. HISTORY

Gorbon Yachts was founded by Fatih Gorbon in 1982. Currently a Professor in the Department of Architecture in the State Fine Arts Academy in Istanbul , Fatih, started sailing in dinghies and one design keelboats (dragons) in 1950's. He developed an interest in boat design and construction early on and built his first boat a 20 ft german yolle in 1962 while he was graduating from high school.

Second boat was for his father in 1969, ''Surtuk" was a nordic volke boat, and was built in traditional wood. As big boat racing picked up in Turkey, so did Gorbon's appetitite for new boats, so came ''Destur'', a C&C 38 design built in Turkey by Gumus Boatyard under Fatih's supervision in 1972.

Fatih designed his first boat in 1977, ''Ugur 6'' was a 57 ft cruising ketch built in traditional wood (pine on oak) with an exceptional interior finishing.

Then in 1982, demand for boats from the friends and family of Gorbon's prompted the start of Regatek Boatyard, currently Gorbon Yachts. The first three boats built were Fatih Gorbon designed quarter tonners built in wood-epoxy. These boats were the first wood/epoxy boats to be built in Turkey .

As IOR racing fleets grew so did the production of Half tonners grew, and Gorbon Yachts built four 30 ft racers in mid eighties. Along the same time period Gorbon Yachts started building custom designed cruiser - racers and powerboats like 57ft ketch cruiser ''Nazli'' or 44ft ''Shogun'', all designed and built to exceed the expectations of their owners.

Followed by half tonners, the first breakthrough of the business in racing boat production was the building of ''Sirena'', a Valicelli 50 ft IOR racing boat build in Full composite. Carbon, Kevlar, Nomex from SP Systems was used to build Sirena, the first composite boat built in Turkey . Sirena went on the to race in Sardinia 's Cup in Porto Cervo in 1988, finishing 7th overall.

Sirena brought the composite boat building capability to the boat yard and was quickly followed by other boats. Avare, sister boat of Half-ton world champion Cofica, designed by Jean Berret was built in full composite as well. Followed by Bruce Farr one tonner ''Indigo'', one of the last built of the legendary Farr one tonners.

While the composite racing boats were built, the main focus of the business in the 1990's was the production of custom cruiser-racers and powerboats from 20ft to 70ft built in GRP composite and wood - epoxy.

In 2001, with Burak Gorbon purchasing the company, Gorbon Yachts went under a major restructuring, aiming to establish itself in the major boating markets as a high quality boat builder. Based on years of experience in boat design and production, semi custom series of sail and powerboats have been developed. Gorbon Yachts also started to market its boat aggressively in the UK , US and Continental European markets.

Burak an avid sailor as well, has represented Turkey in major sailing competitions such as Sardinia's Cup, Nations Cup Match Sailing and ISAF world championships holds a BA in Business Administration from Bosphorus University and an MBA from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He has worked as a Strategy Consultant and Private Equity Fund professional, specializing in Marketing and business development in London , UK and Istanbul , Turkey .