Yacht Broker & Trusted Advisor
As a yacht broker with more than 20 years of industry experience, I’ve had the opportunity to help clients experience the freedom and joy of being on the water, and build skills and connections to inspire confidence onboard their yachts.
My passion and dedication to the industry has enabled me to live and work internationally from Australia to Monaco, working in all aspects of the industry. From sailing to superyachts, hospitality to maintenance, I’ve enjoyed gaining a holistic view of the industry and I find my clients appreciate this perspective. I pride myself on the relationships I’ve developed within the yachting community, which enable me to assemble the best possible team to cover every expertise to support my clients.
My approach to yacht sales is founded in my core tenets; doing the right thing is always the right thing, innovation is necessary and good, knowledge is power, and relationships are everything.
What if?
What if your Yacht Broker were also a trusted advisor who could help you define your goals, gain knowledge and develop yachting skills, and be there to answer questions—no matter when they arise? I give people the confidence to go further than they’ve gone before.
If I know you, you’re a person who is highly driven to succeed. Your focus and attention to detail have led to prosperity and you’ve learned that time is your most valuable resource. You appreciate having exacting and relevant information so you can make informed decisions and you are careful in whom you place your trust.
My Early Years, How I Got Into Yachting
I grew up in San Diego and learned to sail when I was just 7 years old. As a kid, the most impactful day of my life was when I took my first boat out on the water. By 11, I had saved $1,000 by washing cars, mowing lawns and working as a soccer referee. I did my research, and found the perfect boat. I felt such pride of ownership!
Soon, people began to see value in my skills. I started coaching sailing, preparing and delivering boats, and later became a paid race crew. Sailing became my whole life, and I began to develop the “why” for me; “Why” I wanted yachting to be a part of my life. I loved being responsible for preparing a boat, being on the water, getting from point A to point B, and then home again safely. Relying on and honing my knowledge and skills, was very rewarding for me. Passing this knowledge on to others was immensely gratifying.
Living Abroad
At age 15, when my family moved to Australia, I saw a new level of professionalism and opportunity in the industry. I saw that people actually had careers in boating, it wasn't just a sport or hobby. I was at the age where my passion for boating was all consuming and I knew I wanted to make my career in yachting.
When we moved back to California, I was making good money sailing, but my parents encouraged me to go to college. I knew that was a good idea, but I decided I wanted to do it differently. I'd never been to Europe, but I knew there were good opportunities in sailing and yachting there, so I boarded a plane at 18 years old and headed for the International University of Monaco.
Monaco was a fantasy land; giant yachts, fancy cars, and money was everywhere. Fortunately my humility and morals kept me grounded. Having seen superyachts, professional crews, helicopters, tenders, and all the behind-the-scenes world of yachting. I returned home inspired and felt like I had seen over the mountain. These international experiences, and the relationships I developed, shifted my worldview, and the opportunities now seemed endless.
Gaining Experience in the Industry
Back in California, I finished my studies at the University of San Francisco, where I was fortunate enough to meet my future wife, Lindsay. After graduating, I took a job at the St. Francis Yacht Club, working my way up to running the waterfront operations and facilities. It was a fantastic experience. We hosted world-class regattas, I met some very influential and successful people, and learned so much about luxury hospitality.
I was then recruited to work for the 34th America's Cup event in 2013, managing the Superyacht marina and operations in San Francisco. It was a monumental moment in my life; a joining of my experience in Monaco with my life in San Francisco. I loved the interaction with the crews, captains and owners. The buzz that exists around Superyachts is infectious; not just the flashy, luxury buzz, but the energy behind the scenes, the production that takes place to make those owner/client experiences so memorable. That is what I love.
Accepting a New Opportunity
While at the America’s Cup, I met a yacht broker who offered me an open invitation to join his team. I had never considered working in sales— I hated being “sold”, myself, and could not imagine being a "salesperson.” I let it percolate.
I ended up joining with a friend to build a yacht management company. With his business acumen and my network and experience, we were driven to offer our clients a truly professional experience.. We built it and our clients loved it. They trusted us, and even came to us for advice on buying and selling. I realized there was an opportunity to transition into sales on my terms.
I realized that being a salesperson can either be about the "sales" or the about the "person".
I knew if I could make it more about the person, then I could see myself being fulfilled. I measure my success in the quality of my client relationships, in the reviews and referrals. Fulfillment comes from a sense of ownership, accomplishment, and growth.
Now, as a Yacht Broker…
It took 6 months to sell my first yacht, but that client became one of my best clients; we've bought and sold a total of 5 yachts together to date.
After that first sale, I realized my approach could work. Sale after sale, I was proud of what I was doing. Helping my clients, making it really personal; it didn't feel “sales-y” at all. The joy of finding clients, building relationships, using my experience to help them, and seeing their delight, sense of freedom, and feeling of achievement gives me such a rush. For me, that is fulfillment.
I am now pleased to be building my personal book of business with clients that are a good personal fit and with the weight of a powerhouse like Worth Avenue Yachts behind me.
After working with clients in the Pacific Northwest for years, my wife Lindsay and I moved to Seattle in 2019 to be closer to both family and clients.
We love cruising aboard our boats “Poquito” and “Pico” with our daughter Emme and dog Nika.
Follow the journey.
@diego.yachts on Instagram
