United Kingdom

Patrick Banfield

Although Southampton-based <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Tenders (Company)">Falcon Tenders</a> is a new name in the superyacht sector, it has a heritage that draws on founder Mark Pascoe’s 20-plus years of experience building full-custom tenders.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210327/image/large-0ba67f82be25ebfa56aed750e6fcdb47.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210327">Mark Pascoe started out producing high-performance sports RIBs, but his new company takes its name from his involvement in the building of two custom tenders for the ground-breaking sailing yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/385" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Maltese Falcon88.0m (288'9&quot;)Perini Navi2006">Maltese Falcon&nbsp;</a>in 2005. As Production Manager of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4716" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pascoe International (Company)">Pascoe International</a>, he went on to oversee the build of a further 200 or more tenders before deciding to pursue a new avenue with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Tenders (Company)">Falcon Tenders</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210326/image/large-42c6618757c76f322a0f9c51a0155921.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210326">“I am passionate about building tenders and I believe there is room in the superyacht sector for something different,” says Pascoe. “In order to do that, I chose an experienced business partner and hand-picked an impressive line-up of highly skilled craftsmen, many of whom I have known and worked with for a number of years.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210335/image/large-3f2a04e043eeafc5428a1471d01e2bdd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210335">Pascoe’s financial partner in <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Tenders (Company)">Falcon Tenders</a> is international racing driver Dean Stoneman, the F1 test driver, former F2 Champion and P1 Powerboat Champion in 2012. Stoneman brings with him practical experience as well as an eye for quality and detail having produced a series of high-speed XSR48 powerboats for a select group of European customers. &nbsp;“There are a lot of similarities between the superyacht and powerboat racing worlds,” says Pascoe. “In a way, it’s all about the spectacle; everything has to be immaculate and work perfectly, and the boats have to be fit for purpose. In the case of tenders we’re not just looking at top speed and seakeeping, of course, but also extremely good low-speed handling and manoeuvrability.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210328/image/large-12bf645d6d17d6030c4a5a64d0e3c97a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210328">To meet the growing demand for bespoke tenders, from the outset Pascoe decided to collaborate with some of the top names in superyacht design, including <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tim Heywood Design Ltd. (Company)">Tim Heywood</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6301" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Uros Pavasovic Studio (Company)">Uros Pavasovic</a>, David Weiss of Designova and naval architect <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5717" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Patrick Banfield (Company)">Patrick Banfield</a>. However, the first project from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Tenders (Company)">Falcon Tenders</a> is a 10.6-metre limousine tender with sleek exterior styling by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/25" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Michael Leach Design Ltd. (Company)">Michael Leach Design</a> that was built on spec and made her debut at the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210329/image/large-a27fef794801ade8b2d4acee84ee9485.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210329">“Despite my solid reputation in the industry, we felt that for a client to take a new brand operation seriously and be prepared to invest in a deposit we had to show them the kind of high-quality product we can build,” says Pascoe. “So that’s why we decided to self-finance this first project and we plan to start building an open version of the limo tender based on the same hull form.”The hull and deck of the limousine tender utilises lightweight, foam sandwich construction with sustainable plant-based epoxy composites for a stiff structure. Faired and painted in high gloss Black Blue and Signal White to superyacht standards, all the components are of the highest quality with attention to serviceability and longevity. All the wood veneers and leather products used for the interior are also sustainably sourced. Propulsion is provided by a hybrid electric system comprising twin Hyundai Seasall S30 270hp V6 diesel engines and two Huracan Marine 20KW e-motors fitted with automatic clutch coupled to two Femak 20Kw Lithium-Ion batteries that can provide up to an hour of silent, zero-emission running at low speed.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210333/image/large-6f18678af0c039031751fad365453610.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210333">“The basic concept is that we have electric drive up to a speed of 8-9 knots,” explains Pascoe. “As you increase the throttle, the system automatically fires up the diesel engines and the electric motors become generators for charging the batteries. Then when you come off the plane, it drops back into electric drive and you seamlessly arrive at the yacht or the marina. It really gives you the best of both worlds.”<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6359" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Falcon Tenders (Company)">Falcon Tenders</a> has developed a portfolio of tender designs that can be hand-built to order in limited numbers, but it sees itself primarily as a full-custom builder serving the specific requirements of individual owners. Certainly, given Mark Pascoe’s reputation and close contacts with captains, designers and shipyards, the company has the experience, resources and know-how to bring any one-off tender project to life.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/210331/image/large-2893a3262f6efc06687bd767863d14b0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/210331">“One of our biggest assets is that we have a small, dedicated and passionate team rather than a large workforce geared up for mass production,” affirms Pascoe. “I think we have the skillset and appetite to bring something new and pretty special to the market.” &nbsp;

Falcon Tenders and their first designs

Falcon Tenders under Mark Pascoe are bringing something new to the tender market.