Founding, rise, IPO (1990–2007) HanseYachts is originated in an old-established shipyard for fishing cutters and other workboats. The today's company was founded in 1990 – after the fall of the
Iron Curtain – by Michael Schmidt, the winner of the 1985
Admiral's Cup. At the beginning,
Yachtzentrum Greifswald – so the former name of HanseYachts – focused on yacht refit and other services. The first model
Hanse 291 (which based on the design of the
Aphrodite 291) was launched in 1993. In the years to come, the company successively extended the model range and grew rapidly. In the late 1990s, HanseYachts and the yacht designers
Judel/Vrolijk & Co started their still existing collaboration. In 2003, the range comprised eight models up to 53
ft. In 2007, HanseYachts AG
went public (
General Standard,
Frankfurt). Founder Michael Schmidt remained majority
shareholder.
Brand acquisitions and powerboat market entry (2006–2009) For more than a decade, HanseYachts built sailing yachts only. In 2006, the company acquired the majority of Norwegian powerboat manufacturer
Fjord Boats AS and started to develop seagoing powerboats. In 2007, the English
Moody brand (sailing yachts) was added, and the creation of a new
Moody range with decksaloon and aftcockpit models began. Furthermore, HanseYachts bought the remaining shares in
Fjord Boats AS and introduced a first new
Fjord model (
Fjord 40 open). In 2008, the company completed the enlargement of its plant in Greifswald and the construction of a new production facility in Goleniów. In 2009, HanseYachts purchased its German competitor
Dehler Yachtbau comprising the
Dehler and
Varianta brands as well as a production facility located in
Freienohl, Germany.
Great Recession, change of ownership and recovery (2008–2016) During the
Great Recession, the boating industry was affected by a slump in global sales. The company's
turnover dropped by 57% within one year. A period of high losses began. In 2011, founder Michael Schmidt sold his stake to German Investment holding
Aurelius SE,
Munich, and left the company. At the end of 2012, HanseYachts closed the
Dehler factory in Freienohl and relocated the entire
Dehler production to its lamination factory in Goleniów and its main factory in Greifswald. In 2013, HanseYachts parent company
Aurelius SE purchased the English
Sealine brand (motor yachts) together with plans, moulds, parts lists and equipment. In 2014, HanseYachts started to produce
Sealine yachts. == Current models ==