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The 8 Best New British Yachts on the Water, From Sunseeker to Fairline

Quality among the top u.k. builders is always a given. it's the range of yacht designs that may surprise you..

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As an island, boats have always been the lifeblood of Great Britain. And many British yacht builders continue to uphold the country’s proud naval and maritime traditions. While there are a handful of superyacht builders, the UK isn’t known for eye-wateringly huge megayachts or avant-garde design—though that has changed as its largest international brands compete with the style-obsessed Ferretti Group and Azimut brands.

But what you do find with the Brits is well engineered vessels with a high level of attention to detail in both the interior and exterior design. From semi-custom motoryacht builders like Princess and Sunseeker to the rarefied realm of a highly sought-after Pascoe limousine, there’s something here for nearly every yachtsman.

And thanks to enduring popularity, there is nearly always a British-built sailboat from the Oyster yard, somewhere just over the horizon. In fact, whether you’re cruising the waters of the Caribbean, New England, or the South of France, you’ll find U.K. brands along with the highest luxury offerings from Italy and Northern Europe.

Here are seven of Britain’s finest, newest, and most noteworthy vessels on the water.

Project Fox, Pendennis Shipyard

This 114-foot explorer yacht, overseen by project manager Burgess and in build at the Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, was designed around the owner’s wishes. It has a rugged exterior that will be paired with a bright, contemporary interior by QLondon Design. The owner told Robb Report that he plans to cruise off-grid to remote areas like Norway for heli-skiing with his family and friends (thus necessitating five large staterooms). But he also wanted family-friendly features like a sun terrace, wine lobby, open-air barbecue, and DJ station. Of course, the real breakthrough here: The open stern, measuring more than 1,100 square feet can carry a large complement of toys and tenders, but also scientific equipment (the interior has space for a modular lab) for when the yacht is hosting research scientists. “Flexible cabins and connectivity are key,” said the owner.

The ubiquitous model of the Pearl lineup, the 72 received a creative new interior design earlier this year with the addition of a stateroom that gives it two master suites. The U.K. yard has always been high on haute design, offering different palettes by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, but this double-master suite idea is a first for this size of motoryacht. The yard has recently won awards for the naval architecture of its 95, which approaches superyacht status, and it will be launching a new 85-foot flybridge next year.

Fairline Targa 40

Fairline is also among England’s internationally renowned yacht brands, famous for seaworthy hulls and top-tier creature comforts. It hasn’t built yachts as large as competitors Princess and Sunseeker but has been equally creative with the design. The new Targa 40’s cockpit is a case in point. It has an enticing exterior layout, with the cockpit featuring a foldout terrace to starboard and a U-shaped dining settee to port facing the rest of the deck, not to mention the two sun lounges on the stern. The 40 is effectively a dayboat, but with two staterooms, it also works as a family weekender. There’s a master in the forepeak and guest cabin amidships which is best suited for children. The galley below decks is also very functional. Top speed for the Targa is 36 knots with the optional Volvo Penta D6-380 upgrades.

Princess Y80

Along with Sunseeker, Princess Yachts is the other heavyweight of British yacht building. These cruisers and motoryachts have proven to be perennial favorites on both sides of the Atlantic. The Y80 debuting at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival looks to continue the tradition. The Y80 brings to the table an “infinity cockpit” with a glass transom and modular furniture for multiple setups. It also has a flybridge that spans about two-thirds of the yacht’s nearly 84-foot length, effectively creating a legitimate third deck. The Y80’s owner’s stateroom is amidships and full beam, while it has a VIP in the forepeak. Two other guest cabins are to port and starboard. The Y80 has an impressive top speed of 30 knots, but at 10 knots the range is an even more impressive 1,000 nautical miles.

Cockwells Duchy Sport

The 37-foot Duchy Sport from the Cockwells’ yard in Cornwall, famous internationally for its custom tenders, is designed for watersports enthusiasts. This Sport offers multiple towing points for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing, with interior space for nine guests. Bow and cockpit sunpads will be popular spots for tanning, while a Bimini covers the amidships. Standout features include a wetbar, retractable swim ladder, bowthruster with joystick control, and of course ample water-toy stowage. The Duchy Sport comes with twin 370 hp Yanmar 8LVs which can get it up to a top speed of 42 knots—a speed befitting of this model’s name. Cockwells is also building a new Duchy 60, a stylized motoryacht that should rival Downeast offerings from U.S. builders Hinckley and Malaysian builder Grand Banks.

The Oyster 495 is a 52-foot, 8-inch sailing yacht that entered the U.S. market earlier this year. A new design from the keel up, the U.K. builder was thinking global circumnavigation, or at least serious offshore cruising, from the onset. The yacht is also meant to be able to be singlehanded by a capable sailor. The plumb bow and teak decks imbue the 495 with a definite saltiness with performance and aesthetics. The cabin is noteworthy for being both ergonomic and well-lit. Reported top speeds for the 495 crest the 10-knot mark under sail, while a 100 hp Yanmar diesel pushes it along happily at 9.5 knots.

Sunseeker Superhawk 55

Sunseeker is one of England’s brands that has a global following. For good reason. The Poole builder has a range of vessels that extend from 38 to 161 feet. Sunseeker is known for good oceangoing performance and creative design. The Superhawk 55 is a reimagining of the Superhawks that enjoyed popularity with performance enthusiasts in the 1990s and Aughts before being discontinued in 2009. Sunseeker introduced the Superhawk 38 in 2020, which had echoes of its go-fast past. This 55, however, is more of a performance cruiser than a day boat. With twin Volvo Penta IPS950s the new Superhawk has a very respectable top end of 38 knots and a feature even Miami Vice hot-boat aficionados will appreciate—slow-speed maneuverability offered by pod propulsion. An aggressively raked profile complemented by stiletto-sharp hullside windows augment the Superhawk’s sporty vibe.

Pascoe E-Limousine Electric Tender

Pascoe tenders reside in the garages of some of the world’s biggest and most glamorous superyachts, thanks to the yard’s dedication to customization. The E-Limousine is the builder’s first fully electric vessel, the result of six years of R&D. Top speed is reported to be an impressive 40 knots, with a range of 60 nautical miles at a fast cruise of 20 knots. The builder says not only is this boat greener than a traditional tender but will also offer a smoother, quieter ride thanks to the construction used to mitigate vibration.

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United Kingdom Yacht Design.

Welcome to the realm of "United Kingdom Yacht Design", a distinct section within the NAVIS Superyacht Directory that curates a selection of the finest yacht designers and yacht interior designers from the heart of the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom, a nation steeped in maritime history and innovation, has produced a lineage of yacht designers that have left an indelible mark on the world of yacht design. In this comprehensive directory, NAVIS brings together the most exceptional talents in British yacht and interior design, each with their unique aesthetic and creative vision that pushes the boundaries of what's possible on water.

Here, you will find meticulously curated profiles and a high-resolution gallery showcasing the splendid work of these designers. From stunning exterior designs that balance aesthetics and performance to luxurious interiors that fuse style with seaworthiness, each design tells a tale of innovation, luxury, and an innate understanding of the yachting lifestyle.

But the narrative of United Kingdom yacht design is ever-evolving. As we continually discover emerging talents and innovative studios pushing the forefront of luxury yacht design, we invite our readers to join us on this journey. If you wish to suggest a new talent, an innovative design studio, or a boundary-pushing artist that deserves recognition, please do not hesitate to  contact NAVIS.

Our United Kingdom Yacht Design section is not just a directory; it's a testament to British craftsmanship and innovation in yacht design. We invite you to explore, admire, and be inspired.

Southampton Yacht Design

Sarisbury Green Hampshire Yacht Design

Poole Yacht Design

Plymouth Yacht Design

Lymington Hampshire Yacht Design

London Yacht Design

Isle of Wight Yacht Design

Devon Yacht Design

Brockenhurst Hampshire Yacht Design

Bath Yacht Design

Sunseeker design team

Energy, talent and creativity are at the core of everything RWD produces in their beautiful New Forest riverside studios in the UK.   Established in 1993, their young and enthusiastic team create amongst the most celebrated yachts in the Superyacht industry.

Rhoades & Young

Reymond Langton

Princess design team

In 1965, the Princess Design Team launched their first 31-footer. Since then, Princess Yachts have modified the rules of luxury cruising, from their legendary Flybridge range and thrilling V-Class sports yachts, to their long-range Motor Yachts and ground-breaking M-Class superyachts.

Phillippe Briand

Philippe Briand was born in a family in which racing was a long-established tradition. He began his career as a dinghy sailor in La Rochelle, France, at the age of 9. His father, an Olympian Sailor, was always an inspiration. At the age of 22, he had created his first series of yachts and was sailing them.

Owen Clarke Yacht Design

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384 pages featuring the best of the best from the last ten years in the luxury yachting world.

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7 British Yacht Design Studios You Need To Know About

Written by Brodie Hayward - Wednesday, December 30, 2020

When it comes to superior yacht design, the UK is a force to be reckoned with. The nation’s maritime history and longstanding design pedigree have given rise to a vibrant and high-calibre industry renowned the world over.

Many stalwarts of the exclusive British yacht design scene have been around for the best part of a century, having masterminded exquisite architecture and interiors for many thousands of vessels during that time. And many newer entrants to the market have proven that innovative thinking can transform how we look at traditional design, too.

Let’s look at 7 of the best British yacht design studios you need to know about.

1.  Winch Design

London-based Winch Design – named after its founder, Andrew Winch – is one of the global yacht design market’s most influential players.

Founded in 1986, the studio employs over 100 people – and over the last 35 years, it has amassed a portfolio of the world’s most exquisite yachts. Winch Design also works across land and sea, with numerous private jets and multi-million-pound properties to its name.

Its notable projects include the 99m Madame Gu, which won Superyacht of the Year 2014 at the World Superyachts Awards in Amsterdam. The team also designed the strikingly beautiful interior of the Cloud 9 ( recently sold and now named Lady Jorgia ) a 74m yacht which features helipad, spa and swimming pool.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Winch Design (@winchdesign_wd)

2.  Terence Disdale Design

Terence Disdale is another legend of the yacht design world. Often dubbed the “Rockstar” of the industry, Disdale and his Richmond-upon-Thames studio are behind many of the most famous and celebrated superyachts today.

His 40-year career began in notably humble fashion, as he didn’t receive any formal training in yacht design. Instead, he was tutored by the iconic Jon Bannenberg, whose studio also paved the way for several other leading designers, including Andrew Winch. 

Disdale’s more casual style – with his famous mantra of “beach-house not penthouse” – continues to be highly sought-after. This can be seen in the 53.5m Hurricane Run .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life On Yachts (@lifeonyachts)

3.  Design Unlimited

Founded in 2000, Design Unlimited provides an innovative take on traditional yacht design and has won awards for its fresh approach.

One look at the sailing yacht, Pink Gin VI will tell you all you need to know about the team’s quirky ethos. Design Unlimited’s founder, Mark Tucker, boasts an impressive CV, having cut his teeth at Camper & Nicholson’s Yachts and worked his way up the ranks at Ken Freivokh Design before taking the plunge with his own consultancy.

Custom projects include the 65m Shemara , in which the team completely refitted a 1930s gentleman’s motoryacht. It brought the entire vessel up to modern standards, while retaining her classic charm.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Design Unlimited (@design_unlimit1)

4.  Seymour Diamond

Fiona Diamond’s eponymous studio is called upon by clients the world over to design the interiors of not only superyachts, but also luxury property and aircraft. Diamond worked closely with Terence Disdale for many years before launching her Mayfair-based company in 2010. 

Despite being a relative newcomer within the yacht design industry, the business is making a name for itself as the go-to interior specialist of choice. Seymour Diamond prides itself on a hands-on approach and exquisite attention to detail. It recently worked on the 92.5m Royal Romance , which cost upwards of $200 million.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seymour Diamond (@seymourdiamond1)

5.  Adam Lay Studio

Founded in 2003 in Stockbridge, Adam Lay Studio is a boutique design house that has won countless awards for its iconic projects.

Mentored by John Munford for seven years, another noted custom superyacht designer, Lay has built a reputation for discretion. He also prides himself on truly getting under the skin of client briefs, to not only deliver what owners are looking for – but to exceed their expectations.

The studio’s projects include the Lady Kathryn V , an ornately styled superyacht that evokes the classic and timeless elegance of years gone by.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adam Lay Studio (@adamlaystudio)

6.  Bannenberg & Rowell Design

The name Bannenberg holds a lot of sway in the world of superyacht design. Jon Bannenberg is considered the Grandfather of the modern industry, having pioneered an entirely new aesthetic in the 1960s which is still adhered to today. 

And it’s clear the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Bannenberg & Rowell, now arguably one of – if not the – most famous yacht design studios in the world, was set up by the late Jon’s son, Dickie and his business partner, Simon Rowell. Despite being a company steeped in history, the team remains at the forefront of cutting-edge creativity, working with each client to create something that perfectly matches their style.

Notable projects include the award-winning 65m Galactica Star, a £50 million superyacht which was chartered by Beyoncé and Jay-Z for a holiday in 2015.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bannenberg & Rowell (@bannenberg_and_rowell_designs)

7.  Gresham Yacht Design

Founded by Bahamas-born Steve Gresham, the Gresham Yacht Design studio is now based a little closer to home, in Hampshire.

Having originally worked as part of the engineering team at Williams Formula 1, Gresham moved into superyacht design and launched his studio in 2013. Utilising his keen eye for detail, alongside a desire to continually innovate, Gresham’s work is renowned for its technical excellence. The studio often collaborates with Seymour Diamond, with the former leading on yacht design and the latter handling the interior fit-out and finishing touches.

Gresham’s most famous work includes the MV Alucia, a luxury, 56m research and exploration yacht that played a key role in filming footage for BBC’s Blue Planet II.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gresham Yacht Design (@greshamyachtdesign)

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These are the Yacht Interior Designers to Know

Designing a superyacht is a personal experience and involves making an overwhelming amount of choices.

By Sophie Killip

For those seasoned individuals who have experience chartering yachts , visiting friends’ yachts, sailing the high seas, or maybe even purchasing their first pre-designed yacht, the next thrill might come from building their own vessel. Although designing your own superyacht is a truly personal experience, it also involves making an overwhelming amount of choices. This is why the first step to building a new superyacht should always be to choose a designer to work with – and there are several yacht interior designers you can choose from.

Whether it’s considering how the internal spaces of your yacht will work, what furniture or materials are used, or even working out the external design for your new vessel, collaborating with a designer will make the process of creating your dream superyacht as stress-free and easy as possible. To help, Elite Traveler has created a list of yacht interior (and exterior, in some cases) designers that should be on your radar – and if you’re also on the lookout for a new yacht builder, why not discover our list of the best luxury yacht builders in the world ?

[See more: How to Design an Amazing Superyacht Interior]

Winch Design

Our list of the best yacht interior designers kicks off with  Winch Design. Originally founded by Andrew Winch and his wife Jane in 1986, at the time it was known as Andrew Winch Designs. It was rebranded as Winch Designs in 2015 but has been one of the UK’s leading superyacht and private jet design studios for over thirty years. Winch Design’s yacht studio is now led by Jim Dixon and the team has created a multitude of extraordinary projects, all of which are highly bespoke and tailored to each client’s specific requests.

One of Winch Design’s most recent yacht projects was the 260 ft M/Y Excellence , which shipbuilder Abeking & Rasmussen say was its “most challenging project to date”. Its owner worked closely with the design studio to create a yacht with interiors inspired by the “Floridian East Cost Deco” style and that felt both personal to him and welcoming to any guest on board. “ Excellence was a very exciting project to be involved with and [she] tested the team to their creative limits,” says senior partner, Ignacio Oliva-Vele.

[See more: L’Escale: Inside Winch Design’s First Resort Project]

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Terence disdale design.

Based in the UK, Terence Disdale Design is one of the yachting industry’s most respected design studios. The team works on both the interior and exterior design of some of the world’s most incredible yachts, with previous projects including M/Y Eclipse , one of the biggest superyachts in the world. The studio was founded by Terence Disdale, who – despite having no formal training – is one of the most sought-after designers in the industry.

Disdale set up his eponymous studio in 1972 after working for famous designer Jon Bannenberg (Bannenberg’s studio was also where Andrew Winch and Tim Heywood learned their craft). Across his extraordinary 40-year career Disdale and his studio have designed over 100 yachts, including more than 50 superyachts. His wide-ranging design style often follows the mantra of ‘beach house, not penthouse’, with concepts often finding inspiration from the ocean.

Sorgiovanni Designs

Australian yacht designer Sam Sorgiovanni’s career began after he studied Industrial Design and found his first position working for shipbuilder Oceanfast. It was thanks to the experience he gained at this renowned shipbuilder that Sorgiovanni decided to set up his own studio, launching Sorgiovanni Designs in 1997 in Fremantle, Western Australia. The studio has also recently opened an office in Monaco in order to expand its design services to Europe.

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Sorgiovanni believes it’s important to “keep one eye on the past” when designing projects, “in order to avoid making the same mistakes” as before. Previous yacht designs that he has worked on include the 390 ft Amana in collaboration with Oceanco, and the exteriors of the 270 ft Secret. When Sorgiovanni is not working on a particular project, he is also traveling the world to consult on yacht designs for clients, working with a variety of suppliers and shipbuilders.

Zaniz Studio

Next up on our list of the best yacht interior designers is Zaniz Studio. The company was founded in New York City by English-American designer Zaniz Jakubowski – who up until recently, had rarely been able to discuss her astounding portfolio of projects due to the NDAs that came with the commissions. The studio has an international reputation for creating iconic and innovative projects, which always have strong attention to detail. As well as designing for both private and commercial yachts, Zaniz Studio works across other industries, including creating theatre sets and residential and commercial interiors.

One of Zaniz Studio’s latest projects – and one it was able to share – was the 350 ft superyacht Luminosity , which went on the market last year for over $266 million. The studio was responsible for both the interior and exterior of Luminosity, which was built by Italian shipyard Benetti. What is most interesting is that the team abandoned the typical format of designing the exterior first, followed by the interior; instead, the superyacht has been designed from the inside out.

[See more: The 10 Biggest Superyachts in the World]

Nuvolari Lenard

Well known for its timeless design style, Nuvolari Lenard is one of the largest – and most active – luxury yacht design studios in the world, founded in 1992 by naval architect and mechanical engineer Carlo Nuvolari and stylist Dan Lenard. The studio is based in Italy’s island city, Venice, and draws heavy influence from the city for its classic yacht designs, combining strong architectural lines with a deep passion and understanding for the sea. One of its latest projects was the 465 ft Nord (previously called Project Opus).

Not only is Nuvolari Lenard based in Venice, but it also has a renowned Design Center on the outskirts of the city that hosts architects and designers working on a range of tasks. Inside the Design Center is a scale yacht model workshop that gives designers the opportunity to visualize their concepts and research shapes before confirming a final design. The interior design section of the studio’s Design Center also features a showroom where clients and designers can discuss fabrics and materials.

[See more: Nuvolari Lenard Reveals Latest Yacht Concept Design]

Patrick Knowles Designs

With decades of experience in the marine industry under his belt, Patrick Knowles is one of America’s top yacht designers. His studio, Patrick Knowles Designs , specializes in custom megayacht and superyacht interiors, as well as designing for private aircraft. The team at Patrick Knowles Design prides themselves on their creativity and a strong commitment to making sure projects are finished on time, while also exceeding expectations.

One of Patrick Knowles Designs’ award-winning projects was a Key West-inspired 206 ft ISA displacement superyacht. The owners requested an interior that felt like a five-star tropical resort; through a design that incorporated vibrant murals of plants and aquatic life, lush fabrics and furnishings, and the use of environmentally friendly, natural materials including bamboo, palm wood and coconut shells, Patrick Knowles delivered. The onboard showcase piece is a 30-foot-tall light fixture constructed from Murano glass that sits within the spiral staircase, joining all three levels.

Tillberg Design of Sweden

Our list of the most exclusive yacht interior designers would not be complete without mentioning Tillberg Design of Sweden. Founded in 1964 in Höganäs, the practice has been designing timeless Scandinavian-inspired interiors on board some of the world’s most luxurious vessels for over five decades.

Known for its meticulous craftsmanship, use of quality materials and expert lighting, when it comes to creating beautiful spaces you’re in safe hands with Tillberg Design of Sweden. Perhaps most impressive is the studio’s latest project designing the interiors onboard the gigantic 728-foot superyacht Somnio .

The recently released renderings reveal stunning dream-like rooms expertly blending indoor and outdoor spaces. Future owners that are lucky enough to live on the world’s first residential yacht liner will be given the opportunity to work with the prestigious design firm over three months to create their dream apartment.

Sophie Killip

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Grand Designs: The Greatest Yacht Designers

Embarking on a custom yacht build is a thrill experienced only by a few.

There are some very big decisions to be made from the outset, from the size of the yacht, hull form, and budget, through to the shipyard you enlist to design and build. Above all, getting the right yacht designers on your side is crucial to the success of the project.

There are some towering designers in the yacht design world. Some are famous for their interior designs, other for exteriors, while many specialise in both.

The very best yacht designers take your wishes and turn them into something that you couldn’t have dreamt up yourself, using their years of industry knowledge and their creative talents to create spectacular yachts – vessels with clean lines and iconic design, glamorous interiors and show-stopping features.

Each year, yacht award ceremonies call out the names of the heavyweight designers, whose yachts wow the world upon launch and are splashed across the covers of international yachting magazines.

Whether you’re seeking to build a motor or sailboat, opt for classic opulence or modern minimalism, a top yacht designer takes your yacht to the next level. Here are some of the great names of yacht design who you may want to collaborate with on your custom yacht build.

Top Yacht Designers

Five of the brightest names in custom yacht design:

Bannenberg and Rowell: Exterior and Interior Design

Founded by the legendary Jon Bannenberg in the 1960’s and continued today by his son Dickie Bannenberg and Creative Director Simon Rowell, the list of ‘greatest hits’ of this yacht design studio is mind-blowing.

From the iconic Talitha G to the groundbreaking Galactica Star , the Bannenberg brand has always been associated with breaking conventions, leading to a raft of superyacht design awards and industry dominance over the decades.

The late Jon Bannenberg not only created extraordinary yachts, but his studio was the training ground of many of the other top designers on this list, becoming known as the ‘Chelsea University’. To buy a custom-built yacht with design by Bannenberg & Rowell is to own a piece of yachting heritage.

Espen Øino: Exterior Design

The grand master of large yacht design, Espen Øino is responsible for the exteriors of some of the world’s largest custom yachts, from his beginnings with Skat and Octopus through to later yachts Serene , Cloudbreak , and Galactica Supernova , as well as the acclaimed Silver Series .

In fact, the Norwegian-born, Monaco-based designer is responsible for the naval architecture of more large yachts than any other designer on earth, creating an almost mythic figure who is on the speed dial (or wish-list) of some of the world’s richest individuals.

An extraordinary passion for the sea and a fascination with interesting projects has created a rain of superyacht awards for the studio, but Espen Øino himself remains humble, eschewing much of the glamorous life in his endless pursuit of excellence and innovation for his clients. To commission a custom-built yacht with Espen Øino is an extraordinary privilege.

Winch Design: Exterior and Interior Design

Andrew Winch was one of the talented young designers who trained under the late Jon Bannenberg, before beginning his own studio in London in 1986. His career thus far has been extraordinary, working on both exterior styling and interior design for some of the world’s largest and most innovative yachts, from Madame Gu to Here Comes the Sun and Dubai .

Turning his hand to both interior and exterior design, sailing yachts and motor, right down to yacht tenders, Winch Designs also designs private jets and land-based architecture projects. A raft of design awards have fallen to this premier UK yacht design studio, for whom anything seems possible.

Terence Disdale Design: Exterior and Interior Design

Another protégé of Jon Bannenberg, Terence Disdale bucks the trend of more classically-trained designers, with no formal design schooling behind him before setting up his UK studio in the 1970s. The British designer’s career has been wildly successful, designing the interiors and/or exteriors of iconic motor and sailing yachts, including Pelorus , Ecstasea , Eclipse , and Topaz.

Known as the ‘rock star yacht designer’ for his cowboy boots, long grey hair, and party-and-cars lifestyle, Terence Disdale yachts aren’t as flamboyant as one might expect. The unofficial ethos of the studio is ‘beach house not penthouse’, often eschewing ‘wow-factor’ design features for a chic and harmonious decor that is exquisitely crafted and effortlessly beautiful to live in.

Tim Heywood: Exterior

It’s only fitting that we round out our list with yet another student of Jon Bannenberg. Tim Heywood worked under Bannenberg until 1996, before launching a spectacular independent career in exterior yacht design that includes the exterior designs of Al Mirquab , Here Comes the Sun , Pelorus , and Topaz (some of which he worked on with ex-colleague and good friend, Terence Disdale).

Famous for his curved superstructure forms, wild designs and great sense of humour, Tim Heywood is a designer who shows sometimes doubtful yacht owners and shipyards the extent of what can be achieved.

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The life and designs of Kim Holman

An in-depth look at the life and work of the post-war British yacht designer CR ‘Kim’ Holman, who drew the Twister, Stella and more

Article reproduced in full from CB235 (January 2008). Subscribe to CB by clicking here

On 8 May 1945 the Second World War ended for Britain. “It’s over in the West!” screamed the newspaper headlines. It was also over for the Royal Navy’s youngest officer ever to captain a minesweeper, a 20-year-old Cornishman, Christopher Rushmore Holman. Despite the accolade of his early naval promotion, he reportedly told his boatbuilder friend Garth Brooks later in life that he never raised a single mine, adding, “For all I know, they’re still there.”

In the modesty of that statement there lies a small clue as to why so little is known about this important East Coast yacht designer whose short career included the Stella and the Twister, and whose 70 built designs spawned the building of more than 700 yachts, many of them dominant in offshore racing on the East Coast and some of which have travelled much further.

It had been a good war for Holman and a war that would prove pivotal to his story as a yacht designer. Through sail-training in 32ft (9.8m) cutters while stationed at HMS Ganges at Shotley on the River Stour and later searching the Thames estuary for mines, Holman learned to love the East Coast and it was to those big skies, cold grey sea and mudflats that he would return.

After demobilisation in 1946 Kim went to crammer school to finish his education, then to Bristol University to read naval architecture. It was a natural choice, not just as a result of his time on minesweepers but because of his childhood spent sailing the Fal and Helford rivers with brothers Jack and Richard in Cornwall, near to the home in Carbis Bay where he was born on 28 January 1925. As his cousin Meryam Holman recounts, “It seemed those boys learned to sail before they could walk.” It was also an upbringing that provided     everything upper-middle-class life had to offer in the interwar years – including the pressure to succeed and to socialise in the right circles. Holman’s father was a wealthy man, owner of an engineering firm called International Compressed Air, and his mother was an academic. At school at Sherborne, Kim was a keen sportsman and, as it happened, ‘boazer’ to a ‘fag’ called Dick Shephard who would later become  Bishop of Liverpool.

Holman left Bristol without a degree, but he did, like so many of his peers, learn to “drink and have fun”. History does not record any of his tutor’s comments, but traits of Holman’s character noted by many who knew him were his instinctiveness and spontaneity. Throughout his life he was a creature more of talent than application and not one to hold with anything that didn’t interest him. In 1950, partly to escape the pressures of family life, Kim packed his bags for Woodbridge, Suffolk, where he would spend the next few years apprenticed to the yacht designer Jack Francis-Jones – he of the Kestrel. While there, he honed his skills as a helm on his Merlin Rocket Pink Gin and with Mike Spears aboard Brambling, which won many East Coast Blue Riband races.

In 1954 Holman left Suffolk for an extended transatlantic circuit and the next year moved to the place that history will most associate him with: West Mersea, a small tidal island off the marshes of Essex.

He had no intention of becoming a yacht designer, despite his training: with his family background Holman was a man of independent means. Then he met a sailmaker, Paddy Hare, who invited him to buy a share in his firm, Gowens Sailmakers, in 1955. The yacht designing, at least at the beginning, might have been described as a rather grand hobby, conducted in Gowens’ back room – but after the success of his first boat, Phialle , a design initially drawn just for himself, it became apparent that more would follow.

Phialle , like the later Stella and Twister , was designed in a rush – to win the Pattinson Cup at the 1956 Burnham Week Regatta, which she did by a large margin, going on to win the Harwich-to-Ostend Race later in the season.

Even at this early stage, Phialle , 26ft 10in (8.2m), embodied many of Holman’s ideals as a designer. She was pretty to behold and fast enough to be raced on the East Anglian offshore circuit, a series of summer weekend passage races in which Kim was a regular participant. With a 50 per cent ballast ratio she is also seaworthy, as he proved by taking her to the Baltic in 1957. Seven ‘Phialles’ (‘little vessel’ in Latin) were built (see p62 for the first Phialle’s restoration). In 1956 came design No 2, Wake, a 39ft (11.9m) yawl; two were built.

In these early designs, Kim had defined the two types of yacht that he would concentrate on for the rest of his career: a cruiser/racer sloop of 25-35ft (7.6-10.7m) in length, and a larger yawl or ketch of 35-50ft (10.7-15m) for blue-water cruising.

On his return from the Baltic he designed Rummer, a pretty ketch of 35ft, shoal-draught for the East Coast, comfortable and heavily-built – not a typical Holman type, but it proved popular: 10 were built.

After Rummer , the orders began to trickle in. Kim designed dinghies, day-sailers, another ketch, Landfall , of which seven were built, and Stirling , a boat for himself that was a little bigger than Phialle at 27ft 10in (8.5m). This was the first of his boats to be built by brother Jack, who’d stayed west in Brixham, Devon, and bought Uphams boatyard. Stirling was a success and over 20 were built. The ball was rolling now, but towards the end of the decade two events occurred, launching an extraordinarily prolific stage of Holman’s life that would last until the mid-1960s.

The first, in 1958, was meeting Kentish businessman and Crouch sailor, A E ‘Dickie’ Bird, a keen racing yachtsman with the means to indulge his hobby. Kim’s first boat for Bird was Claire de Lune (later Bluejacket ). She was 39ft (11.9m), with a beam of 10ft (3m) and was built, at Dickie’s insistence, by Tucker Brown, starting a long relationship between client, designer and builder. Bird believed that Tucker Brown was the best yard for building boats to a light weight. He was to prove even more instrumental in Holman’s career the next year. Bird and Tucker Brown were looking for a bigger Folkboat: beamier, with greater initial stability, more interior space – and more speed. It had to be cheap, too, the idea being to rapidly establish an East Coast class.

Holman’s solution, a pretty 27ft (8.2m) clinker-hulled fractional sloop, was a run-away success. Despite launching just a day before Burnham Week, La Vie en Rose won all her seven races, sweeping the board so conclusively that competitors assumed the ratings office had made a mistake. There was no mistake though. In the next 13 years, 102 boats were built, and a number in Australia. The class was named – allegedly after a beermat – Stella.

Yachting had a new kid in town, a challenger to the likes of Charles Nicholson, Alan Buchanan and Robert Clarke. The name of CR Holman was made. The next few years would pass in a blur of designing and racing: in 1960 and 1961, Holman designed more than 20 yachts. But in his personal and professional life there were storm clouds on the horizon. One was called GRP; the other was an inner turmoil which would lead to a nervous breakdown.

For now though, as the swinging 60s gradually displaced the monochrome austerity of the 50s, Holman was at the most productive stage of his life. He was a member of West Mersea Yacht Club, and in 1960 bought a house on nearby Firs Chase in addition to his London flat in Hyde Park. The good times rolled.

That same year, Kim Holman met his second great patron: wealthy London stockbroker and close friend of the Queen Mother, Dick Wilkins. Wilkins was not a sailor; he was more what you might call a philanthropist to the business of speed. An archetypal glamorous toff of that era, his hobbies were horses, cars, speedboats and yachts. At the time he owned Tremontana , the Cowes-Torquay speedboat helmed by Sir Thomas Sopwith, and was backer of the racing driver Stirling Moss.

Marketing was in its infancy in the yachting world of the 1960s. It was still a gentleman’s hobby and it’s likely that, aside from Holman’s record with the Stella, Wilkins felt drawn towards him because they were of the same class and shared a love of cars: Kim owned many in his time including a Gordon Keeble in the early 60s and later one of the first E-Type Jaguars.

Holman became Wilkins’ yacht designer of choice and, as he was to helm Wikins’ yachts as well as draw them, he was allowed complete freedom of design – not to mention money for campaigning his yachts in offshore races. The first  was Stiletto , a fabulously elegant 33ft (10m) keelboat with low topsides, built by Whisstocks with a design brief of “standing room for a bottle of Gordons”. Soon after, he designed a 41ft (12.5m) bermudan sloop named Whirlwind for Wilkins (who had a penchant for names beginning Whi…).

In the gentlemanly cottage industry of post-war yachtbuilding, men like Bird and Wilkins would have a new boat built every season. There followed a 47ft (14.3m) ocean-racing ketch for Bird the next year and, immediately after, a one-off sloop that incorporated one of Holman’s fondest design compromises.

This was Lundy Lady , 36ft (11m) LOA with a waterline of 24ft (7.3m), a length that Kim considered the minimum for good hull speed and the maximum for maintenance and handling. It was his answer to the eternal conundrum, How Big ?

Later that year Kim switched boats again to a new design, Nymphet , which became the Holman 26, nicknamed the Stellabut , after the  clients who’d “liked the Stella but wanted something a little larger”. It was just that, carvel-built with more headroom. A run of 26s followed.

In 1961 Holman designed his first GRP boat, the Elizabethan 29, in effect a larger, plastic Stella. Nearly 100 were built. In one sense, this was surprising. Holman was not a breakthrough designer like his US nemeses, the likes of Sparkman and Stephens. His boats had generally been just slightly ahead of the traditional – a popular recipe. In fact, Skene wrote in his classic book Elements of Yacht Design , “Originality is rarely the keynote to success.” The material may have been new – it was one of the first GRP production yachts in Britain – but its appeal was classic. Kim reverted from a transom, well-suited to RORC rules, to add the counter stern which he preferred: the Elizabethan was a very pretty yacht.

The year 1961 was important for another reason too: Don Pye, an architect and keen racing rival of Kim’s, joined the snowball. As Kim hated draughting and was increasingly busy, Don’s arrival was timely: the name Holman and Pye was born. It was Don, a keen racing driver, who encouraged Kim to buy his Jaguar E-Type, then took the wheel himself and hit a humpbacked bridge fast enough to take off, tearing the exhaust system off upon landing. The next year another important man entered Holman’s life: Rabbi Lionel Blue, now well-known to listeners of Radio 4’s Thought for the Day . The two became an unlikely couple and Lionel moved into Kim’s house in Firs Chase. They would be together for the next 20 years. “Kim had a fiery, Celtic temperament,” says Lionel. “The highs he’d show everyone – he could be the life and soul of the party and often was – but the lows he’d keep to himself.”

He recounts with embarrassed glee meeting Kim and proudly mentioning that he’d done some sailing. “Later on that evening I found out he was one of Britain’s greatest yacht designers.”

The beginning of the 1963 season found a new boy band called the Beatles on the radio with their big hit, Twist and Shout. Kim, having sold his Holman 26 and campaigned boats for Dick Wilkins the last two seasons, wanted a boat of his own at short notice. He phoned brother Jack in Devon, who promised one for the middle of the season if Kim hurried. In a few hours, he sketched out a 27ft 8in (8.4m)  “knockabout cruising boat for the summer with some racing for fun”. The description was typical of Kim: he liked to play down his fiercely competitive nature. The class was officially called the Holman 27 but became more popularly known after the name of that first boat: Twister of Mersea .

Twisters dominated the East Anglian circuit throughout much of the 1960s. In 1964, Holman won at the helm of Twister of Mersea . In 1965, Bandit of Mersea , another Twister, was champion. In 1967 another Twister won… and in 1968. The winner in 1966 was an S&S yacht, but a Twister won her class in the Round the Island Race and took six firsts out of eight races at Cowes Week instead.

Twisters were named after the song and the dance craze – but also after Kim’s habit of bending RORC rating rules under whose auspices his yachts were designed to compete: not that he ever admitted the latter reason to anyone! With the same modesty that Kim joked about his role in the war, he said about the Twister, “One of my best – and I still don’t know how I did it.” Or was there a bit of truth in the statement?

David Cooper, third to join the design company in 1965, says that there was something instinctive in Kim – a rare talent that enabled him to design boats very quickly. A more prosaic reason for the Twister’s speed was cutting 6in (150mm) off the stern to improve its RORC rating, a habit he would repeat in later designs.

Many consider the Twister to be Holman’s prettiest yacht. She was certainly one of his most seaworthy, as demonstrated in 2007 by Trevor Clifton, who wrote a series of pieces for this magazine about sailing singlehanded around Cape Horn in his GRP Twister, Craklin’ Rosie . It was also Holman’s most popular design. In wood, and in GRP, which started in 1964, a total of just over 200 were built or moulded. The GRP boats, also marketed as the Tuffglass 28, were 6in (150mm) longer than the wooden versions – a standard Holman anomaly with GRP boats, as he liked to put back the 6in lost to rule-bending, bringing the boats back to their original design. Twisters still command a high secondhand price today.

There followed the Sovereign class, a comfortable 30ft 7in (9.3m) cruising ketch, and a year later, in 1964, the 31ft (9.5m) Whiplash for Dick Wilkins, Holman’s most successful racing yacht, winning even more silver than Twister of Mersea .

The same year, he designed Casino , a heavier version of Whiplash. Twenty-six of these were later built in strip-plank in Spain as the North Sea 24 and transported back to the UK or sold in the Med, in which case their masts would be 2ft (60cm) higher, standard practice on H&P yachts.

An Elizabethan 35 appeared in GRP and, towards the end of 1964, Kim designed Shaker . It was to be the last yacht he raced, and, embodying as it did so many of his ideals (see panel, p58), was his all-time favourite. Shaker went into production in GRP as the Northney 34, a larger Twister of which 21 would be built before a fire destroyed the factory.

Later that year the North Sea 24 was redrawn in a form that would make it the third, chronologically, of Holman’s most famous designs. Its rule-beating transom stern made it another race-winner: the Rustler 31 spawned a run of 60.

Over the next two years, Holman designed a number of boats that went into production, including the Strider class in 1967, which spawned a production run of nine. The Super Sovereign class (CB226) followed in the same year, the bows ever straightening and the cabin trunks beginning to round, as Holman began to lose interest. The writing was on the wall, and days were numbered for pretty, traditional cruiser-racers like his. By and large yacht designers of the 1950s had drawn refined versions of pre-war design. A designer’s chief tactic to make a boat faster was to lighten it. In the 1960s though, the rules were rewritten, some radically.

Naval architect Nigel Irens explains: “Rigs changed in the early 60s to big masthead foresails – jennies, spinnakers… Keels were shortening on their way to separation into fin and skeg, and boats were becoming liable to broaching downwind.” The yachts that won the race were not the sort Holman had any interest in. Not only did they lose their aesthetic appeal – of great importance to Kim – they were becoming less comfortable in a seaway. “Holman was a good designer of his era, the heyday of RORC ocean racing. Later, the speed/comfort balance tipped too far over to performance, killing the sport.”

As Kim’s disillusionment grew, he became depressed. In 1968 he went with Lionel to Grenada, with fatalistic abandon saying “Let’s make a bonfire of our lives.” He walked away from Britain, away from the 1960s and for some time away from sailing altogether. It was the end of a remarkable 13 years of yacht design, and the end of the wooden era. The speed of the GRP takeover became critical at around the same time that Holman put down his drawing tools, handing over to Don Pye and David Cooper who, as Holman and Pye, would have more than 4,000 boats built to their designs. The firm continues today under David’s stewardship. On his return from Grenada, Holman suffered a nervous breakdown. “He never showed weakness,” said Rabbi Blue, “which was why his breakdown was so massive.” In 1970, at the age of 44, Kim suffered a stroke.

Kim did start sailing again, but not until 1980, when he kept an H&P-designed Bowman 36 in the West Indies. In 1982 he split up with the rabbi and found a new partner in the West Indies: Jim Mignotte. The two remained together until Holman’s death on 8 April, 2006, after repercussions of his stroke. Jim, careworn from his dedication to Kim, followed soon after.

Kim Holman left more than 700 yachts built to his designs, including a growing number of Stellas, as many are restored, and a revival Twister class in Falmouth. He is remembered as a man who inspired trust immediately, a witty, charming companion, a refined aesthete and a true gent.

According to Richard Matthews of Oyster Marine, who had close links with Holman and Pye and still owns a Stella, Holman was “the equal of anyone in the world, including Olin Stephens” in the design of long-keeled racing yachts of that era. “He designed pretty little boats that every man could understand” says Buchanan designer, CB’s John Perryman. Ian Nicolson described his yachts as “an absolute pleasure”. Kim loved chamber music, antiques and paintings and was a member of West Mersea YC and the RORC. “He was a remarkable man,” recalls Don. “He had a quick mind and brilliant ideas. He never hesitated with anything.”

“I was proud to be with him because he accepted responsibility and always seemed sure of himself even when a clash of feelings raged inside him, or a gale at sea raged around him,” says Lionel. CR Holman was honoured with an obituary in The Telegraph but perhaps his true epitaph will be as ‘The man who never designed an ugly boat’… and a few unexploded mines somewhere in the North Sea.

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UK Sailboat Brands: The Top 21 Sailing Yachts and Brands of Britain

Published by sail on february 8, 2023 february 8, 2023.

The UK has a long history of excellence in shipbuilding and sailing, producing some of the most cutting-edge and stunning sailing ships in the world. There are several UK Sailboat Brands, each with a distinct specialty and set of talents. You can locate a firm in the UK that can match your needs whether you’re searching for a traditional wooden yacht, a contemporary GRP sailboat, or a custom-built power catamaran. The UK is a fantastic destination to find your next boat because of its rich nautical history, reputation for excellence, and commitment to innovation.

In this post, we’ll examine the top UK Sailboat Brands, each of which has distinctive characteristics and features.

One of Oyster Yachts’ flagship models, this magnificent yacht provides a roomy and opulent sailing experience. For discriminating sailors who appreciate comfort, style, and performance, the Oyster 885 is the ideal option thanks to its elegant lines, cutting-edge technology, and contemporary design.

A gorgeous sailing boa t from Spirit Yachts, the Spirit 100 offers a high-performance sailing experience with a dash of grace and beauty. This 100-foot yacht is perfect for sailing, racing, or just lounging on the water thanks to its lovely carbon-fiber hull and roomy deck.

Gunfleet 74

For individuals who desire the utmost in performance and luxury, Gunfleet Marine has created the exquisite Gunfleet 74 sailing yacht. The Gunfleet 74 is a top pick for sailors who desire the best of both worlds because of her svelte carbon-fiber hull, cutting-edge technology, and roomy living quarters.

A traditional sailing yacht by Rustler Yachts, the 44-foot Rustler provides a safe, pleasant, and traditional sailing experience. This 44-foot yacht has a stunning wooden hull, traditional lines, and cutting-edge technology, making it a great option for individuals who value sailing’s timeless beauty.

Discovery 67

A beautiful sailing yacht from Discovery Yachts, the Discovery 67 provides a roomy and comfortable sailing experience with a dash of innovation and ingenuity. This 67-foot sailing boat is the ideal option for individuals looking for a sailing yacht that stands out from the crowd thanks to its distinctive and inventive design, state-of-the-art technology, and roomy interior.

Arbor Yachts

The Arbor 26 is the company’s signature product, and Arbor Boats is a maker of wooden yachts. Another boat manufacturer in the UK is Blaxton Boats, which offers dayboats and yachts with sail and engine options. Modern GRP yachts between 35 and 48 feet in length are the focus of Bowman Yachts. The Parker 235 GRP daysailer, available from BP Sailboats, is ideal for individuals seeking a high-performance boat for day outings.

Bristol Classic Boat

Your boat will be distinctive and long-lasting thanks to the custom wooden boats and restoration services offered by Bristol Classic Boat Co. The 20-31 foot modern GRP yachts produced by British Hunter are well renowned for fusing traditional design with cutting-edge technology. Sailing and power catamarans are the company’s specialties, and they offer adaptable and sturdy boats for a variety of boating activities. Butler & Co. is a wooden boat builder that upholds the enduring beauty of wooden boats by providing traditional boatbuilding services.

If you want to have more details about UK sailboat brands then here you can find a comprehensive range of sailboat data for over 10000+ boats.

Cape Cutter

The CC19 traditional daysailer, a small and capable sailboat ideal for day voyages, is the focus of Cape Cutter, a UK Sailboat Brands boat manufacturer headquartered in the UK. Unique wooden yachts are created by Cockwells to the greatest standards and according to the requirements of their owners. A selection of GRP pilot-cutters and traditional-style GRP yachts, ranging in length from 17 to 43 feet, are available from Cornish Crabbers/Mystery. Wooden boats of the highest caliber that are both attractive and useful are made by David Moss.

Demon Yachts

Smaller yachts and keelboats are Demon Yachts’ specialty, and they are built to order to meet the individual requirements of their clients. Drascombe constructs traditional GRP yawls, offering vessels that fuse traditional design with contemporary engineering. Custom yacht builders Farrow & Chambers produce high-quality, long-lasting boats out of wood and epoxy. A variety of dinghies, dayboats, and kayaks are available from Fyne Boat Kits, making them ideal for individuals wishing to construct their own boats.

Gaffers & Luggers

The classic wooden working boats offered by Gaffers & Luggers range in length from 23 to 28 feet. The 43-foot modern GRP cruiser from Gunfleet Marine is ideal for individuals looking for a high-performance boat for longer voyages. With a focus on traditional GRP dayboats, Honnor Marine combines traditional design with cutting-edge engineering. Traditional wooden boat builder Ian B. Richardson upholds the enduring beauty of wooden boats.

British Hunter

The UK-based company British Hunter produces contemporary GRP yachts. Their boats, which range in length from 20 to 31 feet, are built for both comfort and efficiency. The newest materials and technology are used in the construction of British Hunter yachts to provide you with a comfortable and safe sailing experience. They are the ideal choice for individuals who want a boat that is simple to manage and that gives an exceptional sailing performance.

BroadBlue is also one of the UK Sailboat Brands. They offer catamarans for sailing and propulsion are their areas of expertise. In order to give you a safe and enjoyable sailing experience, their boats are made with the most up-to-date materials and technology and are designed to deliver exceptional performance and handling. Broadblue provides the ideal boat for your needs, whether you’re searching for a powerful and roomy power catamaran or a quick and maneuverable sailing catamaran.

Butler & Co

This specialized in making old-fashioned wooden boats. Their boats are created to the greatest levels of quality and craftsmanship, and they provide a variety of services, including new builds, restorations, and repairs. Butler & Co. can assist you in finding the ideal boat for your requirements, whether you’re looking for a historic boat that has been refurbished or a classic sailing yacht.

Blaxton Boats

A company called Blaxton Boats sells a variety of sail- and power-powered dayboats and yachts. You may be sure to discover a boat that meets your requirements and aesthetic preferences because they come in a range of sizes and types. In order to give you a safe and enjoyable sailing experience, their boats are made with the most up-to-date materials and technology and are designed to deliver exceptional performance and handling.

Bowman Yachts

Modern GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) boats are the focus of the UK-based company Bowman Yachts. Their boats, which range in length from 35 to 48 feet, are built for both comfort and efficiency. For individuals looking for a boat that combines historic style with contemporary technology and materials, Bowman Yachts are ideal, and their boats are constructed to the highest standards.

BP Sailboats

GRP daysailer boats are the company’s area of expertise. The Parker 235, a sleek and fashionable yacht ideal for day outings and weekend sailing excursions, is their most popular model. The Parker 235 is developed with the most up-to-date materials and technology to give you a pleasant and joyful sailing experience. It is designed to deliver exceptional performance and handling.

Stirling & Son

A UK-based business called Stirling & Son specializes in creating unique wooden ships. The company is dedicated to providing custom boats that satisfy each client’s particular demands and requirements, with a concentration on traditional designs and construction methods. They assist clients to realize their ideas by providing a full design and build service. One of the top wooden boat builders in the UK, Stirling & Son is renowned for its attention to detail and high-caliber craftsmanship.

Swallow Boats

This business specializes in the creation of Bay Cruisers. These boats include contemporary amenities and technologies while maintaining a timeless and traditional design. They are ideal for exploring the shoreline, inland waterways, or estuaries because they are built to be both functional and fashionable. Swallow Boats offers a variety of models, each with a distinctive style and set of characteristics, and can also build custom boats to satisfy certain needs.

Swallowtail Boatyard

There is yet another business that specialised in classic Norfolk Broads boats. They provide a variety of services, such as boat construction, maintenance, and rental. Because Swallowtail Boatyard is dedicated to upholding the history and customs of the Norfolk Broads, their boats are made in a manner that reflects this. Their boats are renowned for their fine craftsmanship and attention to detail, and they employ traditional methods and materials.

T. Nielsen & Company

This business specializes in the construction and repair of tall ships. They provide the whole spectrum of services, from the initial concept to the final building and launch. With years of expertise in building and renovating tall ships, T. Nielsen & Company’s team of talented craftsmen and engineers guarantees that every job is executed to the highest standards. They are dedicated to conserving the UK’s maritime legacy and have worked on a variety of projects, from major commercial vessels to tiny traditional sailing ships.

Voyaging Yachts

Custom sailing yacht design and construction are the focus of the UK-based business Voyaging Yachts. They provide a wide variety of services, including design, construction, and refitting, and their team of professionals can assist clients in realizing their ideas. With years of experience producing high-quality sailing yachts, Voyaging Yachts is dedicated to providing clients with custom boats that are tailored to their individual requirements. They are renowned for their attention to detail, superior craftsmanship, and creative designs, and sailors from all over the world like their yachts.

In conclusion, these UK Sailboat Brands are just a fraction of the amazing sailing ships built by Britain’s skilled shipbuilders. You’re sure to discover the ideal yacht among these high-caliber ships, whether you’re searching for performance, luxury, or just a gorgeous sailing experience. Why then wait? Start your next sailing journey right away to experience the finest Britain has to offer.

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Meet 8 Designers That Are Creating Sleek, Weather-Proof Furniture for Your Yacht

Posted: June 14, 2023 | Last updated: June 14, 2023

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When it comes to superyacht furniture, wear and tear from guest use is just one challenge to keeping everything in pristine condition. The harsh conditions of a marine environment, including the 3S’s (salt, sand, and sunlight) pose the biggest trials and tribulations to outdoor furniture, while the fourth S, sunscreen, can really mess up that beautiful designer lounge in the main salon.

The problem is so acute that a number of yacht designers have expanded their portfolios from designing hulls and interiors to creating furniture that will stand the tests of weather and guests. They are using special fabrics, sustainable materials, and creative weaves in custom furniture lines that dress up the beach clubs and salons, rather than making these social areas dowdy after a season. Others are focused on the interior with vibrant designs, unusual shapes, and heirloom-quality woods.

These eight furniture lines all sport unique designs—from stunning starburst tables to lounges that float—but all have the same goal: Letting everyone put their feet up and enjoy the furniture, without the owners having to wonder later how they’ll restore everything so it looks new again.

Oceana by Bannenberg & Rowell

British studio Bannenberg & Rowell’s spring 2023 collection of outdoor yacht furniture was developed in collaboration with Sutherland Furniture and named after the Jon Bannenberg-designed 180-foot yacht Oceana . Made from teak with stainless-steel accents, the 10-strong collection of seating and tables is built to withstand high seas. “The most obvious signature across the range is that combination of a tactile radial junction with a stainless-steel dowelled-mortice and tenon-style joint,” designer Simon Rowell tells Robb Report , who then translates: “This frame is designed to look simple but still took several years to develop with the Sutherland team to engineer it into a viable product range.” An exterior textile and rug range that complements the Oceana furniture is also available from Sutherland sister company Perennials.

Arc by Winch Design

Winch Design’s debut collection with Summit Furniture, called Arc, is a contemporary beach club range made from teak and inspired by the sea and sky. Its signature feature is a laminated teak weave spun between brushed stainless-steel rods to create an arc that echoes the woven rope traditionally used on sailing yachts. The eight-piece range includes a lounge chair, a dining chair, a bar chair, a coffee table, a sun lounge, a bar cart, a dining table, and an occasional table, featuring fully customizable fabric. Every natural detail is brought forward, including the teak grain on top of the coffee tables, which are manipulated into leaf patterns.

IYC + Neal Jones Furniture

British brand Neal Jones Furniture specializes in the creation of fitted and freestanding custom and semi-custom furniture for superyachts and high-end residences. In 2023, IYC partnered with Neal Jones to provide a tailored design service for yacht owners looking to dress their new builds or refit projects with hand-crafted furniture built with the marine environment in mind, from bar stools and foot stools to daybeds and lounges. “Being that one-stop-shop for all yacht purchasers and having people with the expertise in every aspect of yachts is key to our business and delights our customers,” says IYC CEO Raphael Sauleau. “Having a company like Neal Jones Furniture allows us to give our customers all the options they need to fit their yacht in the very best furniture.”

The Nimbus Collection by Coast New Zealand

Suitable for a sun deck, beach set-up, or even on the water, the Nimbus Collection by superyacht supplier Coast New Zealand is comprised of inflatable furniture suited to multiple settings. The lounge, orbit, and chair are available in customizable colors and fabrics made by Sunbrella. But beyond the looks, they are designed to be comfortable, long lasting, portable, and convenient. The air-filled liners are manufactured using fabrics and technology traditionally used for paddle boards or tenders, such as marine grade reinforced PVC with heat sealed seams (rather than glue which melts in the sun.) Marine-grade stainless ‘D’ rings are included for securing the furniture to a deck. The furniture also comes with a USB rechargeable pump and a storage bag made from recycled sails.

The Lounge Collection by Eva Mechler

Award-winning furniture designer and Master Furniture Maker Eva Mechler specializes in made-to-order wooden furniture, hand-crafted at her workshop in northern Germany. The Lounge Collection is made using solid wood left over from the building of superyachts, including European native species of oak, chestnut, ash, and walnut. The first prototypes were made from a sustainable “modified wood” called Tesumo developed by Lürssen Yachts and Wolz Nautic. Conceived as an alternative to teak and selected by the owner of REV Ocean for use on the yacht’s exterior decking, Tesumo is strong, durable, and more resistant to weathering than other woods. Mechler’s collectible art-furniture earned her a place as a finalist for the Smart Yacht Award at the Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous in 2023.

Onde by Cristiano Gatto

Driven by a desire to create fully custom furniture that matches his boats, superyacht designer Cristiano Gatto has collated his debut furniture range, called Onde. The catch: It is only available to owners of a Gatto-designed yacht, such as Heesen’s Project Orion, which is due to deliver in 2026 and features Onde furniture on board. The 12-piece range features key items from past projects, each one taking up to six months to build. “I have clients who changed their loose exterior yacht furniture four times in the past six years because off-the-shelf ranges can’t withstand the harsh marine environment,” Gatto tells Robb Report . Made from wood, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and polymeric materials, the range includes tables, chairs, sunbeds, and the most difficult item to manufacture: the basic, unassuming ottoman.

Paola Lenti 2023 Collection

The new indoor and outdoor 2023 Collections from yachting furniture stalwart Paola Lenti was unveiled by the brand during Milan Design Week, hosted at its newly unveiled flagship store. The range is made from eco-friendly materials, such as 1,000-year-old river wood which has been preserved over time by gravel, sand, and clay. There are also outdoor textiles and fine yarns for the interior pieces, all made to be wear-resistant and recyclable.

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What will the new royal yacht look like?

When the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 as a cost-cutting measure by the British government, not everyone was ready to say farewell. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now confirmed that a new royal yacht will be operational by 2026, with design plans due to be released around the time of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee . According to Johnson, the royal yacht will sail around the world hosting trade negotiations as part of Britain's post-Brexit plans – but what will it look like? We pitched the idea to six teams of designers...

Project Albion

Team members : Steve Gresham, Fiona Diamond, Mike Fisher, Mike Brandy, Jarkko Jamsen and James Kandsch

The design : Project Albion is a 140 metre, three-masted sailing yacht with telescopic wing sails that allow the rig to concertina into itself when at anchor or cruising under power. High-profile guests stepping aboard can make use of its two helidecks: one retractable landing pad on the starboard side that doubles as an exhibition space, and another on the bow with a helicopter hangar beneath. Alternatively, there's a hydrogen-powered royal limousine tender named Lillibet (the Queen’s familial nickname)

Star features : At the heart of the yacht sits a grand, double-height ballroom for royal gatherings. Two-storey structural glass windows on either side offer sweeping sea views –  the perfect backdrop to any royal occasion.

“Project Albion is a modern, forward-thinking sailing yacht, incorporating green features and technology, whilst maintaining a sense of grandeur and tradition”  – Fiona Diamond

Stateship Britannia

Team members : Tim Gosling, Luiz de Basto, Bart de Haan, Jerry Lakeman, Luca Scarsella

The design : The Stateship Britannia is a striking 202 metre motor yacht designed to function as a floating embassy. Split into three spaces – public, shared and private – royal yacht is able to host large-scale, international events but also serves as a private residence for royals on board. There’s a helicopter hangar that converts into an emergency hospital, which in light of recent events won't go amiss, while the portholes are deliberately positioned to read ‘2020’ in morse code, marking the year as the beginning of a new era for the royal family.

Star features : A Union Jack-printed glass funnel houses wind turbines with vertical rotors that assist the yacht’s hydrogen propulsion system.

“We want a yacht that stands out and cannot be confused with any other multi-million pound boat. It’s something different”  – Luiz de Basto

Royal Red Diamond

Team members : Frank Neubelt, Theodoros Fotiadis, Guido de Groot, Enrique Tintore, Carl Sorenson

The design : A seven-deck modern-classic with a conservative design that reflects the tradition and values of the royal family. Measuring 140 metres, Royal Red Diamond features a Neptune lounge, two helipads, a duplex royal stateroom and a swimming pool that sits between the two funnels. The motor yacht will be powered by twin Rolls Royce 5,500hp diesel-electric engines.

Star feature : A grand atrium with an imperial staircase sits aft, enclosed by structural glass, and doubles as a gallery and exhibition space.

“It’s a seven-deck world cruiser with a modern-classic style to reflect the conservative ethos of the royal house”  – Frank Neubelt

Team members : Daniel Nerhagen, Guglielmo Carrozzo, Willem Jan Kuipers, Claudio Zimarino

The design : Royal Lion takes its inspiration from the famous Cutty Sark clipper, a merchant sailing ship that used to bring tea back to Britain from China in the 1800s – with a few upgrades of course. A 180 metre sailing yacht requires some serious sail power, which comes in the form of 24 solar sails housed in four DynaRig masts, allowing the royal yacht to reach 17 to 18 knots.

Star features : A platform that opens from the transom can be used as a touch-and-go helipad for royal visits and also doubles as a party platform for state functions and social occasions.

“Royal Lion can store solar energy through the sails into high capacity batteries, which can be used for the hotel load or for manoeuvrability when coming in to port”  – Claudio Zimarino

Britannia As A Rule

Team members : Michele Dragoni, Bart Bouwhuis, Wayne Parker, Aristotelis Betsis, Kriss Hogg

The design : This modern eco-yacht is designed to be carbon neutral for a new era of eco-savvy royals. Among its credentials are solar panels, turbine tubes and a nuclear power plant by Rolls Royce. In their downtime, the royal family can make use of the yacht's electric Jet Skis, electric helicopter and there's even an electric Land Rover Defender for trips ashore. Other highlights include a dedicated "palace deck" with a royal stateroom and a helicopter hangar on the foredeck.

Star features : For those boarding the yacht via the aft, sliding glass doors on the transom open to reveal one large indoor-outdoor exhibition space.

“It’s a floating showcase of all that’s great about Great Britain”  – Bart Bouwhuis

Project Winston

Team members : Andrew Winch, Gabriel Gabie, Jenny Skoog, Sally Storey, Alejandro Hahn

The design : With the Union Jack plastered across three DynaRig masts, there’s no confusion as to which family this royal yacht belongs to. Project Winston takes its design cues from three great British symbols: the hull is inspired by an Aston Martin, the upper deck by a crown, and the sails by the Union Jack. Elsewhere, sitting proudly on the bow is a figurehead of a British bulldog, while a bejewelled royal balcony is the perfect spot from which to wave-off the evening's guests.

Star features : The sails feature an integrated LED system that showcases the Union Jack on one side and act as a virtual billboard on the other to promote the best of Britain wherever it goes.

“Greta Thunberg has already agreed to come on board”  – Jenny Skoog

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THE 10 BEST Naberezhnye Chelny Sights & Landmarks

Naberezhnye chelny landmarks.

• Points of Interest & Landmarks
• Churches & Cathedrals
• Monuments & Statues
• Sacred & Religious Sites
• Arenas & Stadiums
• Architectural Buildings
• Observation Decks & Towers
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Nur Ikhlas Mosque

2. Gabdulla Tuqay Statue

3. Ascension Cathedral

4. Taube Mosque

5. Monument to Vladimir Vysotskiy

6. Temple of St. Seraphim of Sarov

7. Temple of the Saint Cosmas and Damian

8. ak mosque, 9. tufan mosque.

10. Business Center 2.18

11. Church of St. George the Victorious

12. Ramadan Mosque

13. russian orthodox old believers' church in the name of the prophet elijah.

14. Kausaer Mosque

15. ikhlas mosque, 16. abuzar mosque.

17. Zhamig Mosque

18. church in the name of st. tikhon.

19. Chishma Mosque

20. mosque in gaidara lane.

21. Stroitel

• Nur Ikhlas Mosque
• Gabdulla Tuqay Statue
• Ascension Cathedral
• Taube Mosque
• Monument to Vladimir Vysotskiy