Fairline Targa Charter Marbella — British Sport Yacht, 26 Knots

The Fairline Targa 12m is the British outlier in a Puerto Banús fleet dominated by Italian and Spanish motor yachts. Built by Fairline Boats in Northamptonshire, England, the Targa brings a distinctly different engineering philosophy to the Mediterranean charter market — one that prioritises clean speed, retractable hardtop convenience, and a driving experience that rewards captains who enjoy putting the throttles down.

Specifications

• Length: 12 m (39 ft)
• Capacity: 10 guests
• Builder: Fairline Boats (UK)
• Type: Sport yacht with retractable hardtop
• Cruising speed: 26 knots
• Cabins: Two, plus convertible saloon

The retractable hardtop

The defining feature of the Fairline Targa series is the retractable hardtop — a rigid roof panel that opens electrically to convert the boat from a fully enclosed, air-conditioned saloon to an open cockpit in under 30 seconds. This flexibility is genuinely useful in the Marbella climate: a closed hardtop for the transit from Puerto Banús in the cool morning air, open for swimming and anchoring in the afternoon heat, closed again for the return when the Poniente fills in.

Other 12-metre boats in the fleet require a choice at the configuration stage — flybridge (always open above) or enclosed — that you live with for the whole day. The Fairline Targa sidesteps this choice entirely.

Speed as a distinguishing feature

At 26 knots cruising speed, the Fairline Targa is among the fastest boats in the 12-metre class from Puerto Banús. The practical effect is more reach within any given charter duration — you can get further from Marbella, spend more time at anchor, and still make it back to port comfortably. For a 4-hour charter, the Targa can credibly reach anchorages that would take the full charter time in each direction on a slower boat.

Interior and accommodation

Below the saloon, two proper double cabins and a convertible saloon berth provide overnight accommodation for up to 6 guests. The interior finish is quintessentially Fairline — teak joinery, integrated navigation electronics, and the kind of structural precision that reflects the brand's origins as a builder of serious cruising yachts rather than day boats wearing motor-yacht styling.

Best use cases

The Fairline Targa 12m is the recommendation for groups who want speed and modern design over maximum flybridge space. For reaching the best coves east of Marbella before they fill up in July, for groups who want to cover real distance in a day charter, and for those who find flybridge yachts slightly top-heavy in their proportions, the Targa is a genuinely distinctive choice from Puerto Banús.

Charter pricing

The Fairline Targa 12m is priced on request — contact via WhatsApp for your specific date and itinerary. Pricing is in the mid-tier between the standard 12.5 m motor yacht rate and the premium quote-on-request boats.