Fairey marine
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Fairey Marine Ltd were based on the River Hamble, Southampton. The company was created in the late 1940s by Sir Charles Richard Fairey and Fairey Aviation's Managing Director, Mr. Chichester-Smith. Both were avid sailing enthusiasts along with Chichester-Smith's good friend and former Olympic yachtsman, Charles Currey. Fairey and Chichester-Smith both decided that they should produce sailing dinghies and so recruited Charles Currey to help run the company when he came out of the Navy.
The world air speed record holding Peter Twiss joined Fairey Marine Ltd from Fairey Aviation in 1960 and was responsible for development and sales of day-cruisers. Boats were primarily designed by Sir Alan Burnard.
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[edit] Craft
The most common Fairey Marine Motor Cruisers are detailed as below:
- Fairey Huntress
- Fairey Huntsman 28
- Fairey Huntsman 31
- Fairey Fantome
- Fairey Swordsman
- Fairey Spearfish and Spear
Other craft produced by Fairey Marine included Dell Quay Rangers and Christinas.
[edit] Construction
The reputation of the motor cruisers was also due to the incredibly strong and reliable nature of the hulls and superior seakeeping capabilities that the hulls gave. The wooden hulls were hot-moulded and made from 6 laminations of agba mahogany and it is a testiment to this process that so many examples of these classic craft are still thriving.
[edit] Prestige
Craft were sold to both wealthy and famous individuals including Deborah Kerr, Prince Albert of Belgium and Billy Butlin. The craft also starred in the James Bond film From Russia with Love. Sean Connery as James Bond can be seen driving a white Fairey Huntress and the 'baddies' give chase in Fairey Huntman 28s and Fairey Huntresses.
[edit] Racing Pedigree
The company was perhaps most renown for producing exclusive powerboats and cruisers based on an extensive racing pedigree. Fairey Marine cruisers won many racing awards including 148 between the years 1961 and 1973 including the prestigious Monte-Carlo and Cowes-Torquay races. 1969 was a particularly successful year with an impressive tally of 54 awards.
[edit] Fairey Owners Club
Although Fairey boats were built in the '50s until the early '80s, it was not until 1986 that the Fairey Owners Club was founded. Their basic idea, which remains the principal objective of the club, is to preserve the marque.
In its present form the Club organises rallies and events throughout the year, at which there is an easy exchange of information. It also has extensive archive information, which is constantly being added to.
Membership is currently more than 200 and is growing steadily. Although a large percentage of members are based on the South Coast of Britain, there are many in other parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. There are also members as far afield as Holland, Corfu, Norway and the Maldives.
