Spirit

Spirit Yachts is located in Suffolk on the east coast of the UK. The shipyard specializes in crafting custom wooden sail and power yachts, catering to a range of sizes from day sailers to superyachts. Spirit Yachts has grown to operate from a spacious waterside facility with a dedicated team of talented designers, naval architects, boat builders, cabinet makers, electricians, and engineers

For more than three decades, Spirit Yachts has been refining its wood/epoxy yacht building process, carefully balancing strength with custom joinery.

The construction of a Spirit yacht starts with the lamination of wooden ring frames based on computer-generated patterns. These frames are then placed upside down on a ‘strongback’ before the central structure is laminated as a continuous piece along the entire hull length. Spirit yachts are built without the use of molds. Beam shelves are installed before the assembly is shaped and smoothed to accommodate the initial hull planking. In larger models, carbon inner frames reinforce the central frames to support the mast, chain plates, and keel.

The hull planking is strengthened with double-diagonal veneers bonded with epoxy at a 45° angle, followed by an epoxy glass sheath for added protection. While not structural, this final step stabilizes the wood for a flawless paint finish. Inside, the exposed wooden frames and planking create a warm and beautiful atmosphere. The meticulous joinery and cabinetry below deck highlight Spirit’s attention to detail and craftsmanship.

History of Spirit Yachts

Sean McMillan, a passionate lifelong sailor and skilled yacht designer, co-founded Spirit Yachts with his friend Mick Newman in 1993. Together, after delivering boats across the globe, they shared a vision of creating the most beautiful yachts that excel on the water.

Today, Spirit Yachts is a team of experts in yacht design and construction from various parts of the world. Located in Ipswich, Suffolk, Spirit Yachts specializes in crafting custom wooden sail and motor yachts for different purposes such as day sailing, performance racing, and blue water cruising. Each Spirit yacht is one-of-a-kind. Through an in-house design and build process, Spirit Yachts encourages collaboration, creativity, and communication with the yacht’s owner or representative throughout the project. From initial hand-drawn designs to advanced 3D concepts, Spirit’s team of designers and naval architects ensure a seamless journey from concept to completion.

007 Yacht

Spirit Yachts has partnered with EON Productions, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM), and Universal Pictures International since featuring a Spirit 54 in the 2006 film “Casino Royale.”

Now, in the 25th Bond film released in 2021, Spirit Yachts makes a return to the big screen alongside 007. In the James Bond film “No Time To Die,” a Spirit 46 sailing yacht is showcased as Bond, who has retired from active service, enjoys a peaceful life in Jamaica.