Cockwells closed boot Düsseldorf 2025 with the sale of another Duchy 45, saw the Duchy 35 make its European debut, and confirmed a yard expansion aimed at delivery times under 12 months.
The news out of Germany is short and useful. Cockwells wrapped up its week at boot Düsseldorf by signing a British buyer for another Duchy 45, the newest model in the Duchy Motor Launches range and the roomiest the yard has built so far. The owner’s first plan for the boat is the west coast of Scotland. At the same show, the Duchy 35 was shown in Europe for the first time and, according to the builder, drew visitors from more than 30 countries.
What the Duchy 45 adds to the range
The 45 keeps the proportions and finish the smaller Duchys are known for and spends the extra length on volume. The saloon is large, there is full standing headroom, and the master cabin takes a super king-size bed with its own en-suite heads. Owners choose between two and three double cabins. Cockwells pitches it as a boat you can live aboard for a stretch without feeling you are camping, and a cruise up the Scottish west coast is a fair test of that idea.
Elegant, contemporary and roomy, with as much space inside as out, this new model delivers modern luxury, 360-degree vistas and all the latest engineering technology that you would expect of a craft built in 2025.
Dave Cockwell, Founder and Sales Director, Cockwells
The Duchy 35 on the stand
The boat on display was a single-master-cabin Duchy 35 with the galley down below, an open cockpit and a saloon fitted with a sunroof, a drinks fridge and seating for a crowd. Duchy launches are semi-production boats: the design is fixed, the specification is tailored to the owner, and on the 35 the twin-cabin arrangement remains a popular alternative. Cockwells says it has sea trials lined up over the next few weeks and months with buyers it met at the show, across both the Duchy and Hardy ranges.
Why the yard expansion matters to anyone on the waiting list
The part of this announcement that matters most to a buyer in Australia is not the sale but the factory. Cockwells has secured £1.88 million from the Good Growth Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, administered by Cornwall Council, towards a £2.9 million expansion of its South West Shipyard at Ponsharden. The stated aims are to build the Duchy 45 there this year and to cut customer delivery time to under twelve months. Over three years the project is expected to add 38 jobs and double the yard’s spending with local suppliers to £3 million.
On the ground, the money buys:
- two fit-out halls brought up to date
- new reception, stores and office space
- a new joinery shop
- a large paint booth
- solar power, geothermal heating and 80 trees planted on site, which the yard expects to cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 26,000 tonnes
More new models are due this year as well: the Hardy 45 European, which will also be built at Ponsharden, the Duchy 25 and a set of new tender projects. The yard is recruiting to match.
What this means for Duchy buyers in Australia and New Zealand
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches, and the Duchy 45, the Duchy 35 and the forthcoming Duchy 25 can all be ordered through us for delivery to Sydney. We handle the import, the delivery and the commissioning. A build slot that lands inside twelve months changes the conversation for a buyer here, because shipping and commissioning sit on top of factory time; the shorter the build, the sooner the boat is on Sydney Harbour.
The first Duchy 35 for Australia was sold in December 2022 and arrived in Sydney in May 2023. If you want a sense of how the 35 behaves outside the Heads, read our notes from the Duchy 35 offshore sea trial. Demonstrations are available on Sydney Harbour from Fergusons Marina at The Spit, Mosman: call 0408 864 111 or send an enquiry. There is a longer explanation of the ordering process in our guide to where to buy a Duchy motor launch.
Cockwells’ original report from Düsseldorf is on the builder’s website.
Frequently asked questions
Who bought the Duchy 45 at boot Düsseldorf 2025?
A British buyer signed for the boat at the end of Cockwells’ week at the show, with the west coast of Scotland as the first cruising ground in mind. Cockwells describes it as another sale of its new Duchy 45, a model the yard intends to build at the expanded Ponsharden site this year.
How does the Duchy 45 differ from the Duchy 35?
It has more room in every part of the boat than any Duchy built before it: a large saloon with full standing headroom, a master cabin with a super king-size bed and en-suite heads, and a choice of two or three double cabins. The styling and level of finish follow the rest of the range.
How long does a new Duchy take to deliver?
Cockwells’ expansion at Ponsharden is designed to bring customer delivery time below twelve months. That is the yard’s stated target for the project rather than a quote for any single boat. For a current build slot and shipping timing to Sydney, contact Davis Marine Brokerage on 0408 864 111.
Can the Duchy 35 be built with two cabins?
Yes. The boat at Düsseldorf was the single master cabin version with the galley below, but Cockwells says the twin-cabin layout is a popular option. Duchy launches are semi-production boats, so the specification is tailored to each owner within the standard design.
Davis Marine Brokerage is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy Motor Launches, Hardy Motor Yachts and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders. To talk about a new build, a demonstration on Sydney Harbour or a pre-owned Duchy, call Sam Davis on 0408 864 111 or send an enquiry.
About the author
Sam Davis is the Director and Lead Broker at Davis Marine Brokerage, Fergusons Marina, Mosman. Brokering on Sydney Harbour for over a decade, he is a NSW State Councillor of the Boating Industry Association and the Australian and New Zealand dealer for Duchy, Hardy and Cockwells SuperYacht Tenders.
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