Fairline unveils new flagship, and a vision for the future

15 June 2011 • Written by Tim Thomas

The crew cabin of Fairline’s new Squadron 80, whose layout can be fully customised to cater for between one and four crew, enjoys something of a bonus – what Fairline’s chief designer Andrew Pope describes as ‘an epic view’ through a glass transom.

The aft end, where this cabin is located, is just one of several design innovations that Fairline has incorporated into this model. It has been destined to replace the highly successful Squadron 78, of which 85 will have been sold when its nine-year production run ends this year.

The design team has completely rethought the interior layout. The multi-level saloon has been replaced by a wide expanse on the main deck with large, opening glass panels. The conventional galley has been replaced by a central island cook station forward, which can be left open, enclosed, or partitioned by privacy screens. The dominating interior helm has been reduced to a functional but subordinate role with the emphasis on the flybridge control station.

The awkward bridge doors, which often block the sidedecks when open, have been replaced with specially developed Besenzoni bridge wing doors that employ a double skin system to contract in on themselves and disappear into the superstructure moulding. And gone, too, is the master cabin buried forward with minimal natural light, replaced by a generous forward suite with eye-level strip windows affording a view forward and to the sides.

The idea for a Squadron 78 replacement was originally mooted back in 2007, when there was talk of an 85-footer. ‘We were well on our way, then the recession hit,’ explains Derek Carter, Fairline’s CEO.

‘We knew of four other competitors working in the same size bracket, so we decided to stop development and reinvest in the smaller end where there was far less development going on. We now perceive the market to be returning slowly, so we have brought back the concept - but in a smaller hull. The 80 is not a rethink of the 78. We wanted to take a fresh look at how we could produce an 80-footer with significantly larger volume while retaining husband and wife or two-person handling.’

Production is due to start this year for a debut in 2012 at a projected price that will be ‘north of £3 million’. Fairline has already taken orders for six Squadron 80s.

Contact: Fairline, UK
T: +44 (0)1832 273661
E: sales@fairline.com
W: www.fairline.com

Sponsored listings