In 1988, Duncan Lethbridge, a successful real estate developer, builder & sailing champion, decided to take his family cruising. Angelo Lavranos, an acclaimed naval architect, was commissioned to design a comfortable cruising catamaran. The launch of his first St Francis 43 led to an unprecedented demand from friends and the local yachting fraternity, a small factory was built to meet the needs. This has grown to become a modern 4000m² building facility situated in St Francis Bay, approximately 100km West of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where the moderately dry climate with small temperature variations (between 16 and 25˚C) produces a naturally air-conditioned environment, ideal for GRP manufacture. Being a comparatively small boat yard (4 boats per year) with a well skilled stable and dedicated workforce it gives expert attention to detail and is capable of using the latest & best materials and technology. Vinylester glass infusion is now the norm with Carbon/Kevlar reinforcements where necessary. Not being in mass production, the company customizes the interiors to suit its clients' needs.