Sunseeker Yachts History & Heritage
Sunseeker has achieved an iconic status, embraced by James Bond villains, Formula 1 drivers, and team owners, making it a household name in the marine industry. The brand's allure goes beyond Hollywood glamour, rooted in a genuine commitment to hull design, performance, and iconic styling.
Founded in 1969 by Robert Braithwaite, Sunseeker began with the creation of the Sovereign 17 in 1971, marking its initial foray into building fast and fun family runabouts. As the Braithwaites expanded their runabout line, the Sunseeker name emerged, setting the stage for a transformative moment in the late 70s when legendary powerboat designer Don Shead was enlisted to design Sunseeker hulls.
The partnership resulted in the Sunseeker Offshore 28, a groundbreaking sports cruiser that redefined the genre. In the mid-80s, Sunseeker solidified its performance pedigree with iconic models like the Portofino 31 and Tomahawk 37. The Portofino continued the pursuit of family-friendly yet highly desirable sports cruisers, while the Tomahawk made a bold statement about Sunseeker's commitment to speed, earning its place as a sporting legend.
The quest for speed reached its pinnacle with the Sunseeker XS2000, built on a Fabio Buzzi-designed hull, capable of exceeding 60 knots. This vessel set a record for round Britain powerboat racing in 2001.
From the 1980s to the present day, Sunseeker has consistently delivered fast yachts characterized by style and attitude. The range has expanded to include larger sports and flybridge yachts, and more recently, full superyachts. Sunseeker remains unparalleled in instilling a captivating blend of performance pedigree, design innovation, build quality, and luxury, establishing itself as a truly unique proposition in the yacht industry.
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