TWO lifeboat coxswains are responsible for the boat-building success of the year, creating more jobs on the Isle of Wight.

David Lemonius, of the Yarmouth lifeboat and Bob Snow, deputy coxswain of the Freshwater lifeboat, have taken orders for ten of their Yarmouth 23 boats in the two months since the Southampton International Boat Show.

Their gaff-rigged sailing craft, designed by Wyatt and Freemen, made its debut at the show, with prices starting for less than £24,000, with a top-of-the-range classic with a 13hp inboard diesel engine and cruising comforts going for £40,950.

Its success has created five extra jobs in West Wight, bringing the total workforce at Yarmouth Marine Service to 12.

Mr Lemonious, a director of the Yarmouth Boat Company, said: "If it wasn't a sailing boat, you could say we were motoring. We have been averaging an order a week since Southampton. The Yarmouth 23 is appealing to people of all ages. Many of our customers are scaling down from big cruiser-racers to go traditional sailing both across the Channel and along the coast and still keep racing in their yacht club events.''

The craft has already won the first part of the Royal Solent winter series.

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