“Style, Performance, Integrity.”
Fairline Yachts was started in 1963 by Jack Newington in Oundle, Northamptonshire. Newington starting the company by buying gravel pits on the River Nene and built the Oundle Marina. The first Fairline boat was launched in 1967 which was a hand crafted glass reinforced plastic river cruiser that was 5.8 metres long.
In 1971, Jack’s son Sam took over the company where 14 people were employed at the time. Sam then expanded Fairline’s sales network overseas taking advantage of the high demand in the Mediterranean yacht market. By 1979, Fairline employed over 140 people and had an annual turnover of £5 million with the increased success of the Fairline 40 model from 1977.
During the 1980’s, the company expanded into developing a line of high speed cruising yachts. Sam retired in 1996 and Fairline boats expanded further by establishing Fairline Boats of North America Inc. which generated a network of 35 dealers.
In 2002, the 10,000th Fairline boat was completed and new production facilities were created at Fairline’s Oundle site. Then by 2010, Fairline had completed their 12,000th boat which was a Squadron 55. Fairline boats became so popular that the Fairline Owners Club was created in 2003.
In 2006, Fairline launched their Fairline Targa 38 model and became one of the fastest selling models in Fairline’s range winning prestigious prizes including European Power Boat of the Year in the 9.1 – 12 metre category in 2007.
In recent years, Fairline has changed hands a few times, but still has the important core values that it strives for of style, performance and integrity. The company was sold in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2016. Fairline is now owned by the UK based Russian Business men Alexander Volov and Igor Glyanenko when they purchased the assets of Fairline boats for roughly £4 million. March 2016 saw Fairline Yachts complete a Targa 48GT for a UK customer.
Fairline Luxury Motor Yachts are some of the most stylish yachts in the UK and the world and with the growing demand for style in luxury yachts, the company will become more and more successful.
(There will be a follow up post expressing thoughts on Fairline and their beautiful boats).
(All pictures remain the property of Fairline).
