Berthon Scandinavia Review | 2025

By Magnus Kullberg

Being a yacht broker is a fantastic job! Berthon Scandinavia specialises in the brokerage of premium sailing and motor yachts between 30 and 80 feet, built from the 1990s to the present day. Most of the yachts we list for sale are manufactured by Swedish and Scandinavian shipyards or well-known European manufacturers. Our offices are located in the beautiful harbor of Henån, on the island of Orust, about an hour’s drive from Gothenburg Airport.

The Swedish west coast and Scandinavian waters – home to Berthon Scandinavia – offer a fantastic sailing environment for those who appreciate the changing seasons and a magnificent archipelago with thousands of islands. These provide excellent protection from strong winds and rough seas whilst also offering a welcoming sailing community.

The Scandinavian sailing season typically runs from May 1st to August 31st, although many sailors take advantage of less crowded waters in the early spring and late autumn, in April and October. Then there are of course some dedicated “salty” sailors who enjoy winter sailing. That said, most of the Scandinavian yachts are spoiled and spend the winter months ashore, under cover, whilst the most spoiled yachts spend their winters in a heated and dehumidified shed.

OFFICE VIEW OVER THE MARINA

Sailing during the winter is a unique and exciting experience if you are able to reach open water. In Henån’s harbour, the coldest months often see 500 to 1,000 meters of water covered in ice before open water is reached. However, we have learnt by experience that sailing yachts actually work surprisingly well as icebreakers, as long as the ice is not too thick (less than 5 centimeters).

Last winter, I had the opportunity to test sail what has to be one of the dream yachts for many sailors – the Hallberg-Rassy 69’. When I arrived at her marina the temperature was minus eight degrees. The thin layer of ice in the marina was easy to break, and once outside, the open water allowed us to deploy the sails by “pushing some buttons” and thereafter enjoy a fantastic day with clear blue skies and light headwinds. What a fantastic yacht! Yes, it was chilly at the helm, but under the hardtop with a canvas cover in the aft section, with the autopilot managing the steering and the efficient diesel heaters running, it was actually very pleasant.

However, if you are looking for an average air temperature of 25 to 35 degrees, I would recommend a destination further south. That said, we always have some lovely “hot days” during the high season, with air temperatures above 25 degrees and water temperatures above 20 degrees.

Many clients buying from us choose to keep their new yacht in Scandinavia for a year or more before heading home or sailing to new destinations. Keeping your yacht on Orust is a great way to experience our fantastic cruising grounds, and if you plan to make upgrades or have a maintenance programme for your yacht, we are happy to advise you on winter storage at the renowned service yards on Orust, who also offer a full range of yacht services.

ORUST YACHT SERVICE

Since this is the Berthon Market Report, let’s focus on some Berthon Scandinavia key figures for 2024. We are happy to report that 2024 was a record year for brokerage yacht sales. We sold a total of 45 yachts at an average sales price of circa €300,000, overtaking our previous record in 2023 of 41 yachts sold.

We also have great news regarding our “new” (already working with us for a year and half) Stockholm-based yacht broker, Kim Silfving. He has done an excellent job and is gradually increasing our market share on the Swedish east coast. Kim is not only an experienced sailor and Yacht Master with years of cruising experience with his family (wife and two young children) on their own yacht, but he is also a skilled photographer and film maker. More importantly, he possesses the key qualities needed by any successful yacht broker – honesty and the ability to listen to clients’ needs and expectations. This aligns perfectly with one of Berthon Scandinavia’s core principles: buying or selling a yacht should be an enjoyable and straightforward process.

In November 2024, we finally found the right person for the role of brokerage assistant: Maja Gunnarsson. She has travelled extensively to many parts of the planet, has an open mind, and is eager to learn about the yachting business.

She also has a background in graphic design and photography. We are looking forward to having her join us on our journey to develop Berthon Scandinavia.

Berthon Scandinavia is proud to be part of the Berthon Sales Group, working alongside with our colleagues in Lymington (UK), the Group’s HQ, Newport (USA) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain). Together, we are a team of over 20 yacht brokers with extensive experience in international yacht sales and a massive amount of yacht knowledge and passion for what we do.

When you choose Berthon to market and sell your yacht, you benefit from the collective efforts of our entire team in finding her the right buyer. We receive great support from the marketing team in the UK – Lawrence, Isabel, Susan, and Harry – who play a key role in promoting the yachts that we are selling.

The Berthon Team ensure that your yacht is showcased to the right audience, using a combination of professional photography, high-quality marketing materials, and targeted advertising to attract potential buyers. Whatever sort of yacht you own, we provide a tailored marketing service for her.

Looking ahead, the demand for quality yachts remains strong. This year we are seeing that buyers are increasingly looking for well-maintained yachts with solid service histories and Scandinavian-built yachts continue to be highly desirable in the international market. We predict that 2025 will be another strong year for our business, and we are committed to maintaining our high standards of service and professionalism and delivering the best package for you.

If you are thinking of selling your yacht or searching for the perfect yacht to buy, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. Our passion for yachting, combined with decades of experience, ensures that your yacht transaction is handled with expertise and care.

Thank you for being part of our journey, and we look forward to another exciting year in 2025!

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