Squadron 53
The Fairline Targa 40 is a 40-foot sportscruiser yacht that was launched by the renowned British boat-building company Fairline at the 2024 Dusseldorf boat show. A reinvented version of a popular watercraft from 2005, this all-new Targa model revolutionizes one of the most iconic yachts on the market.
Clean lines and a sheer aerodynamic form combine with slick glazing, a snub-nosed bow and a curvaceous hood to give the Targa 40 the sort of swift-heeled, sporty look that will appeal to adrenalin-chasers. But this is really a yacht to luxuriate on, with open deck-spaces, maximum space and comfortable cabins ready to host family and friends.
A modular seating zone out on the foredeck is lined in stately grey upholstery and can be used as a double-sunpad with flip-up headrests or as a forward love-seat flanked by a pair of cup-holders. Head all the way to stern, meanwhile, and you’ll discover a full-beam swim platform overlooked by two floating sunpads that lift up to reveal hidden sports lockers. A few steps up bring you to the teak-lined cockpit, which can be expanded in mere moments by dropping down the starboard bulwark to create a floating cocktail terrace. Back here there’s a modular seating zone comprising a twin sofa and a u-shaped dining sofa with an attached timber-lined table. Also available in the cockpit is a marble-topped wet-bar lined in fluted timber with an outdoor grill, a sink and chilled storage, as well as forward companion seating directly across from a pair of piloting seats. The helm itself sits under a curved hood with a retractable sunroof, while opening window panes add to the sense of windswept excitement as you face the modern non-glare dashboard. The helm features goodies like Penta joystick handling, bow thruster controls, Garmin electronics, hydraulic steering and optional Seakeeper stabilizer switches.
A companionway door leads down into a surprisingly vast lower-deck with fluted wall panels in glossy walnut or pale oak that work in tandem with stark Corian, warm lighting, ergonomic glazing, mirrored surfaces and pared-back Nordic simplicity for a chic, at-home feel. A U-shaped dining sofa and table sit opposite a home entertainment system and an open galley kitchen, while two cabins on this level share a main head with a wet-room shower. An amidship twin features snug sleeping space for two with a set of cabinets, and the master stateroom by the bow impresses with a double island bed, a skylight, strip glazing and a full-height closet.
Powered by twin 340HP Volvo Penta D6 diesels as standard for top speeds of up to 32 knots, buyers can also choose to upgrade to a pair of 380HP Volvo Penta D6 engines for a maximum full-throttle speed of 35 knots. Make the most of this vessel’s 250 US Gallon fuel tank and category-B hull and cruise at a swift 25 knot pace to enjoy a range of up to 215 nautical miles.
DESCRIPTION OF FAIRLINE TARGA 40 (2007 Edition)
The Fairline Targa 40 is a 41-foot sports cruiser yacht by the iconic British yacht brand Fairline Yachts between the years of 2001 and 2007. Something of a classic among boat-owners, this yacht is all about speed and the thrill of open water coastal cruising, with a super-sharp profile that enhances aerodynamic movement and a Bernard Olesinski-designed variable V-hull that cuts through waves with ease. This model pioneered many of the features that would later become must-haves aboard this class of yacht, like an internal tender garage and a sprawling main-deck lounge that benefits from open-air sun.
While there is room to relax out on the foredeck’s marina-facing sunpad the very best spot for soaking up the rays is to the stern, where a double-width sunpad in striped upholstery extends out over a full-beam, teak-lined swimming platform and sits directly above a tender garage that remains one of the largest in its class more than 20 years after launch. Take a couple of steps up and you will be greeted by a sociable u-shaped sofa in waterproof leather that hugs a fiberglass extending dining table and sits across from a starboard wet bar with an outdoor grill, chilled storage and a sink. An L-shaped sofa sits deftly behind a wrap-around windscreen at the front of the cockpit, where you will also discover a single helm seat facing a still-modern ergonomic dashboard with hydraulic steering, bow thruster controls, trim tab switches, autopilot, VHF radio, analogue instrumentation and room for a 10-inch multi-function display screen of your choice. Though the main-deck is envisaged as an open-air lounge it can be covered by a Bimini wrap-around screen to give this yacht genuine all-weather appeal.
The surprisingly large lower-deck benefits from oval portholes throughout, honey maple surrounds, mood lighting and plush carpeting. There is a C-shaped dining sofa in plush upholstery that hugs a teak-topped adjustable dining table that can be used for informal drinks or lavish meals, as well as an open galley with uniquely rounded blue granite work surfaces, a hidden sink, a multi-zone hob, a convection oven, under-counter fridge-freezer units and a wine-cooler. There is a double master cabin to the bow with a queen-sized island bed, hanging lockers and a closet, while a twin cabin with plentiful storage sits amidship and comes with a side sofa. The vessel’s main-head is also on this level and features a navy-blue surrounds and timber-clad semi-open circular shower stall.
Originally powered by a pair of 343hp Volvo Penta D6 diesel stern-drive engines for top speeds of around 39 knots, some Targa 40 models have been retrofitted with newer engines in the subsequent years. With the original engines you can expect a cruising range of around 260 nautical miles, more than enough for a decadent weekend spent exploring the hidden coves of the Amalfi coast.
