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THE 10 KEY BOATING STORIES YOU NEED TO READ

1 EXCLUSIVE ALL-NEW FAIRLINE TARGA 40

Fairline has given Motor Boat & Yachting an exclusive preview of its all-new Targa 40 prior to a public unveiling later this month.

The images reveal a sleek hard top sportscruiser that shares a number of design features with both the smaller F//Line 33 and the all-new Phantom 65 as well as a few tricks of its own, including a drop-down terrace.

As expected, the new T40 is a bigger boat than the old Targa 38 in all areas. Its sheerline is around 200mm taller, freeing up headroom of around 6ft 6in (1.98m) throughout most of the lower deck. It’s longer too – up from 36ft 10in (11.22m) to 39ft 3in (11.96m). This translates to around 20% more internal volume than the T38.

Fairline’s in-house designer, Christian Gott, has done a fine job of creating that extra space while maintaining and updating the sporty looks that were such an integral part of the T38’s appeal. The new Targa 40’s snub-nosed bow bears an obvious family resemblance to the F//Line 33, while its window shapes echo those of the new Phantom 65 sportsbridge being launched at this year’s Cannes show.

While the new Targa 40 will initially only be available with a hard top, it features a huge canvas sunroof that retracts most of the way back to the radar arch to give the feeling of an open boat. A large single-pane windshield and extended side glazing further enhances the sensation of being connected to the water.

That becomes even more pronounced at the stern where the fold-down quarter deck on the starboard side helps create a mini beach club. The T40’s asymmetric cockpit is another shared trait with the Phantom 65 and features aft seat backrests set at a slight angle that create a marginally longer sunbed to port than to starboard.

These backrests also slide forward to extend both sunbeds at the expense of the aft seats.

The cockpit is flatter than the old 38’s too.

There are two steps up from the bathing platform through a central walkway but thereafter the cockpit sole is flat all the way forward to the helm station. There’s a generous three-sided dinette to port, which flares out on both sides in line with a fold-away table. A modular seat to starboard can be pulled up to join the table or repositioned to face out over the terrace. The wet bar is tucked behind the two helm seats.

An L-shaped chaise longue to port allows one other person to sit up front facing forward or stretch out facing