Voyage Yachts and Voyage Charters – a Close Relationship
Voyage Yachts, based in Cape Town, South Africa, is a long-established yacht builder specialising in higher spec’d cruising catamarans, with a history spanning over 30 years and a reputation for robust bluewater boats.
Voyage 590 Home Away
The company was founded in 1994, formally established by Tom and Deidre Lubbe along with Ian and Jo Stopforth. The current director and head builder, Kay Oldenburg, has steered the company through recent years, maintaining continuity and quality throughout the company’s history.
Robin and Jo Downing, owners of VOYAGE charters, were also instrumental in the growth of the company. Voyage Charters operates a fleet of Vision yachts in the British Virgin Islands.
The founders and directors of Voyage Yachts worked closely with Robin and Jo-Ann , who moved from South Africa to the BVI and established Voyage Charters as a family-run business in 1995.
Origins and Growth
Voyage Yachts began its journey when Robin and Jo Downing, along with friends Terry and Jacqui Weddell, acquired and outfitted the first Voyage 400 hulls in Cape Town.
Kay Oldenburg’s leadership on the manufacturing side contributed to the company’s reputation for high standards. In the late 1990s, the Downings and collaborators—such as Dave and Stella Beavis—helped expand the brand’s reach to charter fleets in the Caribbean, notably in the British Virgin Islands.
Key People and Ownership
The company’s leadership was originally directors Tom and Deidre Lubbe and Ian Stopforth, with Kay Oldenburg as principal builder.
The Downing family played a significant role in both operational management and the company’s global presence, especially through their charter operations.
Current Range
Voyage Yachts’ present-day lineup features the following:
Voyage 510
A cruising catamaran measuring approximately 52 feet, notable for its flexible layouts, offshore capability, and charter-ready design.
Voyage 590
The other model in the current range is the Voyage 590, acclaimed gfor its balance of performance and comfort.
Discontinued Models
The brand’s legacy models include the Voyage 400, 430, Voyage 470, 500, and 520.
The Voyage 470, launched in the 1990s laid the groundwork for future designs. The Voyage 500, produced until around 2010, was highly popular among charterers and bluewater sailors.
Other retired models include the Voyage 480E, Mayotte, and variants of the Voyage 520.
| Discontinued Model | Years Active | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage 400 | 1994–late 90s | Launch model, charter-ready |
| Voyage 430 | late 90s–2000s | Private and charter |
| Voyage 470 | 1990s–early 2000s | Bluewater cruising |
| Voyage 500 | 1997–2010 | Popular charter catamaran |
| Voyage 520 | 2000s | Long-range cruising |
| Mayotte | 1990s | Early offshore design |
Legacy and Reputation
Voyage Yachts built its reputation on its advanced composites and yacht building and as part of Cape Town’s catamaran building ecosystem.
The company’s culture remains family-driven, with strong relationships with clients, charter partners, and their dedicated team.