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Cruising Spotlight Plymouth, Devon, the brand home of Princess Yachts

Friday 22nd December 2023

Plymouth, Devon – the brand home of Princess Yachts and one of Princess Motor Yacht Sales’ many offices and facilities across Western Europe.

Britain’s Ocean City and the surrounding South Devon coastline offer some of the most exciting cruising waters in the UK.  And recently, the Telegraph’s destination expert, Chris Moss, cited Plymouth as ‘one of the most underrated places on Earth’.  Plymouth, brand home of Princess Yachts.

Plymouth is steeped in maritime history. From the Pilgrim Fathers setting sail for the “New World” in 1620 to the modern-day boat building of Princess Yachts, and recently appointed as Britain’s first National Marine Park, the city is the ideal base for cruising adventures. The seafront and ‘The Hoe’ featuring its iconic candy-striped

Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse (originally built at the Eddystone Rock) and the 1935 Art Deco Tinside Lido, is lined with bars and cafes to take in the awe-inspiring views across Plymouth Sound. The historic cobbled streets of the Barbican are well worth a stroll, taking in the Elizabethan House, numerous bars, restaurants, boutique shops, art galleries and Plymouth Gin Distillery, then across Sutton Harbour lock to the National Marine Aquarium.  For culture vultures, the Theatre Royal sets the stage for new West End shows and The Box is an award-winning art gallery, museum and archive.  Explore the cruising spotlight Plymouth.

For ‘off-grid’ serenity, the southwest is outstanding. The stretch of coastline to Salcombe and Dartmouth is particularly renowned for its epic landscapes and deep-cut estuaries.  And in south Cornwall, the coastline to Falmouth, with Looe and Fowey enroute, gives you access to some gorgeous little fishing towns.

Richard Cark, Aftersales Business Development Manager at Princess Motor Yacht Sales in Plymouth, said, “Anchoring up at Blackpool Sands in the sought-after South Hams in the height of the summer is better than anything the Med has to offer.  Family-friendly beach festival ‘Tunes on the Sands’ offers a weekend of live bands and DJs with a relaxed vibe in July.  Every cove, every estuary is different. From Plymouth, you can cruise to Hope Cove, Salcombe and Dartmouth to the east in Devon and Cawsand Bay, Fowey, Falmouth and the Helford River to the west in Cornwall.  The scenery is unbelievable, there’s wildlife everywhere you look and the seafood is as good as you will find. We also have some fabulous events close to home including the Dartmouth Regatta, the Salcombe Regatta, Plymouth Seafood & Harbour Festival, the Falmouth Regatta and the Torbay Air Show.’

Image courtesy of Tunes on the Sands

Best anchorage:

The River Yealm is a beautiful estuary for a quiet anchorage. Cellar Bay is near the mouth of the river, and further up you can moor up at one of the public pontoons or pick up a mooring buoy. The scenery is stunning. Its tranquillity lends itself to a spot of paddle boarding or kayaking to explore the river. Or you can take the tender up to one of the great pubs such as the Ship Inn – a lovely gastro pub with superb outdoor seating with a Caribbean inspired summer house or you can stay cosy indoors next to the fire.  Across Noss creek is the Swan Inn and across Newton Creek is the Dolphin – and you can use the causeways at low tide to stroll between them.  There’s also a fabulous circular 90-minute cliff top walk called ‘The Warren’, if you feel like stretching your legs. It takes in spectacular views across the English Channel and along the rugged Devon coastline and then leads down through the woods beside the river, finishing at the Ship Inn – perfect for a well-deserved lunch.

Best overnight stop:

Salcombe in the summer is absolutely buzzing.  This popular nautical town is the jewel in the South Hams, attracting a discerning crowd.  It’s set on the beautiful Kingsbridge Estuary – a boating mecca for dinghy sailing, yachts, motor boats, paddle boards and kayaks. The picturesque river is flanked with many small golden sandy coves, with lush rolling hills in the background.  Salcombe town itself offers a wide selection of boutique shops, deli’s, pubs and restaurants, and you can even join a masterclass at the Salcombe Gin Distillery. Take the little foot ferry across to East Portlemouth to walk the South West Coast Path to Gara Rock or take the cute bunting-adorned ferry to South Sands to visit the fabulous South Sands Hotel and Harbour Beach Club Hotel for lunch or dinner right on the beach.  Indulge in the spa or walk up to the National Trust’s tropical Overbeck’s garden – real proof of Salcombe’s mild and sunny micro-climate.

‘Princess Yachts have been crafted in Plymouth since 1965.’

For further information about Princess’ office and marina facility, cruising spotlight Plymouth, visit: www.princess.co.uk/location/plymouth-sales/

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Devon luxury boat builder to make job cuts

The company is due to start consultations with workers and their representatives this week

• 05:00, 21 MAY 2024

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As many as 90 staff at Princess Yachts, Plymouth's luxury boat manufacturer, may face job losses as the company grapples with production issues. This week consultations will commence with workers and their representatives.

Those affected all occupy office-based business support or management positions across various departments including some stationed at the firm's Newport Street headquarters. However, shop floor manufacturing employees, who make up the majority of the company's workforce of around 3,000, are not impacted.

Princess Yachts indicates that less than three per cent of the total workforce is impacted by this move, reports Plymouth Live . The company believes it is crucial to restructure certain areas of its operations to foster better resilience against future market or global challenges and form a "leaner and more agile organisation".

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Princess Yachts says the structural changes are necessary to remain sustainable after being plagued by industry-wide supply chain problems. The difficulties in supply have prevented the company from building and selling boats at the desired pace.

Despite registering a pre-tax loss of £69m last year, blamed on inflation and supply chain disruptions, Princess Yachts says it's positive about the future. The company emphasised its business strength, with a spokesperson claiming: "From a sales point of view we are among the strongest, if not the strongest, in the industry."

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Princess Yachts' chief executive, Will Green, announced the restructuring plan following an extensive business review. He stated: "This restructure comes after an extensive business review as we look to improve efficiencies and strengthen our business operations. While we remain commercially strong with a healthy order book, we have not been immune to the industry-wide supply issues, and our ability to meet demand has suffered significantly as a result."

He added: "Making any changes that directly affect people's roles is always difficult and we have worked hard to ensure this disruption is kept to a minimum. But we have a responsibility to all our staff to ensure we have a profitable and sustainable business that is able to withstand any future headwinds. I am confident that with the plans we now have in place, together with what remains to be one of the strongest product offerings in the industry, we will have that resilience for the long-term future of the business."

Last year, Princess Yachts confirmed it had orders worth over £750m for manufacturing vessels. The company, based in Stonehouse, had received deposits for these boats, with work expected to continue through 2025 and into 2026.

The firm was acquired by New York-based KPS Capital Partners in March 2023. KPS invested a significant amount of money into the company to alleviate some of the supply chain and capacity issues.

It also approved a substantial investment for the expansion of the company's South Yard production facility.

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Princess Yachts unveils 'stylish' new model ahead of Düsseldorf boat show

Speedy new V50 will form major part of Plymouth firm's exhibit at return of one of world's largest boat shows

• 08:00, 6 DEC 2021

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Plymouth’s Princess Yachts has unveiled its newest model just weeks before it will debut at one of the world’s biggest boat shows.

The first Princess V50 recently completed its initial sea trial in the waters off Plymouth and delivered an “impeccable performance”, with sure-footed handling and a smooth ride, according to the manufacturer.

The vessel, whose twin Volvo Penta IPS650 engines provide top speeds in excess of 30 knots, will now become a centrepiece of the Princess Yachts stand when Germany’s Düsseldorf boat show returns in January after a Covid-enforced hiatus.

More about Princess Yachts

Officially titled Boot Düsseldorf, the show ranks alongside the likes of USA’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as the largest in the world in terms of size and number of boats.

Boot was cancelled in 2021 because of the Covid but now organizers expect more than 1,500 exhibitors from at least 50 countries, filling 17 exhibition halls and 220,000sq m of exhibition space.

The trade event, organised by Messe Düsseldorf, has been a money-spinning success for Princess Yachts in the past. It took orders for £30m of boats in 2018 , and £38m in 2019 , and in 2020 said it enjoyed “unprecedented stand visitor numbers and levels of sales”. The Princess V50 deck saloon will be on display at the Düsseldorf show, hall six, stand 6B21, from January22 to 30.

The V50, described as “stylish without compromising practicality or usability”, replaces the ever-popular outgoing model in the company’s V Class range.

Designed by the Princess Design Studio in collaboration with naval architects Olesinski and Italian design house Pininfarina, the V50 has been created using all-new hull, deck and canopy moulds to redefine one of the core models in the range.

At the heart of the new deep-V hull are compact, yet highly efficient, twin Volvo Penta IPS600 or IPS650 engines that can deliver an extended cruising range over the outgoing model through increased fuel capacity to allow owners’ to travel further.

The V50 is installed with up to date technology including an intuitive IPS system and joystick which allows for easy piloting, whilst the addition of the fully integrated Volvo Penta assisted docking system can assist in the management of external factors such as wind, current and manoeuvring in crowded marinas.

Additional technology includes premium audio from Naim; plus the new Garmin On-Deck smart boat system, an integrated remote connectivity solution which tracks, monitors and controls selected onboard systems from virtually anywhere via a smartphone app.

The V50 is characterised by sleek styling, with a new extended full-length hull window graphic which integrates the aft air intake, also seen on the Princess V55.

A Princess Yachts spokesperson said: “The canopy styling blade is available with an optional paint contrast to enhance the V50’s sporty aesthetic.

“Instantly recognisable as a member of the V Class, the elevated interior styling consists of attractive design lines with flowing shapes and forms.

“Textured contrasting fabrics elevate the finish on-board with a new fabric collection implemented across all new and upcoming models in the V and S Class ranges. It retains the same overall design integrity through the use of the finest materials and timbers available.”

Princess Yachts’ design team designed the cockpit arrangement and bathing platform to maximise the levels of outdoor living space as seen on larger vessels, with practical access from both sides of the transom to both cockpit and side decks, and an elongated canopy which provides a shaded area.

Patio doors enclose the deck saloon to create a “climate-controlled sanctuary”, featuring a U-shaped dining area with sideboard opposite concealing a TV on rise-and-fall mechanism. The spokesperson said: “Further forward, the helmsman and navigator are perfectly positioned in bespoke twin helm seats with clear sightlines through the single-pane windscreen, while a large solid opening roof section with integrated glazing above offers the total flexibility of an open boating experience.”

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Below deck, a galley with a bespoke moulded sink, two-zone ceramic hob, combination microwave/convection oven and full-height fridge/freezer is situated opposite a U-shaped seating area, which can be replaced with a third two-berth cabin. Four guests can use two cabins that are filled with natural light from the extensive hull glazing, with a full-beam master stateroom situated amidships.

“The V50 is designed for year-round cruising with flexible spaces and innovative design solutions to maximise cruising comfort and outdoor enjoyment,” the spokesperson added. “The all-new Princess V50 raises the bar in what is possible in a 50-foot sports yacht.”

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• Most Recent

Plymouth’s Princess Yachts unveils its newest model

The first Princess V50 recently completed its initial sea trial in the waters off Plymouth and delivered an “impeccable performance”,

• 10:44, 5 DEC 2021

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Plymouth’s Princess Yachts has unveiled its newest model just weeks before it will debut at one of the world’s biggest boat shows.

The first Princess V50 recently completed its initial sea trial in the waters off Plymouth and delivered an “impeccable performance”, with sure-footed handling and a smooth ride, according to the manufacturer.

The vessel, whose twin Volvo Penta IPS650 engines provide top speeds in excess of 30 knots, will now become a centrepiece of the Princess Yachts stand when Germany’s Düsseldorf boat show returns in January after a Covid-enforced hiatus.

Read More - Princess Yachts to launch new luxury vessels at Düsseldorf boat show

Officially titled Boot Düsseldorf, the show ranks alongside the likes of USA’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as the largest in the world in terms of size and number of boats.

Boot was cancelled in 2021 because of the Covid but now organizers expect more than 1,500 exhibitors from at least 50 countries, filling 17 exhibition halls and 220,000sq m of exhibition space.

The trade event, organised by Messe Düsseldorf, has been a money-spinning success for Princess Yachts in the past. It took orders for £30m of boats in 2018 , and £38m in 2019 , and in 2020 said it enjoyed “unprecedented stand visitor numbers and levels of sales”.

The Princess V50 deck saloon will be on display at the Düsseldorf show, hall 6 stand 6B21, from January22 to 30.

The V50, described as “stylish without compromising practicality or usability”, replaces the ever-popular outgoing model in the company’s V Class range.

Designed by the Princess Design Studio in collaboration with naval architects Olesinski and Italian design house Pininfarina, the V50 has been created using all-new hull, deck and canopy moulds to redefine one of the core models in the range.

At the heart of the new deep-V hull are compact, yet highly efficient, twin Volvo Penta IPS600 or IPS650 engines that can deliver an extended cruising range over the outgoing model through increased fuel capacity to allow owners’ to travel further.

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The V50 is installed with up to date technology including an intuitive IPS system and joystick which allows for easy piloting, whilst the addition of the fully integrated Volvo Penta assisted docking system can assist in the management of external factors such as wind, current and manoeuvring in crowded marinas.

Additional technology includes premium audio from Naim; plus the new Garmin On-Deck smart boat system, an integrated remote connectivity solution which tracks, monitors and controls selected onboard systems from virtually anywhere via a smartphone app.

The V50 is characterised by sleek styling, with a new extended full-length hull window graphic which integrates the aft air intake, also seen on the Princess V55.

A Princess Yachts spokesperson said: “The canopy styling blade is available with an optional paint contrast to enhance the V50’s sporty aesthetic.

“Instantly recognisable as a member of the V Class, the elevated interior styling consists of attractive design lines with flowing shapes and forms.

“Textured contrasting fabrics elevate the finish on-board with a new fabric collection implemented across all new and upcoming models in the V and S Class ranges.

“It retains the same overall design integrity through the use of the finest materials and timbers available.”

Princess Yachts’ design team designed the cockpit arrangement and bathing platform to maximise the levels of outdoor living space as seen on larger vessels, with practical access from both sides of the transom to both cockpit and side decks, and an elongated canopy which provides a shaded area.

Patio doors enclose the deck saloon to create a “climate-controlled sanctuary”, featuring a U-shaped dining area with sideboard opposite concealing a TV on rise-and-fall mechanism. The spokesperson said: “Further forward, the helmsman and navigator are perfectly positioned in bespoke twin helm seats with clear sightlines through the single-pane windscreen, while a large solid opening roof section with integrated glazing above offers the total flexibility of an open boating experience.”

Below deck, a galley with a bespoke moulded sink, two-zone ceramic hob, combination microwave/convection oven and full-height fridge/freezer is situated opposite a U-shaped seating area, which can be replaced with a third two-berth cabin.

Four guests can use two cabins that are filled with natural light from the extensive hull glazing, with a full-beam master stateroom situated amidships.

“The V50 is designed for year-round cruising with flexible spaces and innovative design solutions to maximise cruising comfort and outdoor enjoyment,” the spokesperson added. “The all-new Princess V50 raises the bar in what is possible in a 50-foot sports yacht.”

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