Launches from Princess, Sunseeker, Fairline and Hardy and good news for Sealine at PSP Southampton Boat Show
Leaden skies failed to dampen spirits on the opening day of the 2013 PSP Southampton Boat Show as boat brands big and small unveiled their latest model line-ups.
Sealine started the day with the good news that the brand is far from dead, with Hanse Yachts CEO Dr Jens Gerhardt revealing plans for the range going forward.
The Sealine S450 and F450 models are currently under build at Hanse’s yard in northern Germany, where the brand new F380 will also be built. The Sealine S380, meanwhile, will be built by Vilm Yachts.
The new ownership, manufacturing and distribution arrangement for Sealine is not straightforward, but MBY has the exclusive inside track in the November issue of the magazine.
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Princess then launched three new models – the 88MY, V48 and Princess 43. The Plymouth company also used the occasion to announce their results for 2012.
Sales grew 10% for Princess in the last financial year to £250 million, with profit declining 10% to a still very healthy £18.4 million.
Sales pick-up this year has been significant, sales director Will Green said, with July and August the best months for sales “as long as anyone can remember”.
Fairline’s new CEO Kevin Gaskell then took the stage on the pontoons to officially launch the new Squadron 48, the second of the new generation Fairline models to use resin infusion.
Sunseeker put on a typically grand show, with president Robert Braithwaite sharing the stage with Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond to launch the 68 Sport Yacht, 80 Sport Yacht and Manhattan 55.
A massive presence on the pontoons is the newly lauched Hardy 62, an old-school, go-anywhere trawler-cum-cruiser that despite its bulk can hit a very impressive 30 knots.
MBY has spent the day furiously tweeting photos from all the boats we’ve been on, and you can also check our Facebook gallery for all the latest launches.
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