‘My Princess’ customer magazine caught up with proud Princess V40 Owners, Caroline and Brian to find out how they enjoy boating.
Have you always been keen boaters?
The Princess V40 was our first boat. We had talked about getting a river boat for many years as we live near the Thames but it wasn’t really practical with the children.
Why did you choose a Princess and what inspired you to choose the V40?
To be honest we bought on a whim. Some friends had bought a motorboat which made us think about maybe having one at some point. A few months later we were staying near Southampton and thought we would take a stroll around Ocean Village to look at the boats in the marina. We then saw the Princess Motor Yacht Sales office and decided to take a look. We met Charles who was young, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. He suggested popping over to Swanwick to take a look at some of the second-hand boats. We looked at two which we liked from different manufacturers but as soon as we stepped onto the Princess we fell in love. The rest is history. I guess we chose the V40 as it is beautifully sleek and sporty looking. I am also not so keen on a flybridge.
Where did the great name ‘Uptown Girl’ come from?
So, as you probably know, ‘Uptown Girl’ is a Billy Joel song. My husband comes from the Midlands and I come from Henley on Thames. Our backgrounds are quite different – just listen to the words and it all makes sense!
How has your Princess V40 performed?
It’s been fabulous. It’s a 2018 model and we bought it in 2022. It was very well looked after with a high specification. It only had 209 hours on the engines. We are now just over 400 hours in 2 years – despite the weather this year and the fact we both work and therefore, are a little limited on time.
What’s your favourite cruising destination or marina to stay?
To be honest we enjoy every destination and marina but we do have a soft spot for Yarmouth. Since we are based in Premiere Marina Swanwick, it’s very quick and easy to get there. We often pop over for lunch. Poole Quay is also great fun. Many pubs have live bands and the whole place buzzes in the summer.
Could your recount the most amazing thing you’ve experienced or seen from your Princess?
It’s got to be our very first trip which was organised by Princess. We had only owned our boat for a month during which time we had to pass our Powerboat Level 2 and VHF radio courses. We went in a Princess flotilla to Cherbourg and Guernsey. It was such a huge learning curve for us but we felt safe at all times during the crossings as we had the Princess team with us and a dozen like-minded Princess owners and their yachts, including a few Princess V40 Owners.
What’s your favourite onboard dinner / cocktail?
Well for me it’s pink champagne. For the Downtown man it’s a beer.
Do you have any advice for those thinking of purchasing a yacht?
Go for it. Life is too short but be warned you need deep pockets. We knew absolutely nothing about boats but we are absolutely smitten
What does your yachting adventure look like for the future as proud Princess V40 Owners?
We are part of a Powerboat Club so we have lots of weekends arranged with them. Next year we are hoping to go to Alderney and down to the West country as we have only been as far as Weymouth. Some friends are planning a trip around England and Scotland in a few years’ time – we may join them for a bigger adventure.
Discover more about the dynamic Princess V Class yachts online: www.princess.co.uk/class/v-class-yachts/
