When we first opened our doors on Granville Island in 1994, the only thing we had was our drive and determination to turn our love of sailing into a viable business.
18 years later, our integrity, professionalism and knowledge of the industry has carried us through. Today, we are a thriving yacht sales company specializing in the passionate pursuit of sailing.
LEN BARONIT
President
E-mail Len Baronit
Had I only known! I took up sailing in my early twenties by moving onto a CS27 with my future wife. I'm 6'2" and the headroom was 5'11". After two years of living aboard with a sore neck, we got married and moved into an apartment (500 sq. ft. of heaven with standing headroom, a hot shower and refrigeration). They say you should do what you love, and so I did, and here I am today.
After 20 years of being in the yachting industry, I still find joy in seeing the smiling faces of my customers. It's really why I'm still here. That, and I love boats.
In beautiful British Columbia, we have the opportunity to view and experience some of the best landscapes in the world. Cast off from the dock and set sail for any destination, entering a world of simple pleasures, the sun, the wind and a grin on your face.
SIMON COX, CPYB, BComm
YACHT BROKER
General Manager, Vancouver Island
E-mail Simon Cox
I love sailing. I love people. And, I love yachts. My passion for working with people and their boats has driven my success to date. I joined the Yacht Sales West team because we represent and service the yachts I would be proud own and sail myself, and because I am empowered to stand behind my clients to ensure they receive a good value and proper service for their investment. I have helped many people buy and sell yachts over the years and made a lot of friends along the way. I am proud to be on the Board of Directors of the BCYBA and to be a Certified Professional Yacht Broker. Recognized associations such as these promote a standardized code of ethics and professionalism that grant me access to the resources to ultimately provide better service and protection for my clients."
I grew up sailing dinghies in Cadboro Bay and cruising the Gulf Islands. The salt is still in my blood. Swiftsure, Southern Straits, RIPS Race Week or racing around the buoys in Maple Bay, I love the camaraderie and competition of a good yacht race. My wife and I and our nine-month-old son enjoy exploring new favourite spots in the Gulf Islands. Sometimes, nothing beats a summer evening on the bay in our little day sailor."
I moved back to Vancouver Island to better serve the needs of our clients from the Island. To date I've assisted dozens of buyers and sellers from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands to achieve their goals. Do you want personalized service purchasing the new boat of your dreams?
Are you looking for your very own guide to today’s local and international brokerage market? Ready to sell or trade up and want the best value possible for your boat? I can do this for you: I look forward to being YOUR broker.
RICHARD HARGREAVES
YACHT BROKER
E-mail Richard Hargreaves
Boating has been a part of my life for a very long time. I crossed the Atlantic in 1967 and have been hooked ever since. My real boating started in 1974 in an 8' row boat in Ladysmith. I had a feeling then that boating was going to be in my life. I was living aboard in 1979 while building MC 39’s, Reliance 37’s and a 65’ Huntingford design before working on Cooper 416’s and Maple Leaf 56’s. I have built them and repaired them along with refitting and since 1988 selling them from BC to Florida, Mexico, Holland and Germany. I have raced since 1981 and have won many major races in BC. I have been a fleet captain , VARC rep and been on the BCYBA board of Directors. I have owned over 14 boats personally so I know what one goes through from buying to selling.
Wow, I am still enjoying boating to this day. If you are looking for someone to either help you find the right boat or sell your current boat I offer a lot of knowledge and a positive attitude you can depend on now and in the future. I still have clients from 1988 when I first got into this business. My job is to take the stress from you so you can make your decisions based on knowledge.
ROGER CAMPBELL
YACHT BROKER
E-mail Roger Campbell
Between helping my dad build a power boat that we took exploring around the Gulf Islands and crewing to Hawaii for an uncle on the 48’ sailboat he had built, it’s no wonder I grew to love the sea. The love affair has never waned. This is one of the best places in the world to play on the water, and I find learning about and operating boats of all shapes and sizes is a fascinating pastime. Whether I am on my own cruising boat, crewing on someone else’s racing boat, teaching classes to those who are eager to learn, or discussing the “must haves” with those who are eager to buy, I just plain enjoy!
DEBBIE BARONIT
Operations
E-mail Debbie Baronit
I'm what you'd call the "catchall". In layman terms, that's taking care of everything that no one else does! The variety of my work, the people I work with and the new people I meet all make me feel proud to have called Yacht Sales West my home for the last 18 years. I started working here as a 20 something and now...well....you do the math!
Getting hooked on sailing came to me at the age of six when I learned to sail on a Sunfish in the Great Lakes. I can't recall the number of times I dumped that boat over, laughing with delight every time. In my teens, I was lucky enough to spend some of my youth growing up on a Gulf Island. My family built a beautiful waterfront home and bobbing out front on a buoy was my beloved Star boat. I spent many, many happy summers on that boat. I've crossed the Atlantic ocean on a factory delivery of a 65' catamaran, sailed from Victoria to San Francisco, sailed around Grand Cayman (you can do that in a day!), lots of racing and lots more cruising in between. When not out boating on "Rosie the Rocket", you can usually find me hiking our local trails, romping on my enduro, camping or kayaking. BC offers outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities on and off the water!
