Powerboat News was given access to all of Sunseeker’s Poole manufacturing facilities today. It was the first time in the company’s history that a media outlet had been granted unrestricted entry across every unit.
The man who opened those doors joined the company as an electrician in 2000. Steve Timms has spent more than 25 years at Sunseeker, holding the roles of business operations manager, production director and chief operating officer. In April this year, he was appointed interim CEO.
Many of the workers on the shop floor have known him for most of that time. When I met some of them today, it showed. Timms has Sunseeker blood dripping from his veins.
Sunseeker currently produces around 90 yachts per year, ranging from 55 to 134 feet. The company employs approximately 1,900 people across its Dorset facilities and exports 98 per cent of its production through a dealer network covering more than 60 countries.
The manufacturing operation has been moving progressively in-house. The furniture production line for the boats alone now turns out 8,500 individual pieces per year, all made within the Poole facilities.
With Chris Davies’ photography, Powerboat News will publish a series of articles throughout the summer showing how these boats are built and the people who build them.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
