Yachtsmen International Expands Business on the Gold Coast

Since establishing the business in 2017, Yachtsmen International (YI) has diversified and expanded from two experienced boat brokers to a multi-disciplinary team of 12.

From their Gold Coast headquarters at The Boat Works Marina & Shipyard, Directors Sean Madgwick and Scott Wellington-Stones lead a dedicated team of specialists. The unique, full-service superyacht agency caters to owners, captains and crew and those wanting to charter in Australia and internationally.

“Over the past three years we have focused on appointing the right staff for each of our divisions,” says Scott. “We cover sales/purchase with four brokers, including representation in Sydney and Cairns, service/maintenance overseen by our in-house captain, shipwright and engineer, yacht management, crewing, charter and agency services for superyachts.”

Sean brings to Yachtsmen International 12 years of superyacht brokerage experience, strong marketing skills and new-build technical management expertise. He has travelled the world inspecting, buying and selling yachts, and has overseen dozens of new builds in Europe and Asia.

Scott has 20 years’ experience in brokerage and charter throughout the South Pacific, the US and Caribbean. His forte is marketing and selling superyachts, equipping him with unrivalled skills in matching clients with vessels that suit their boating aspirations.

In the next few months, YI will achieve its MYBA certification and plans are already underway to open their own workshop within The Boat Works superyacht hub as part of their service division, offering refit works, engineering, timber and custom refits.

Service & Maintenance 

They have already managed the multi-million dollar refit of the 86-foot Horizon motor yacht, “Oasis”, comprising various navigation and AV upgrades, a new hydraulic swim platform, extensive interior design and repainting here on the Gold Coast.

In the past six months, due to COVID19 travel restrictions, the charter division has observed a rise in enquiry. People who may not have considered charter in the past are taking advantage of this time to explore their own waters.

Sales/Purchase

In terms of sales trends, Scott reports steady interest, increasing over the past three months, in Australian-based and imported superyachts up to 45-metres and priced to $15 million.

“We are seeing a lot of Victorians placing their Queensland-based vessels on the market with the intention of buying closer to home. People are willing to buy sight-unseen upon our recommendations, following extensive virtual tours.”

Yacht Management, Crewing and Charter Agency Services

In the absence of boat shows, YI is honing its skills to offer bespoke services to their existing client database, as well as proactively seeking new markets. Two of their team have just returned from a week in Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and Airlie Beach where they spread the word about their services and the world-class facilities at The Boat Works.

“It was very positive to see so many large vessels enjoying the Whitsundays and Far North Queensland,” says Sean. “We spoke with 12 yachts, sized between 30 and 70-metres, who are all anticipating coming down to the Gold Coast for maintenance and refit work in October and November, supplying many weeks of work for the tenants, trades and contractors on-site here at The Boat Works.”

Looking ahead to summer 2020-21, Sean and Scott anticipate a bumper season for sales, maintenance, refit and charter.

“We are confident yachting in all its forms will only grow in popularity. It’s the ideal family pastime,” says Scott, who grew up on racing, fishing and mucking around on boats on Sydney’s Hawkesbury River. “Yachtsmen International is ideally positioned to deliver the highest calibre services to the superyacht sector at every stage – ownership, crewing, support, maintenance, refit and charter.”

The difference between Yachtsmen International and other offerings on the local landscape is “an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction,” according to Sean.

“We have created something fresh and innovative that really raises the bar. But our culture is what sets us apart. All of us are totally focused on customer satisfaction; a dedicated team with the expertise and enthusiasm for the job, responding within the hour for every enquiry, every request. We are all watermen and women, passionate about boating, and our clients respond to that.”