Squadron 53
The Fairline Targa 48 GT is a 50-foot sportscruiser yacht first launched by award-winning British yacht manufacturer Fairline Yachts in 2019. Building on the success of the Targa 48 Open from a decade earlier, this yacht updates an already popular formula by adding modern engines, contemporary glazing and entirely refashioned living spaces. The result is a market-leading mid-sized express cruiser designed with input from Alberto Mancini that is as stylish as it is sporty, with a finish that will wow the most demanding guest.
A double sunpad out on the foredeck in sedate Ultraleather allows a pair of guests to enjoy unimpeded sunlight for hours on end, though if you prefer relaxing in more shaded surroundings then head to the teak-lined aft-cockpit. Nestled underneath a structural overhang, this space features a hook-shaped transom sofa and room for a dining table, while starboard steps lead down to a hydraulic bathing platform capable of hosting a 350kg Williams jet tender.
Sliding glass doors, dynamic side glazing, an above-helm mullioned and retractable sunroof and tinted glass panels help to enhance the breezy feel in the main-deck salon, where a U-shaped sofa surrounds a bespoke coffee table. Finishes in here subject to customization, with options including high-gloss walnut surrounds, lime-washed oak floors or satin-finished oak surfaces in a range of design schemes. Layouts, too, ultimately come down to you, with the option for a main-deck galley or a set of cabinets with a home entertainment system on offer to starboard. Up front there is an L-shaped forward sofa and a modern helm station with a pair of Garmin multi-function display screens, a Penta IPS joystick, Seakeeper 6 stabilizer switches, bow thruster controls, VHF radio and a high-speed compass.
A lower-deck lobby with an atrium-feel features an open galley and an L-shaped dining sofa with a table, though you can exchange the seating area for an extra single cabin to starboard if you are expecting extra guests. The kitchen is likely to include a two-zone cooktop, a Fisher & Paykel combination oven, an Isotherm fridge, speckled granite or Avonite Avalanche countertops and a steel sink, not to mention plenty of storage space. Two en suite staterooms come as standard down here, with a twin cabin towards the bow boasting skylights, knife-insert glazing and a large full-height closet. The amidship owner’s stateroom boasts full-beam dimensions, a large closet, a work-desk or vanity station, room for cabinets or a side sofa, six panoramic hull windows, cushioned wall panels and a bathroom with a fully enclosed shower stall.
There are a variety of engine options on this model, but the top of the range choice has to be the twin 550HP Volvo Penta IPS700 D8 diesel pod-drive set-up with top speeds in excess of 32 knots and a coastal range of over 400 nautical miles at a relaxing 9 knot cruising pace.
