From the Shannon Yachts Website:
Shannon Yachts was founded by Walter Schulz in Bristol, RI in 1975 with the intent to design and build offshore yachts to the highest quality standards. Over the years, Shannons have earned an international reputation for quality construction and offshore integrity. Shannons have logged over a million bluewater miles, including an impressive list of circumnavigations and many transoceanic passages, mostly by husband and wife teams. Every major harbor in the world has been visited by a Shannon. Shannon’s boatbuilding experience is an unbroken, evolutionary chain from Shannon 38 hull #1 (which is in Australia on a circumnavigation) built back in 1975 to the present day. During every week since 1975, there always has been a new Shannon being constructed under Walt Schulz’s personal direction. No company building semi-custom yachts anywhere can demonstrate comparable passagemaking records, a stable management team and a consistent uncompromised standard of quality for the last thirty years.

Years in Business: 1975 – present