Marco Marine is the new Dufour Yachts dealer for the central South Coast area, from Selsey Bill to Portland Bill. Based in Hamble, Marco Marine is a new company founded by Richard Poulson, formerly of Wessex Yachts, who deal with Dufour Yachts on the rest of the South Coast.

After Portway Yachts lost the Dufour dealership for the central South Coast, Dufour offered Poulson the contract and he approached three associates, brothers Murray and Russell Hilborne, and Peter Hill – all Dufour owners – to go into business with him. They agreed and Marco Marine was founded.

‘Dufour wanted better customer service, which I specialised in at Thomas Cook,’ said Poulson. ‘I brought that experience to Wessex Yachts, where I won a customer service award.’ Poulson brings with him 20 years of marketing and sales experience, primarily in the yacht broking business, but also in brewing and travel.

‘We’ve been given quite a long contract,’ Poulson added, ‘but the targets are loose, self-generated targets of about 20-25 boats in years one and two.’

Marco Marine will be with Dufour Yachts at Southampton International Boat Show, at berths 338-343 and 359-360. The Dufour 45 Performance will make its world debut in berth 341.