Follow the sun

The day's program was for a factory tour of Sunseeker International's extensive facilities, followed by sea trials of the latest models. It all sounded pretty good to me, but it was the second part I was really looking forward to.

Sunseekers are those James Bond boats, right? Distinctively styled and awesomely fast. Who'd knock back the chance to go for a blast in one of those?

What I didn't bank on was the weather. Which was silly, considering that Sunseeker is based in Poole on the south coast of England, and it was November, when the winter westerly gales really start to grow teeth. All sea trials were cancelled for the day by the time I arrived, and worse weather was forecast for the next week.

No wonder that the company exports an estimated 99% of its product range - to places in the sun like the Balearic Islands, Monaco and, increasingly, Australia.

Over the past 30 years, the Sunseeker name has taken on a truly international cachet, becoming associated with the lifestyles of the rich and famous, from Formula One motor racing identities to movie stars.

At the same time it has retained a distinctly British image - not so much from the royalty angle, but rather the "swinging London" style, enhanced in recent years by inclusion in the movies of that certain special agent for Her Majesty's Secret Service.

And it's around Poole - an archetypal English seaside resort town - where the Sunseeker story began and continues to this day. What was started by the Braithwaite family as a runabout dealership and timber boat builder has grown into a major producer of GRP boats, employing some 1200 staff across six production plants and shipyards, represented by distributors in over 30 countries, and recording sales of £135m (A$362.5m) and operating profit at £7.1m (A$19m) in 2002, and an overall net worth in excess of £19m (A$51m).

The company now builds some 23 models in five separate ranges, from high speed performance sportsboats to superyachts. Its premises dominate the western waterfront area of Poole and provide an awe-inspiring insight into the number and size of big motoryachts being produced in fibreglass these days.

The company is still headed up by its founders, the Braithwaite brothers, with Robert as managing director and John playing a major role in design.

Reading over the very detailed history of the company on its website, the outstanding feature is the number of innovations and world firsts claimed by Sunseeker.

Here are just a few:
Offshore 28 - first boat in Europe with a lightweight hull specifically designed to carry sterndrive diesel engines;
Renegade 60 - first production boat with jet drives;
Superhawk 50 - first production boat with sterndriven Arneson surface drives, with five-bladed surface-piercing propellers carried on extended shafts.

Advancements in the powerboat racing scene have exerted a strong influence on the company and its boats over the years, reflected by the early decision to involve Don Shead, a highly respected designer of racing boats as well as superyachts, in the company's hull design work, a relationship that has lasted many years.

But Sunseeker has also explored new territory with the interiors of its craft, across continual updates.

This has included the appointment of the noted naval architect and stylist Ken Freivokh, starting with the Manhattan 58.

Sunseeker says its aim was "to integrate the total image of speed and elegance through unique styling and interior design solutions.

"Ken Freivokh's design solutions achieved a dramatic difference," Sunseeker continues. "Suddenly, there was barely a straight line in sight - with curving settees, rounded woodwork with double-radiused nosing, and plump upholstery.

"The use of high-gloss lacquered cherry joinery was lighter and less oppressive than teak or mahogany.

"But beyond aesthetics, practical, ergonomic, design was fundamental: for example, a pantograph door - which couldn't swing open dangerously - provided safe side access."

Sunseeker likes to say its boats have the speed and performance of a Ferrari combined with the interior of a Bentley.

Other imaginative developments have included the Comanche 40, which had a jet-ski provided in a direct-entry garage beneath the aft sunbed. The James Bond-style integral garage concept was extended with the Predator 63, which had "a specially designed 14ft, five-seater, jet-driven 35kt ski-boat that could pop in and out of the stern".

As the big boat end of Sunseeker's range has continued to grow in size, the company has taken a semi-custom builder's approach, "encouraging customers to choose from numerous layout options to design an interior that suit their needs and tastes".

In this way, the company believes it has introduced the first production superyachts onto the market. It is already producing 95 and 105ft yachts, and there is a whopping 135-footer on the drawing board.

Meanwhile, Sunseeker continues to produce high performance craft like the 38ft XS2000, developed using a design by powerboat racing identity Fabio Buzzi and offering a top speed of 65kt.

The company says it continues to develop new construction techniques "to exploit the potential afforded by advanced composite materials and modern, highly efficient drive systems ... and to make substantial investments in the future, through improved plant and machinery; computerised design and manufacturing systems, automated stores facilities."

It recently opened a large new technical centre away from waterfront on the outskirts of Poole, and offers staff training opportunities, free private medical health and legal services, plus production bonuses three times per year. It is also planning to start a share options scheme for staff. It currently takes on 20-25 new apprentices each year.

Production is currently about 280 boats per year across the range.

The company has been hightly awarded and is the only marine company to gain the Queen's Award for Export Achievement three times (in 1987, 1989 and 1994), as well as the Queen's Award for Enterprise for outstanding achievement in British business in 2000.

Additionally Robert Braithwaite was appointed an MBE in 1992, in recognition of Sunseeker International's export efforts.

Robert Braithwaite says: "To survive in the marine business, you have to be able to take on anybody in the world - or else you'll go backwards.

"We had to develop the business, we had to push it forward, so we became a global business. We picked up markets all over the world, so that if one market dropped, there was another somewhere else.

"Our business is about generating exciting designs, making boats that people want to own. The important thing with the marine business is that you have to have goals and you have to have vision. And if you haven't got vision you simply won't succeed."

New models released for 2003 include the 82ft Yacht and the Portofino 46 - both of which are scheduled for delivery in Australia this year. The Portofino 46 is expected to be on show for the first time in Australia at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show at the end of May.

Also new is an awesome-looking Predator 95. And given the company's history, there are sure to be plenty more impressive models to come.

Vanessa Dudley visited the Sunseeker International factory in Poole as a guest of the Australian distributor, Sunseeker Australia.