Charter broker, Worth Avenue Yachts

Interview update: December 2011

You recently joined a brand-new startup company, Worth Avenue Yachts in Palm Beach, Florida.

That’s right. I moved to Worth Avenue Yachts in November 2011. I’m the only retail charter broker at the company, which was created this year by four top sales brokers from International Yacht Collection. I’m especially pleased to be back working with Brian Tansey, who was a leader at IYC for a number of years.

Are there any plans to create a charter fleet at Worth Avenue Yachts?

No. Right now we are focusing on retail bookings only. I am available to help clients book any type of crewed charter yacht they’d like, anywhere in the world.

What do you hope will set Worth Avenue Yachts apart from other charter companies?

We have a lot of combined experience. We are a new company, but each of us has been in the industry for at least 10 years. We’re not a bunch of independent contractors. We are a team sharing information to work as well as we can for the client.

How can CharterWave readers reach you?

My new e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Our main phone number in Palm Beach is (561) 833-4462. 

Original date interviewed: September 2009

How did you get started as a charter broker?

My dad chartered a boat when I was 12, and I fell in love with charter in general. I thought, ‘If we can have such a great family vacation, why can’t I give this to other people?’ I absolutely love the satisfaction of the job.

When I was older, I moved from my home state of North Carolina to Fort Lauderdale and took a job as the receptionist at The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals. Then I became personal assistant to company President Jennifer Saia. I stayed at Sacks for two years, and then I became a retail charter broker at Burgess Yachts. I stayed there for two years, as well, until they moved their office out of Fort Lauderdale. That’s when I joined International Yacht Collection, where I’ve been a retail charter broker for more than three years.

What kinds of yachts do you book?

Only crewed yachts, typically 100 feet and larger.

What are some of the best charter destinations you’ve visited?

I love the Virgin Islands. You can’t go wrong with a charter there, especially for people chartering for the first time. The islands are close together and are nicely protected from weather.

I went to the Grenadines in January and thought that was really nice cruising. My other favorite destination would be the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I love the food. Everything is so fresh. The scenery is beautiful, the weather is gorgeous—it’s just a nice overall atmosphere in the summertime.

What is the first thing you ask a new charter client?

I like to start with, ‘What is your ideal vacation?’ I need to learn the client’s expectations in terms of destination, the type of group—is it a family? couples?—and how can I meet their expectations.

A good place to start is destination and time of year. If you don’t know where to start, answering those two questions is a great first step.

Describe your ideal charter client.

I work best with people who know what they want. I like people who, if I send them a presentation with different boats in it, will tell me, ‘Yes, I like this boat,’ and ‘No, I don’t like this boat.’ I like people who know what their own expectations are so that I can meet and, hopefully, exceed those expectations.

Describe your nightmare charter client.

People who don’t really know what they want, who are wishy-washy about everything. If you’re indecisive, it makes it very hard for me to meet your expectations.

Describe a booking where you worked “above and beyond” for a client.

The hardest thing is when there’s a problem with a boat that has already been booked, like a mechanical problem during high season in the Mediterranean or during Christmas and New Year’s in the Caribbean. It’s very hard to find a replacement during peak seasons. It has happened to me a few times, and it’s incredibly stressful. It can throw all of the client’s travel plans into disarray if I can’t get it sorted, and sometimes, there’s just nothing I can do with the original boat that they booked. So far, I have always been able to find solutions when this has come up, but it has never been easy.

Describe your favorite charter yachts.

I like family-oriented boats because I feel like they are more versatile for different types of clients. They can cater to adults, they can cater to children, they can do incredible theme nights—there’s a great energy on these boats. I’m thinking specifically about boats like the 135-foot Christensen motoryacht Atlantica and the 130-foot Hatteras motoryacht Charisma. The crew on those boats really go out of their way to make every charter great.

What makes you different from other charter brokers?

I like to think that because I really love yachts and the yachting lifestyle, I go above and beyond. I can put myself in the client’s shoes. I know what I’m looking for when I am out there representing my clients. I’ve been in the client’s position, and I know what I would want from my broker.

What else should CharterWave readers know about you?

Not just about me, but about the charter industry in general, I would say that it’s important to like the broker you choose. It’s important that you get accurate answers in a set amount of time. If a broker can’t give details and information to you as promised, then you should look to work with another broker.
In our industry, you really have to feel like the broker is looking out for your best interests. And unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

How can CharterWave readers contact you?

My phone number is (888) 213-7577, my e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and I am also available through the International Yacht Collection website.