1. Tell us about Flagship Yacht Sales
I started Flagship in 2023 after sixteen years selling boats at a larger firm. It was time for a change and I was ready for the challenge of starting my own business. We are based in Mamaroneck, New York, at Nichols Yacht Yard, right at the center of the vibrant sailing scene on western Long Island Sound.
2. How did you get your start in the business?
In the mid-2000s I was teaching sailing and doing some captain work, but wanted to explore a more stable career on the water. I had a broker friend in California who gave me the best advice ever: “Don’t get started in this career unless you are ready to work seven days a week!” In the middle of my first winter in New York, I reached out to Howard McMichael and he took me on as a broker, which was the start of a long and successful partnership. I was lucky to have Howie as a mentor.
3. Did you grow up sailing?
Nope – not a lot of sailing in Pittsburgh, PA! I got to sail a few times at summer camp, and then started in earnest at Community Boating in Boston while I was in college. So, I always feel a kinship with my clients that come to boating later in life!
4. I see you are now the dealer for Grand Soleil. We don’t see many of those in the Northeast. How did you end up working with them?
I knew GS was making a quality boat and winning races, so I was confident the market here would be interested IF there was a local dealer. I got in touch with the parent company (Cantiere del Pardo) who has been building GS since the 1970s. I was very impressed with their approach and we both felt like it was a good fit, so we put together a dealer agreement. A few weeks later the GS44 won her division at the ORC Worlds here in Newport, which was a nice bit of timing!
5. Who is this boat for – racers, cruisers, etc? How are they different?
All of the GS line is built with performance sailing in mind, and they are all suitable for a week or more of cruising with the family. What really sets them apart is their choice of materials. The laminates, keel grid, deck hardware, spars etc. are all higher-end materials which makes the boats last longer and sail better. It’s a more expensive way to build a boat, but the difference is evident from the moment you step aboard.
6. Does Flagship sell powerboats. too?
Absolutely. I like to say that we sell “sailor-friendly” powerboats. On the brokerage front, we focus on pre-owned powerboats in the $150k to $1M+ range, and for new boats we are the exclusive dealer on Long Island Sound for BostonBoatworks’ new BB44, Downeast-inspired Offshore express cruiser from Doug Zurn. We are excited to debut hull #1 of the BB44 this spring.
7. What does a yacht broker do in the winter?
We put on another layer and keep working! While showings are not as frequent, we are still talking to buyers and managing/promoting listings. As a Florida-licensed broker I am usually on a plane to somewhere sunny a few times a month, which is a nice perk.
8. What kind of boating do you do now?
I am lucky to get out on amazing boats on a regular basis, and I still sneak away for a few regattas each summer with my clients. But nothing beats family time onboard with my wife and two kids. We keep our Sabre 38 Exit Strategy in Rye, and spend as much time aboard as possible in the summer.
Visit Flagship online at https://www.flagshipyachts.com or call (914)315-6331
