Jo Fensham

03/09/2026

A few moments from today’s SOURCED Trade Day, hosted by Linen Drawer in Cape Town.

Tariq Fensham, Owner and Managing Director of Jo Fensham Yacht Upholstery, had the pleasure of presenting “Anchored in Craft: Two Generations of Women Shaping Comfort in Yachts” — sharing the story of a woman-founded, family-led business built on craftsmanship, precision, innovation and more than four decades of specialist marine upholstery experience.

Tariq also took part in a panel discussion, contributing to the wider conversation around design, sourcing, craftsmanship and the value of specialist expertise.

It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with interior designers, architects, suppliers and hospitality professionals, and to share how comfort at sea is shaped through careful material selection, technical knowledge and uncompromising attention to detail.

Thank you to Linen Drawer for creating such a thoughtful day of sourcing, conversation and industry connection.

28/08/2026

Keeping a lot of balls in the air is part of what we do - sometimes literally. 😊

As part of our Seven Seas training, the Jo Fensham team stepped outside the workshop for a creative thinking exercise with Keith, Gabi and Sue from Keith Struthers Studios

This bespoke training series has been developed especially for our team to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, build confidence, strengthen problem-solving skills and open up fresh ways of approaching the work we do every day.

The energy has been fantastic - and judging by the smiles, the juggling was a hit too.

More to follow as the team continues the journey.

21/08/2026

The Leopard 53 Powercat Refresh from Leopard Catamarans is a beautiful evolution of Robertson & Caine’s flagship power catamaran — refined, spacious and designed for exceptional comfort on the water.

Jo Fensham has a long-standing relationship with Robertson & Caine, one that stretches back through decades of South African boatbuilding. As one of their longest-standing suppliers, it is a partnership we value deeply and are incredibly proud of.

For the Leopard 53 Powercat Refresh, Jo Fensham supplies the complete interior upholstery package, including saloon seating, interior cushions, cabin headboards, custom-shaped mattresses and bedding elements — all manufactured with the precision, consistency and durability required for world-class production yacht building.

An exquisite vessel, beautifully refreshed.

Find out more: https://jofensham.com/portfolio-item/leopard-53-powercat-refresh/

Images courtesy of .tv

Jo Fensham supplies the interior upholstery, saloon cushions, headboards, bunk fiddles and more for the refreshed Leopard 53 Powercat.

17/08/2026

A lovely feature by the Cape Chamber on how Jo Fensham Yacht Upholstery is taking specialist marine upholstery beyond the workshop — and beyond South Africa’s shores.

The article highlights our Jo Fensham Digital Service (JFDS), a proprietary digital scanning and remote manufacturing service that allows us to scan cushions, covers and soft furnishings on board, retain accurate digital pattern records, manufacture in Cape Town, and support yachts wherever they are in the world.

From a one-woman workshop founded by Jo Fensham in 1981 to a specialist team supporting leading boatbuilders and international yacht owners, this is a story about craftsmanship, technology, service, and the growing strength of Cape Town’s marine industry.

Thank you to the Cape Chamber for sharing our story.

Read the article below:

Tariq Fensham often goes the extra mile for clients of her popular upholstery business. But later this year she will go 5000 extra miles just to get cushion measurements, so that the cushions can be picked up when her client’s yacht passes Cape Town.

17/08/2026

A beautiful look inside the all-new Leopard 43.

These are the spaces that make you imagine waking up at anchor — calm, comfortable and thoughtfully finished for life on the water.

Jo Fensham is pleased to manufacture the interior upholstery and custom beds for the Leopard Catamarans range, helping bring comfort, durability and a refined finish to these onboard living spaces.

A lovely closer look at where you’ll settle in aboard the Leopard 43.

Find out more about our work:
jofensham.com
[email protected]
+27 21 785 5244

09/08/2026

Happy Women’s Day, South Africa.

Today we celebrate the women of South Africa — the mothers, daughters, colleagues, makers, leaders, carers, creators and quiet forces who shape our homes, workplaces, communities and industries every day.

At Jo Fensham, Women’s Day is especially meaningful. As a woman-founded and woman-led business, women have always been central to our story — not only in leadership, but in the skill, care and craftsmanship that runs through our factory.

To the women in our team, our industry and across South Africa: thank you for your strength, resilience, creativity and contribution.

Today, we honour you.

Happy Women’s Day.

06/08/2026

A look aboard the Balance 750

The Balance 750 is the flagship of the Balance Catamarans range — and this walkthrough is well worth a watch.

She is an exceptional vessel: powerful, elegant, beautifully considered, and a remarkable example of performance cruising at this scale.

At Jo Fensham, we are delighted to have collaborated with Balance Catamarans on the upholstery for this beautiful yacht, contributing to the comfort and finish of her onboard spaces.

A true beauty, inside and out.

Meet the Balance 750 Ultra Velo — our largest, most ambitious build...

31/07/2026

A must-enter opportunity for the Western Cape design community

The Jo Fensham Yacht Furniture Design Prize 2026, presented in collaboration with the Cape Institute for Architecture (CIFA), invites architects, interior designers, furniture designers, industrial and product designers, yacht designers, students and related professionals to reimagine freestanding outdoor furniture for the yacht environment.

Bring fresh thinking to the intersection of design, craftsmanship and South Africa’s world-class boatbuilding industry.

Registration closes: Friday, 7 August 2026
Final entries close: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 12 noon

Download the competition brief and register at jofensham.com or cifa.org.za.

Competition enquiries: [email protected]

24/07/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

Vanessa Davidson, Executive Manager of the and a founding director of BlueCape , shares her perspective on The Jo Fensham Yacht Furniture Design Prize 2026 in collaboration with the Cape Institute for Architecture (CIfA) and what this cross-disciplinary competition could mean for South Africa’s boatbuilding industry.

By bringing architects, interior designers, furniture designers, industrial and product designers into conversation with yacht designers, naval architects, engineers and boatbuilders, the Prize creates an opportunity for fresh ideas, new collaborations and innovative thinking around furniture for the yacht environment.

Watch the reel to hear Vanessa’s perspective on Cape Town’s globally recognised boatbuilding sector and the value of connecting it with the wider design community.

Download the brief and register at jofensham.com or cifa.org.za.
Registration closes: Friday, 7 August 2026
Final entries close: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 12 noon
Competition enquiries: [email protected]