Squadron 53
The Fairline Targa 52 GT is a 52-foot express cruiser yacht produced by award-winning British yacht manufacturer Fairline Yachts between 2002 and 2011. Undeniably sporty from profile, this yacht boasts a sharp bow, a long foredeck and a swept-back open cockpit that is available with a fully al-fresco design scheme ideal for summer cruising or with a curved hood and sunroof for shelter from the elements.
A double sunpad surrounded by grabrails and featuring six cup-holders out on the foredeck offers a secluded and sun-kissed retreat that seems tailor-made for Instagram pics and lazy afternoons alike. Yet it is towards the stern that most guests are likely to gravitate in order to take advantage of this vessel’s supreme leisure-focused offering. A double sunpad to port is joined by a single daybed to starboard, both in piped waterproof upholstery, while a set of steps lead down to a full-beam hydraulic bathing platform and access to a strikingly large tender garage big enough to host a Williams jet tender. Moving into the teak-lined cockpit you will enjoy lavish meals at a U-shaped leather sofa to port, and stir drinks or barbecue shrimp at the starboard wet-bar, a vast prep station with a fridge, a sink, a grill and an ice-chipper. An L-shaped forward sofa is joined by a modern helm-station up front, both sitting under a retractable sunroof so that you can pilot your vessel and work on your tan at the same time. The dashboard features VHF radio, a high-speed compass, a Raymarine display screen with radar and chart-plotter, bow thruster controls and Hydro Marine hydraulic steering, not to mention superb visibility.
Warm cherry surrounds, plush carpeting and plenty of rounded portholes welcome guests into a sedate lower deck with a walk-in galley and a U-shaped dining sofa in leather that hugs a breakfast table. The kitchen features a full-height fridge-freezer tower, dark Corian work surfaces, a stainless-steel double sink, a two-zone cooktop and a combination oven along with plenty or storage and a serving bar. There are three cabins on this level for up to six overnight guests, including a pair of twin cabins amidship that share access to the boat’s main lower-deck head with shower. A VIP double stateroom sits to the bow, benefiting from a skylight, mirrored wall panels, two timber-lined lockers, hidden storage, a queen-sized island bed and a large bathroom with a timber sole, a ceramic sink, a mirrored medicine cabinet and a circular shower cubicle.
Two Volvo Penta D12-800 EVC turbo diesel engines fire this yacht to top speeds of 37 knots with fuel-efficient cruising speeds of at least 25 knots. Buyers can also opt for a pair of less powerful Volvo engines, while twin Caterpillar 3196 inboards are also on offer. The Fairline Targa 52 GT is a superb yacht for coastal cruising, featuring a proprietary hull built for speed and agility and a fuel tank holding some 480 gallons of diesel.
