• 1961Launch as Shoanne

    Built in Southamton by the famous John J. Thorneycroft Seafin began life as Shoanne: pitch-pine planking on oak frames with a teak deck. Her classic sheer and generous decks marked her out from the start.

  • 1964Renamed Minala

    She moved to Scotland and took the name Minala, beginning wide-ranging European cruising to Italy, France, the Balearics, and inland passages to Paris and London.

  • 1967Becomes Seafin

    In 1967 she joined the well-known Profumo family, moved to Éire (Ireland), and took the name Seafin. John Profumo—an MP and junior minister who became Secretary of State for War in 1960—later resigned from government in a scandal widely documented, including the film Scandal (1989).

  • 1971–1986Channel Isles & Baltic Chapter

    Under new ownership she was based in Jersey, Sark, and Cornwall, with extended sojourns into the Baltic—broadening her range while retaining her unhurried, capable nature.

  • 1986–2013Charter Era

    Seafin entered charter service under Warwick Bergin. A major 2007 refit brought her up to MCA Class 6 passenger standards, setting the foundation for her current certification (MCA Class 5 & 6) and capacity to welcome up to 30 day guests.

  • 2014–PresentStewardship & Modernisation

    Operations passed to Hamble Point Yacht Charters in 2014, with a steady rhythm of winter maintenance and thoughtful upgrades. Ahead of the 2024 season she relaunched with two reconditioned Gardner 6LXB main engines, alongside current navigation, communications, and safety systems—all integrated with a light touch to preserve her period character.

  • TodayA Solent Icon

    Based on the River Hamble, Seafin is a familiar silhouette across the Solent—slipping past Cowes, anchoring in Osborne Bay, and easing into the Beaulieu River. From Shoanne (1961) to Minala (1964) to Seafin (1967), her story is one of continuity and care: a classic wooden yacht, lovingly kept, and ready to host unforgettable days at sea.
 

From the Family Archives

The note below comes from a family member who knew Seafin in the early years. It adds colour to the official record and captures the lived history around the yacht:

“I don't know very much about the history of Seafin other than Grandpa bought it around 1969—just before the 1970 fuel crisis and after he bought Surfrenzy in 1968.

His aim was to refurbish it and sail it down to the south of France, but Granny didn't want anything to do with it!

It ended up in the old French harbour in Jersey for a year or two, before we had a proper marina, and I stayed on her once when she was moored in St Malo—maybe around 1974/75.

He never really used her much, as Granny didn't approve of the costs, so she was eventually sold.

About 10 years ago, around the time I bought Marathon, she was up for sale and I met with the broker who was selling Surfrenzy in Ipswich. He was also in the process of selling Seafin and I ended up giving him a framed photo of Seafin, which I'd inherited from Grandpa. I've still got a framed watercolour of her rounding Corbière Lighthouse on my wall at home."

These personal memories—of harbours, plans and pictures—sit alongside Seafin’s formal logbook, reminding us that a yacht’s story is written not only in passages and refits, but in the families who loved her and the waters she’s called home.

About Seafin

Her Story

Seafin is more than a yacht - she’s a living chapter of British maritime heritage. Launched on the River Hamble and cherished across the Solent, her timeless lines and generous decks have welcomed generations aboard. Today, Seafin stands as the south coast’s most distinguished private charter yacht - and the only one able to host up to 30 guests - remaining authentically classic while flawlessly guest-ready.

Restoration & Craftsmanship

Seafin’s elegance endures thanks to meticulous, ongoing restoration. Specialist shipwrights preserve original character - renewing teak, refreshing brightwork, and modernising systems below the waterline - while interiors are refined with a light touch. Traditional materials are respected; comforts are integrated discreetly. The result is a yacht that feels storied yet current - classic in spirit, effortless in operation.

Life Aboard

From the first step on deck, Seafin strikes a rare balance: substantial without ever feeling formal. Sunlit spaces invite long lunches; calm salons offer a haven between swims; thoughtful finishes make every corner considered. Whether champagne arrivals, private-chef dining, watersports off the stern, or unhurried sunset passages - days aboard unfold beautifully, never rushed and never the same.

A Solent Icon

Moored on the River Hamble, Seafin is a familiar, much-photographed silhouette throughout the Solent—slipping past Cowes, anchoring in Osborne Bay, or easing into the Beaulieu River. Her capacity, comfort, and classic profile make her a natural centrepiece for milestone celebrations and board-level hospitality alike.

Thoughtful Modernisation

Behind the scenes, Seafin benefits from continuous investment in safety, reliability, and guest comfort. Navigation and communications are kept current; mechanical systems are professionally maintained; and sustainability-minded practices - from careful fuel management to responsible anchoring - guide every passage. Quiet competence underpins every effortless day.

Custodianship, Not Just Ownership

We see ourselves as custodians of Seafin’s legacy. Each winter brings a considered programme of maintenance and refinement; each season she returns ready to host with grace. The commitment is simple: the Seafin you step aboard today will be just as captivating for the next generation.