FOX'S MARINA & BOATYARD

IPSWICH, SUFFOLK 52° 02.0’N, 001° 09.1’E Fox’s marina on the beautiful Orwell offers a safe haven and world class boat repairs as Emma Bamford discovers

From humble beginnings as a family leisure boat builder and restorer in the 1920s, today Fox’s Marina and Boatyard is a 15-acre one-stop-shop known for its expertise in refitting all sorts of boats, from large worldgirdlers to small family cruisers.

Fox’s became synonymous with Oyster Yachts when Oyster Marine founder Richard Matthews took over the current site at Ostrich Creek, just south of Ipswich, in 1985. The brand still has its UK sales office and brokerage on site and works closely with Fox’s on the rigging and commissioning of the majority of its new yachts, which are launched at Fox’s Marina. Managing director Will Taylor-Jones says: “Our primary focus is running a high-quality refit yard and we have a fairly modest but friendly and efficient 100-berth marina on the side of that. We have facilities to haul, work undercover and launch yachts up to 80ft(24.4m).”