Our Story
Our Story
McConaghy was founded by John McConaghy in 1967, and his passion for innovation led to the introduction of novel materials never before used in marine applications. Over 50 years later, the same passion and attention to detail persists, and McConaghy is now responsible for some of the most impressive composite structures on land or sea.
Our Timeline
1967
McConaghy was founded by John McConaghy in 1967, and he set out to build skiffs, Tornado and A-class catamarans from novel materials never before used in marine applications.
1970’s
In the mid 1970’s, McConaghy were one of the first to apply prepreg carbon to sailing boat construction. Built using materials previously only seen in aerospace applications, McConaghy’s first 18ft prepreg carbon skiff was a revelation that would set a performance benchmark for years to come.
1987
McConaghy constructed the first prepreg nomex cored maxi yacht in 1987, engineered by Giovanni Belgrano and SP Systems, and this yacht was the largest composite structure in the world at that time. McConaghy has been researching, testing and perfecting the techniques and processes required to build high strength, durable and lightweight composite structures ever since.
2000
In the year 2000 McConaghy employees Jono Morris and Mark Evans, took over the company reins from founder John McConaghy and his long-time business partner, Steve Moxham. Mark and Jono capitalised on their complimentary skills and went on to manage the construction of some of the most successful maxi yachts ever built.
2002
Alfa Romeo wins Line Honours at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
2005
McConaghy built the yacht for China Team, the first Chinese challenger for the 150+ old event at that time.
2005
Wild Oats XI wins Line Honours and then successively wins 4 races 2005-2008, 7 races in total at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
2006
In 2006, the company expanded and opened a shipyard in China, which has facilitated exponential growth and supported the production of several semi-custom product ranges.
2006
Loki wins Overall Handicap Winner at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race.
2011
The yacht was masterly crafted by McConaghy Boats in record time taking an amazing 62 days to build! The order for the Rolf Vrolijk designed yacht was received in late November 2010, finished on the 8th March 2011.
2012
McConaghy was approached in 2010 to assist the explorer-filmmaker James Cameron and his engineering partner, Ron Allum, with the complex construction of the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible, a submarine capable of diving to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Western Pacific, eleven kilometres down at the deepest part of the worlds oceans.
2014
Adastra is the 42.5m trimaran built at McConaghy’s Zhuhai facility, for a HK client. It is the largest vessel we have built to date, and one of the world’s most amazing superyachts, that could spell the future for efficient long range cruising.
2014
McConaghy made this private, custom built trimaran for a US client. She is a 53ft short handed high performance cruising trimaran.
2014
In 2014, investment was secured from the Hong Kong-based Tiger Group Investments, a prominent commercial marine company led by keen yachtsman Graham Porter. The partnership with Tiger Group provided capital investment in state-of-the-art facilities, machinery and equipment at McConaghy’s sites in both China and Sydney.
2018
First McConaghy catamaran launched in February, 2018.
Now
McConaghy is now privately owned by Mark Evans and Tiger Group Investments, and has tripled in size in the past decade. The company currently employs 200+ staff and operates from facilities in Australia, China and Hong Kong.
Our Builds
2020 Rigadoon, 44ft Race yacht (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2018 Shearwater, 56′ performance cruiser ( Frers Design)
2018 1 x 86ft Sailing Catamaran
2018 2 x MC60 Sailing Catamaran
2017 1 x MC60 Sailing Catamaran
2017 2 x MC50 Sailing Catamaran
2017 3 x Botin40+(Botin Partners Naval Architecture )
2016 500 x Waszp Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2016 5 x Ker40+(Ker Design)
2016 Ker46 (Ker Design)
2016 Ker46 (Ker Design)
2016 Mills41(Mills Designs)
2015 Ker 42 IRC (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 46 IRC (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 46 (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 40+ Prepreg Version (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 33 (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 33 (Ker Design)
2015 Ker 33 (Ker Design)
2015 Ambush, Mills 41 IRC (Mills Designs)
2015 5x MC31 One Design (Dunning)
2015 4 x RSYS Elliott 7m Race Yacht (Elliot)
2015 2 x Elliott 6m (Elliott)
2015 2 x Elliott 6m (Elliott)
2015 156 x Mach 2 Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2015 150 x Optimist Dinghy (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 Maserati, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 Lazy Dog, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 Kokomo, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 Hooligan, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 Assassin, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2014 53ft Trimaran (Banuls design)
2014 4x J70 (J-Boats)
2013 The Red Hand – 60ft Day Sail (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2013 Team Concise – Class 40 One Design (Ker Design)
2013 Swish Botin HPR 40 (Botin Design)
2013 Patrice, Ker 46 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2013 Dragon MC²60 Performance Cruising Catamaran Boat #2(Banuls Design)
2013 60 x Mach 2 Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2013 10 x RPAYC Elliott 7m Race Yacht (Elliot)
2013 10 x CYCA Elliott 7m Race Yacht (Elliot)
2012 Whiplash, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 Vino, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 Spookie, 40ft Race Yacht (Carkeek)
2012 Raffale, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 OOAH, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 Menace, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 MC²60 Performance Cruising Catamaran Boat #1(Banuls Design)
2012 Kerumba IRC 50 Cruiser Racer Yacht (Ker Design)
2012 Ginger, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2012 Denali², 40ft Race Yacht (Carkeek)
2012 Deepsea Challenger
2012 Decision, 40ft Race Yacht (Carkeek)
2012 Catapult, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2012 Capefling, Ker 46 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2012 Baraka, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2012 Adastra 42.5m Power Trimaran (Shuttleworth Design)
2012 60 x Mach 2 Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2011 TP52 All4One (judel-vrolijk design) renamed Beecom
2011 Tornado II, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2011 Signal 8, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Magnum III, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 KukuKerchu, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Keronimo, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Ice Breaker, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Highland Fling RP 52 Racing Yacht (Reichel/Pugh)
2011 Gust, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Ghost Rider, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2011 Espresso Forte (Farr 54 Racer/Cruiser)
2011 Dark Star, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2011 Cone of Silence, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2011 Carbonado, MC38 One Design (Harry Dunning and Associates)
2011 Apollo, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 Airlift Pioneer MK3 Hovercraft Hoverflyer
2011 AFR Midnight Rambler, Ker 40 IRC Race Yacht (Ker Design)
2011 66x Elliott 6 Olympic Match Race Yacht (Elliot)
2011 60 x Mach 2 Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2011 120x Optimist Dinghy (Harry Harry Dunning and Associates)
2009 60x Elliott 6 Olympic Match Race Yacht (Elliot)
2008 Moneypenny (Reichel Pugh STP65)
2008 Loki (Reichel Pugh 63)
2008 Ambush, IRC 41, Racer Cruiser (Mills)
2008 Alfa Romeo III (Reichel Pugh 69) renamed Shockwave
2008 74x Mach 2 Hydrofoiling Moth (McDougall)
2008 55x Melges 20 One Design Race Yacht (Melges)
2007 Rima 2, IRC 55 Race Yacht (Reichel/Pugh)
2007 Leopard (Farr 30m Canting keel Maxi)
2007 Hi Fi Team Pryde, IRC 52 Race Yacht (Welbourne)
2007 218x Bladerider Hydrofoil Moth (McDougall)
2006 Patches IRC 52 Race Yacht (Reichel/Pugh) renamed: Ran, renamed Pace
2006 China Team Americas Cup Yacht
2006 Yacht Yendys, IRC 52 Race Yacht
(Rei hel/Pugh) renamed: Rodd & Gunn Wedgetail
2005 Wild Oats XI (Reichel Pugh 30m Canting Keel Maxi)
2005 Alfa Romeo II (Reichel Pugh 30m Canting Keel Maxi) renamed Esimit Europa 2, renamed Blackjack
2005 4x 18ft Racing Skiffs
2004 Wild Oats X – (Reichel Pugh 66’ Canting keel racing yacht)
2004 Genuine Risk – (Dubois 90 Canting keel racing Maxi)
2004 8x 18ft Racing Skiffs
2003 Morning Glory (Reichel Pugh 86’ Canting keel Maxi)
2003 Artforms (Owen Clarke design Canting keel Open 50) renamed Pegasus Open 50
2003 3x 18ft Racing Skiffs
2002 Zephyrus V (Reichel Pugh water ballasted 86 Maxi) renamed Windquest
2002 Speedy Gecko – (Reichel Pugh 57’ Water ballast racer)
2002 Alfa Romeo (Reichel Pugh 90 Water ballasted Maxi) renamed Rambler
2002 12x 18ft Racing Skiffs
2001 Pegasus – (Reichel Pugh 78 Sled) renamed Black Dragon
2001 12x 18ft Racing Skiffs
2000 Shockwave (Reichel Pugh 80 Maxi Sled) renamed Morning Glory, renamed Carrera
2000 Satori (McConaghy design 50 Cruiser/ Racer)
2000 Chance (Reichel Pugh 78 Sled) – renamed Enigma of London, renamed Jelik
1999 Young Australia (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Brighton Star
1999 Truant (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Belle Property
1999 Terra Nova (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Southern Star
1999 Southern Star (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Crocodile Rock
1999 Sharp Clarity (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Emotional Hooligan
1999 Merlin (Forbes/ Kaiko 50 Cruiser/Racer)
1999 Leroy Brown (Farr 40 One Design)
1999 Emotional Hooligan (Farr 40 One Design)
1999 Corinthian Doors (Farr 40 One Design) renamed Syntegra,Rapscallion, renamed Norwegian Steam
1999 Corinthian Doors (Farr 40 One Design) – renamed Evolution, renamed Solution
1999 Bonjiorno (Farr 40 One Design) renamed Ichi Ban
1999 10x 18ft Racing Skiff
1998 Southern Cross (Jutson 45 cruiser/racer)
1997 Silk Cut (Whitbread 60 race yacht)
1997 Asadori (Murray 43)
1996 Zoe (Iain Murray design 41 racer/cruiser)
1996 Southerly 50 (Chuck Paine Cruiser)
1995 Second Time Around – (McConaghy 47 Cruiser/Racer)
1995 Ragamuffin (Farr 50 IMS)
1995 Morning Glory 80 (Reichel Pugh 80 IMS Maxi)
1995 Jutson Open 50 (Round the World Single Hander)
1994 One Australia #2 (IACC Class Yacht)
1994 One Australia #1 (IACC Class Yacht)
1994 Exile (Reichel Pugh 68 IMS) – renamed Blue Yankee
1994 Australian Challenge (IACC Class Yacht)
1993 60’ Harbour Day Racer (Iain Murray design)
1992 Windquest (Reichel Pugh 70 IMS) – renamed Alexia, renamedDamiani Our Dream
1992 Siesta (Reichel Pugh 45 IOR)
1992 Morning Glory (Reichel Pugh 50 IMS)
1991 Will (Farr 50 IOR) renamed Ragamuffin
1991 Spirit of Australia (IACC class yacht)
1991 Challenge Australia (IACC class yacht)
1990 Team Ziti (Murray Ultimate 30)
1990 Hexcel (Murray Ultimate 30)
1990 Fujimo (Reichel Pugh 50 IOR)
1990 Abracadabra (Reichel Pugh 50 IOR)
1989 Sundance (Davidson 40)
1988 Windward Passage II (Frers 80)
1988 Box Office (Sea flyer Jog Racer)
1988 Beyond Thunderdome (Davidson 40)
1987 Sagacious (Farr 40)
1987 Great News (Farr 50)
1986 Madeline’s Daughter (Farr 43)
1985 Wild Oats (Farr 43)
1985 Great Expectations (Farr 50)
1985 Change of Pace (C & C Yachts)
1984 Zap (Farr 40)
1984 The Office (Adams 66)
1984 Drakes Prayer (Farr 43)
1984 C & C 36 (C & C Yachts)
1984 2x Cabin Cruisers (McConaghy Boats)
1983 Public Nuisance (Dubois 1/2 Tonner)
1983 King George (Lexcen 34)
1983 Hot August Night (Lexcen 1/2 Tonner)
1982 Sweet Caroline (Dubois 44)
1982 Di Hard (Frers 40)
1982 Bondi Tram (Frers 40)
1979 Once More Dear Friends (Dubois 39)
1967 – Current 1000+ MOTH dinghies
1965 – Current 200+ 18ft Skiffs
McConaghy’s continual innovation and investment in new materials and technologies, has allowed us to firmly establish our position at the forefront of progressive performance yacht building. Each new project is seen as a fresh opportunity to reset previous benchmarks and reinforce the company’s reputation as builders of the world’s finest composite yachts.
The McConaghy name has become synonymous with light, strong and aesthetically perfected laminated structures.