SOUTH Coast boat-builder Tarquin has agreed a 40 million dollar deal, worth about £25 million, to open new markets for its yachts in North and South America and the Caribbean.

The deal comes with a new arrangement with a boat company in Florida aimed at boosting the Hampshire company's Trader range of long distance yachts on the other side of the Atlantic.

Tarquin managing director Tony Chappell said: "This is one of the most important contracts that we have achieved in the company's history."

His Trader series have been designed at Ringwood, built in the Far East and finished off at the Tarquin boatyard at Emsworth.

Mr Chappell has set up the deal with the Quest Marine Group, based in Tampa, Florida for it to become sole distributor for Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and South America and to introduce the Trader range into its extensive Caribbean charter fleet.

Quest already has 40 boats for charter at its own Compass Point marina in the US Virgin Islands and is anxious to put the Traders into service. The first three are to be delivered to Quest in the autumn.

Mr Chappell said: "We are particularly pleased to be asso-ciated with such a dynamic company. The Quest Marine Group has interests in both new boat sales, marinas and charter management throughout America. VIP charter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest will manage the boats in St Thomas.''

The deal should see the Hampshire designed boats at the all important Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in Florida in the autumn, followed by other major US boat shows."

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