SUNSEEKER expects a £95million boost to its order books following the autumn boat shows in Cannes and Southampton.

The Poole-based luxury boat builder says it came away from the shows with £70m in confirmed retail orders and expects another £25m to be agreed shortly.

Sunseeker launched four new models at the Cannes Yachting Festival – the 95 Yacht, 116 Yacht, 68 MK II and Manhattan 52.

It said the show, the first of the autumn season, saw high visitor numbers, with pre-booked meetings with clients and prospects at a record high.

The Southampton Boat Show, the UK’s largest ‘in-water’ show, also saw a record number of booked meetings with existing and new customers, the company said. It said interest in the Manhattan 52 – Sunseeker’s smallest flybridge model in more than a decade – had been “exceptional”.

Sean Robertson, sales director at Sunseeker International, said: “This year’s Cannes and Southampton Shows have been truly excellent.

“We’ve enjoyed really positive events with substantial confirmed retail orders, on sales of 25 luxury motoryachts across the range, with an additional £25m of orders to be agreed shortly.

“We were particularly proud to host the world premieres and UK debuts of our new models, the Manhattan 52, the Predator 68 MKII, the 95 Yacht and the 116 Yacht, all of which have been eagerly awaited by existing customers and those new to our brand.”

Visitors and guests at the Southampton stand included transport minister John Hayes. The show also saw a ‘passing out’ ceremony for apprentices.

Sunseeker revealed at the Cannes festival that it moved back into profit in the second quarter of 2016 and expected to turn a profit over the full year. It reduced losses from £41m in 2014 to £13.6m last year.

It says it will invest £50m over the next five years in new products, shipyard facilities and recruitment. It plans to launch a number of new models as part of a long-term product plan.