a 19 feet (5.8 m) handcrafted glass-reinforced plastic river cruiser.[2] When Newington's son Sam, a former Royal Air Force pilot and Columbia University MBA graduate, took over in 1971, the company employed fourteen people. Sam expanded the companies sales network overseas to take advantage of the expanding Mediterranean market place – by 1979 the company employed 140 people and turned over £5 million, with production expanded by the success of 1977's Fairline 40 model.[2]
The company expanded in the 1980s developing lines of high speed cruising yachts. When Sam retired in 1996, the company expanded further by establishing Fairline Boats of North America Inc., creating a network of 35 dealers.[2]
In 2002 the 10,000th Fairline was completed, together with new production facilities at the original Oundle site. By 2010, the 12,000th Fairline was completed and shipped, namely a Squadron 55 to a client in Italy. The Fairline Owners Club was founded in 2003,.[3]
In 2006 the company was purchased by 3i.[2]
The company launched the Fairline Targa 38 in 2006 and it has been one of the fastest-selling models in the Fairline range, winning the prestigious European Powerboat of the Year in the 30 ft (9.1 m) to 40 ft (12 m) category in 2007.[4]
Fairline was purchased by Better Capital and RBS in July 2011.[5]
In September 2015, Fairline was bought by luxury brand group Wessex Bristol.
In November 2015, Fairline proposed a company voluntary arrangement to its creditors, however in December 2015 Fairline entered administration.
Range
The range presently includes the following models:
- Squadron – first launched in 1991 with the Squadron62, a "large yacht" range
- Targa – first launched in 1985, a series of sports style boats. The range is topped by the Gran Turismo models, first launched in 2003
As of 2012 the line includes sport cruisers from 38 ft (12 m) to 62 ft (19 m) with larger vessels being added to this growing category. The Squadron(Fly Bridge) line has a range of models from 42 ft (13 m) to 78 ft (24 m).[citation needed]
References
External links
