Shipwrights in Cowes, Isle of Wight have started building the first, of what they hope will be many, new 35ft steel yachts. Voyaging Yachts are building a demonstrator Wylo 35.5 for their first customer.

It is the first time Nick Skeates’ iconic Wylo 11 design has been brought to the market as a production yacht.

Steve Sleight, managing director, said: ‘We feel jubilant that, in the face of a really tough recession, we have created interest among both investors and customers and have moved into the production phase.’
 
Alas it’s not all good news for the British economy as the steel for the build was imported from Holland, profile-cut.
 
The Wylo 35.5 design is ideal for custom-built interiors, giving the buyer who wants to have a hand in the construction of their boat a choice for layout.
 
You can follow the build of the company’s demonstrator at www.voyagingyachts.com

Earlier this year the RNLI announced it would create 90 new jobs at its Dorset HQ