Yacht Vicky
There was a rare, almost unheard-of sighting at this week’s MYBA Charter Show in Genoa, Italy: a sales broker serving double duty as a charter agent.
Typically, sales brokers don’t even attend charter yacht shows, since they are closed to the general public and thus offer virtually no chance for a yacht sale to be made. Marco Vandoni of Ocean Independence, however, is not your typical sales broker. The Monaco-based rep was standing proudly in the entry foyer aboard the 195-foot Baglietto Vicky, which he sold to the current owner in 2012. He was passing out spec sheets and discussing upcoming itineraries while pouring drinks for retail brokers at the bar, making sure that Vicky got her due as a charter option in the Mediterranean this summer.
“For yachts like Vicky, I stay with the owners and handle the central agent duties for charter,” Vandoni told me. “These owners are trusting me when they buy these big boats. I want to make sure all the details are right and the owner stays happy.”
Vicky is one of three superyachts that Vandoni has brokered deals to purchase, and that he continues to manage for charter. The other two are the 197-foot Brooke Marine Titan and the 147-foot Benetti More.
“I have the support of all the Ocean Independence team, of course, but I am the one with the relationship with the owner,” Vandoni says. “Before I was with Ocean Independence, I was at a smaller company, and the mentality has stayed with me. No matter how good the support team is, I want to be sure personally that the owner is happy.”
Vicky charters at a lowest weekly base rate of €230,000 for 10 guests. Learn more about the yacht and Vandoni at oceanindependence.com.
