The highly respected British yacht builder Discovery Yachts has announced a successful end to 2008 despite challenging market conditions. The sale of another Discovery 55 this week completes the 2009 build programme at the Marchwood factory where the 50 Cat, 55 and 67 yachts are designed and built. This latest sale ensures the company now has a full order book into 2010 and with a secure, skilled workforce it has a positive outlook for the future of British yacht building.

Chairman John Charnley stated, "Discovery Yachts seems to be bucking the trend of gloomy news as we saw substantial growth in net profits for the year ended August 2008 and although the market has obviously slowed slightly, interest remains strong, with the sale of another of our hugely popular Discovery 55 models this week".

Sales Director Mark Waterhouse commented, "This latest sale fills the yard's capacity for 2009 and shows that the market for high quality yachts endures even the toughest business climates. The introduction of our new 67 and the moulding of our first Catamaran which will be launched next spring, has attracted unprecedented interest with two 67's already in build, together with our first 50 Cat. We fully anticipate following this success into 2009 and attracting more owners into the Discovery style of yachting."

To date Discovery Yachts has built around 30 of these award winning, and technically advanced cruising yachts at the company's extensive, purpose built Southampton facility.