Megayachts sell, brokerage firms hire, new offices open

Broker Peter Thompson with Ocean Independence has sold M/Y Casino Royale, the 50m Christensen. Capt. Greg Clark of M/Y Lohengrin has been hired as her skipper.

Stabbert Yacht & Ship Shipyard in Seattle sold the 308-foot ex-NOAA research ship Sahara to a European buyer. The vessel is undergoing a refit and conversion. The vessel will be exported from the United States. 

"The advantages to foreign buyers in the current economy are enormous," said Dan Stabbert, company CEO. "Market conditions present unique opportunities to buy seaworthy commercial vessels for conversion to exploration yachts, shadow boats, or for specialized missions such as oil research or security duties."

For more information, visit www.stabbertmaritime.com .

Brokers Michael Mahan and Gavin Ferguson of International Yacht Collection have sold the 186-foot M/Y Bad Girl.

IYC added these yachts to its central listings: M/Y Carpe Diem, a 149-foot Trinity by Chany Sabates III and Thom Conboy; M/Y No Escape, a 150-foot Heesen by Conboy; a new construction to be delivered in summer; and a 125-foot vessel being built by Northcoast Yachts of Tacoma, Wash., by Jim Eden.

For more, visit www.iyc.com .

Fraser Yachts has sold these boats:

M/Y Surprise, a 115-foot (35m) McMullen & Wing by Allan Jouning in Auckland and David Legrand in Monaco; M/Y Aviva, a 108-foot (33m) Monte Fino, by Patrick McConnell in San Diego; and M/Y Lady Pirate, a 70-foot (21m) Johnson by McConnell and Jose Arana Sr. in Mexico City.

The brokerage also announced the following new central agency listings:

M/Y Mystique, a 165-foot (50m) Oceanfast; M/Y Kanaloa, the 159-foot (48m) CRN; M/Y Aero Toy Store, a 147-foot (45m) Sterling; M/Y Sotaj, a 139-foot (42m) Abeking & Rasmussen; M/Y Monte Carlo, a 132-foot Amels; M/Y Tradition, a 122-foot (36m) De Vries Feadship; M/Y Mas Grande, a 121-foot (37m) Sovereign; M/Y Crystal Lady, a 114-foot (35m) Warren; M/Y Moon Goddess, a 114-foot (35m) vessel; M/Y Steadfast, a 112-foot (34m) Baratucci; M/Y Fabris, a 108-foot (33m) Mangusta; M/Y One More Toy, an 88-foot (27m) Pershing; M/Y Ellen Louise, an 82-foot (25m) Horizon; and M/Y Camilla II, a 79-foot (24m) CN.

Broker Michael Selter of Fraser’s San Diego office was elected to the board of directors of the San Diego Superyacht Association. (SDSA).

Fraser has hired Jim Wallace as a sales broker in Ft. Lauderdale. Wallace started as a broker in 1980 with McMichael in Annapolis, but the bulk of his business quickly came in motoryachts. He moved to Palm Beach in 1993 and began working with Camper & Nicholsons in 1995, where he stayed until joining Fraser in March.

His son, Jamie Wallace, also joins Fraser as a junior sales broker in the Ft. Lauderdale office.

Northrop and Johnson broker Kevin Merrigan sold the 125-foot Delta expedition yacht M/Y Lara, part of the buy-one-get-one-free deal that includes M/Y Jo-Jo, a 60-foot Tempest.

Instead of including Jo-Jo, Merrigan accepted M/Y Princess Yolini, a 103-foot Broward, as a trade.

Jo-Jo will now be paired with Princess Yolini in the buy-one-get-one-free deal. For more details, e-mail kmerrigan@njyachts.com  or call +1-954-522-3344.

Broker Gregg Child sold the 80-foot Offshore, Miss Penny. 

The first Sunreef yacht launched in 2002, the 74-foot Che, has been put up for sale by its owner, who is buying the biggest Sunreef, a 114-foot vessel, currently under construction. It is scheduled for launch early next year.

Che is available for purchase through Sunreef at maciej.stompor@sunreef-yachts.com. For more information, visit www.sunreef-yachts.com .

M/Y Zorro, an 82-foot Hatteras, sank at the dock of a private home in Ft. Lauderdale on March 23. Salvaged by TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale, the vessel suffered a fire and was partially submerged during attempts to extinguish the fire. The vessel was completing a million-dollar refit and was nearly ready for sea trial, according to a report from TowBoatU.S.

Vicem Yachts of Turkey will introduce the new line of Trumpy Yachts, starting with the Trumpy 63 flush deck motoryacht.

Designed from original Trumpy drawings, it will have modern yachts systems, equipment and accessories with a base price of $2.93 million. Construction and delivery will be overseen by Johan Trumpy, grandson of company founder John Trumpy.

Vicem also hired Bruce Livingston Jr., as production director for the company’s shipyards in Turkey. Livingston’s career spans more than three decades, including 14 years as general manager for Little Harbor Custom Yachts in Taiwan. In 1996, he was appointed director for Grand Banks Yachts’ operations in Malaysia.

The builder also recently selected Nauttia Yachts of Spain as exclusive dealer for the Iberian Peninsula.

For more, visit www.vicemusa.com.

Bruce Schattenburg, managing director and broker at The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals, has been named president of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA). Schattenburg was FYBA vice president for 2007 and 2008 and has served as a member of the FYBA board for the past 11 years.

"This is a great honor and comes at what is a very challenging time for the yachting industry," Schattenburg said. "One of my goals will be to reach out and work with other professional yachting organizations and government bodies to develop ways to meet the challenges posed by today’s difficult world economy."

A native of Santa Cruz, Calif., Schattenburg sold his first boat in 1977, almost immediately after graduating from high school. He became the youngest broker for Fraser at age 23.

By 1985, he was Fraser’s top West Coast salesman. A year later, he transferred to Ft. Lauderdale. He ended a 19-year stint with Fraser in 1999 when he joined The Sacks Group.

Broker Curtis Stokes added two megayachts to the brokerage’s central listings: the 153-foot Feadship M/Y Paraiso (1983/2008) and Balkan 28, a 28m (91-foot) raised pilothouse motoryacht built by Cantieri Di Pisa.

Marcali Yacht Brokerage and Consulting has opened in Fort Myers on Florida’s southwest coast. The company is a full-service yacht brokerage for all vessel types. Marc Harris, a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and owner, has more than 30 years experience in yacht management, construction and consulting.

For more information, visit www.marcaliyacht.com.

Ft. Lauderdale-based International Yacht Collection has opened an office in Dubai, UAE. The office will offer the entire range of yachting services: brokerage, charter management, yacht management, new construction, refit, retail charter and crew placement.

"This was a natural location for us to expand into," said Brian Tansey, vice President of IYC. "As the yacht market continues to grow within the Middle East, we want to be supportive of this."

Robert W. Livingston retired as Grand Banks Yachts’ chief executive officer on March 31. He will continue to serve as chairman of the board.

Livingston’s retirement comes after 35 years as CEO. He joined the company in 1972, when the builder was still known as American Marine Ltd.

"I am extremely proud of our team’s accomplishments during the many years I’ve had the privilege to lead this company," Livingston said. "We’ve seen a remarkable evolution as Grand Banks has transformed from a modest builder of stalwart trawlers to one of the most highly regarded brands in the world."

The board of directors has selected Livingston’s son, President Robert W. Livingston II, to assume the additional duties of CEO, effective April 1.

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