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Boat sales company key yachting under new ownership.

boat sales company Key Yachting under new ownership

Key Yachting is under new ownership after being purchased by Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Thinking Space Systems.

Key Yachting is a family-run boat sales company and was founded in 1996 by Marie-Claude Heyswith and her late husband Paul. It is the sole UK distributor for J Boats, Grand Soleil, Nautitech Catamarans and Tofinou.

Marie-Claude Heyswith, who competed in four Figaro campaigns and two Whitbread Round the World Races, commented:

“After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the helm over to Wayne and Hayley.

“This year, as part of the logistics team from Miranda Merron’s Vendee Globe campaign, it really made my mind up. The time is right for me to make a change, and I am keen to get back to my roots in offshore sailing.”

Thinking Space Systems is a global provider of high-quality technical furniture for control rooms of all industries, and was founded in 2003 by Wayne Palmer. With its head office in Romsey, Hampshire, it also has offices in Australia, Canada and the USA.

Hayley Quinn is an experienced qualified accountant with a passion for managing leisure-focused businesses.

Wayne is a keen sailor, having competed in two Fastnet Races, and currently races his J/109 Flying Jackal. He believes there is a natural fit between his business and the boat sales company.

He commented:

“From a design, engineering and manufacturing perspective, there are many similarities between Thinking Systems and Key Yachting.

“Hayley and I cannot wait to get started in the new year. Key Yachting has world class brands, and it is rare to be able to acquire a business that has been in the same ownership for so long.”

Key Yachting Sales Director Hannah Le Prevost, who has been an integral part of the business for 11 years, will mentor the new owners into the business.

“This year is going to be an exciting one for all the right reasons.

“We will continue our strong relationship with our business partners and above all with our past, present and future boat owners.”

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Key Yachting Ltd.

Key Yachting Ltd. Firefly Road, Hamble Point Marina, Hamble, Hampshire, UK. SO31 4NB

+44 (0)23 8045 5669

The J Boat, still dominating Cowes Week and the Irish Calves Regatta

wayne palmer key yachting

Cowes Week and the Calves Regatta in Schull, Ireland, have been and gone in a flash.

The Key Yachting team had a fantastic week sailing with and providing onshore support for the many great groups taking part.

Our range of J Boats dominated these events with a combination of performance, speed, and comfort, enabling many teams to achieve their goals and win the fiercely sought-after prizes. In fact, a 3rd of entries to Cowes were J Boats, with 34 boats in the J/70 Class, the second-largest class in the whole of Cowes Week.

Johnny Cooper owner of “Jooped”, a J/112e, racing in IRC 2 of Cowes. John and his newly established team finished 3rd in IRC2, just one point away from the top three boats. The teams’ skills in the mixed conditions across the week showed them triumph in the Red Funnel Newcomers Trophy. John, said, “we had a slow start to a very hot lively race and were faced with some great competition. My team worked hard and gave a sterling performance as we left it all out on the water. This is the best race we have had in the J112e yet, and we cannot wait to get out again to push its performance even further. Great work to the team.”

Johnny added, “with two J/112e boats finishing in the top three, it really shows the quality of the boat and its performance.”

wayne palmer key yachting

Across both events, the results were outstanding.

  • Class 1 – 1st and 2nd – J/111’s
  • Class 2 – 1st and 3rd – J/112e’s
  • Class 3 – 1st to 7th – J/97, J/92 and J/80
  • Plus 2 J Boat one design class – J/70 and J/109
  • Class 1 – 1st and 3rd – J/122 and J/109
  • Class 2 – 1st – J/80

wayne palmer key yachting

Monday night of Cowes saw the much-coveted Key Yachting Cowes Week drinks party & hog Roast, sponsored by Salcombe Gin. This event brought together friends of Key Yachting, both new and old, to celebrate and exchange stories from the day.

Wayne Palmer, Owner of Key Yachting, said: “having bought Key Yachting only six months ago, our Cowes Week celebrations were an excellent opportunity to meet our clients outside of the office. We are so incredibly proud to support so many sailors who strive to extend their sailing experience. From Cowes to Cannes, Fastnet to The Arc, our range really can fit any need from pro-racers to lifestyle sailors.”

If you aspire to participate in Cowes or Calves Regatta, get in touch with the team today. With current delivery dates, we can secure your vessel for summer 2022.

If you want to grab some speed and performance a little quicker to get out on the water before the season ends, then check out our used boats. We currently have a good range of boats online and more coming all the time.

wayne palmer key yachting

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wayne palmer key yachting

Boating Business | Helm over at Key Yachting

HELM OVER AT KEY YACHTING

HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSHELM OVER AT KEY YACHTING

04 Jan 2021

(l-r) Hayley Quinn, Wayne Palmer, Hannah Le Prevost, Marie-Claude Heys Photo: Key Yachting Ltd

INDUSTRY DATABASE

KEY YATCHING LTD

Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from technical furniture company, Thinking Space Systems, have bought Key Yachting .

Key Yachting is the sole UK distributor for J Boats , Grand Soleil, Nautitech Catamarans and Tofinou and was founded in 1996 by Marie-Claude Heys along with her late husband, Paul.

“After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the helm over to Wayne and Hayley,” said Marie who has competed in four Figaro campaigns and two Whitbread Round the World Races.

“This year , as part of the logistics team from Miranda Merron’s Vendee Globe campaign, it really made my mind up. The time is right for me to make a change, and I am keen to get back to my roots in offshore sailing .”

Wayne Palmer founded Thinking Space Systems in 2003, which has offices in Australia, Canada, UK and the USA. Wayne is a keen sailor having competed in two Fastnet Races and currently races his J/109 Flying Jackal. Hayley Quinn is an experienced qualified accountant with a background in managing leisure focused businesses.

Key Yachting sales director, Hannah Le Prevost will mentor the new owners. “2021 is going to be an exciting year for all the right reasons,” said Hannah who has been with the company for 11 years. “We will continue our strong relationship with our business partners and above all with our past, present and future boat owner

via Boating Business | Helm over at Key Yachting .

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IMAGES

  1. 2 years at the helm of Key Yachting

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  2. L-R: Hayley Quinn, Wayne Palmer, Hannah Le Prevost, Marie-Claude Heys

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  3. 'Buying my first boat taught me a hell of a lot'

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  4. Key Yachting Newsletter #3 March 2023

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  5. The Key Yachting Dream Team

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  6. NRA boss Wayne LaPierre retreated to a friend's $1.8M yacht dubbed

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COMMENTS

  1. Key Yachting and our crew

    Wayne Palmer. Owner. Wayne founded successful global provider of high-quality technical furniture company, Thinking Space Systems in 2003. After taking up sailing in 2015, Wayne took over Key Yachting in 2021 for a new and exciting challenge. Since he started sailing he has completed 3 Fastnets and raced in many inshore and offshore regattas ...

  2. Helm Over at Key Yachting

    Hamble, UK (January 03, 2021) Key Yachting is delighted to announce that Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Hampshire-based Thinking Space Systems have purchased the ownership of Key Yachting. With their head office in Romsey, Thinking Space Systems is a global provider of high-quality technical furniture. "After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the […]

  3. 2 years at the helm of Key Yachting

    It has been 2 years since Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn took over Key Yachting...and what a 2 years it has been. Wayne gives a little summary of his highligh...

  4. Boat sales company Key Yachting under new ownership

    Key Yachting has world class brands, and it is rare to be able to acquire a business that has been in the same ownership for so long." Wayne Palmer - Founder of Thinking Space Systems Key Yachting Sales Director Hannah Le Prevost, who has been an integral part of the business for 11 years, will mentor the new owners into the business.

  5. Helm Over at Key Yachting

    Key Yachting is delighted to announce that Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Hampshire-based Thinking Space Systems have purchased the ownership of Key Yachting. With their head office in Romsey, Thinking Space Systems is a global provider of high-quality technical furniture. "After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the helm over to Wayne and Hayley," commented Marie-Claude Heys, who ...

  6. Hamble yacht dealer Key Yachting is sold

    Key Yachting of Hamble, the exclusive agent and distributor for a host of world-leading yachts throughout the UK and Ireland, has been sold. ... Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Hampshire-based ...

  7. Key Yachting is under new ownership...

    Key Yachting is under new ownership after being purchased by Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from Thinking Space Systems. Key Yachting Ltd

  8. Meet Wayne Palmer

    #JBoatsOfficial #GrandSoleilYachts #NautitechCatamarans #Tofinou #KeyYachtingA new chapter for Key Yachting started in January 2021 with Hayley Quinn and Way...

  9. The J Boat, still dominating Cowes Week and the ...

    Wayne Palmer, Owner of Key Yachting, said: "having bought Key Yachting only six months ago, our Cowes Week celebrations were an excellent opportunity to meet our clients outside of the office. We are so incredibly proud to support so many sailors who strive to extend their sailing experience. From Cowes to Cannes, Fastnet to The Arc, our ...

  10. Boating Business

    Wayne Palmer and Hayley Quinn from technical furniture company, Thinking Space Systems, have bought Key Yachting. Key Yachting is the sole UK distributor for J Boats, Grand Soleil, Nautitech Catamarans and Tofinou and was founded in 1996 by Marie-Claude Heys along with her late husband, Paul. "After 25 years, I am delighted to hand the helm ...