Berthon Spain Review Yacht Sales | 2025

By Simon Turner & Nathalie Miquel-Elcano

Whilst in many ways the comments and facts from last year’s Spanish Market Report hold true today, the market was good in 2024, but not as good as earlier years post Covid; new listings remain rather slow to come in; world events continue to be terrible; and so the world turns. But each year is different. Indeed, in our business sometimes it seems like you can’t tell what will happen week by week!

In contrast to 2023, 2024 for me was busy in the first half and rather less so from August onwards, as far as sales were concerned. On the other hand, it was the later part of the year that brought in some new listings.

On the sales side, it was again a successful year, with the office in Spain selling a wonderful selection of sailing yachts, including a Swan 112, Oyster 72, Jongert 88, a brace of Discovery Yachts, and more.

In October, the sale of the CNB 76′ LILLA marked the debut of Berthon Spain Service’s Managing Director, Andrew Fairbrass, as a yacht broker. His involvement as part of the sales team reinforces the cooperation between the Sales and the Service offices, which is a big asset for our clients as we can offer a vertically integrated service including sales, repairs, maintenance and guardiennage. With the relocation of Berthon Spain Service’s head office to the shipyard STP in the heart of Palma, it is easier than ever for the sales and service teams to work together.

Recently Nautor Swan yachts are rather dominating my listings, with eight in total. This is perhaps not too surprising given my history with the brand. I sold my first Swan, an S&S 411 SNOWGOOSE in 1982 whilst working for Berthon in Lymington. In 1991 I moved to Mallorca and worked with Nautor Swan as a sales broker agent until 2012 (except for a short break 2003-2006). I believe that over the years I have been involved in selling over 230 Nautor Swan yachts of (almost) every type and model built.

Most recently I have had the pleasure of selling the beautiful Swan 112 PAULINE AF SKANOR (in 2024) and the Swan 100 VIRAGO (in 2023). I enjoy dealing with Swan owners and buyers and the high-quality yachts themselves.

But my career has involved many more yachts of varying types and sizes – in a sales career from 1981 to the present day. These have included two Southern Wind 100s – yachts that in my opinion compete with Swan on the same level in terms of build and quality. It is always a pleasure to work with quality yachts that are also well maintained. Age of build is to my mind rather of secondary importance to those factors.

Whilst my speciality is more in sailing yachts in the 50 to 120 foot range, I have also sold a smattering of motor yachts – including a stunning Lowland 103 foot EVNIKE and a 70 foot Vennekens TIME OUT. Both Dutch built, high quality yachts that their owners continue to enjoy.

We would love to have more motor yachts listings (and sales) in our portfolio – currently just the one (but a great one) a Fleming 58’ from 2014 in Valencia.

I have been and I am proud to be a member of ABYA (Association of Brokers and Yacht agents), MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Broker Association). Both associations do great job to help train professionals and to maintain high professional standards in our industry.

The diversity of my listings, sales and experience is a theme that carries through all the Berthon offices. We are blessed with experienced sales brokers and whilst none are likely as old as me, they are well qualified to help both buyers and sellers.

But it’s not all about the sales brokers, as ever it is about the whole team involved. Everyone working in the Sales Team are a vital and integral part of any successful team. In Spain we have great support from Nathalie, who puts our specifications together and is now taking most of the photographs and videos for our listings, using professional equipment. Nearly ten years working as crew on superyachts all around the world, with Palma as her base, have also given her an in depth knowledge of the local yachting scene, and first-hand experience sailing yachts from 67 feet to 125 feet.

Whilst Palma firmly remains the heart of the yachting scene in the Mediterranean, berths here tend to be expensive and some owners have been looking for less costly alternatives for mooring their yachts, whilst remaining within easy reach of both our sales team and clients. With several direct flights to and from Mallorca every day, and only a short sail away, Valencia is a convenient option for all. We now benefit from the help of Neil Costar, a former yacht captain who has set up his own guardiennage and service company in Valencia, and who is our man on the ground locally.

From our office windows we continue to monitor the progress of the works on the Paseo Maritimo, now in phase two (or so they say), and hopefully moving into the third and final phase soon. The much-awaited new Club de Mar is now mostly completed, with the inauguration planned to take place in the summer of 2025 around the Illes Balears Clàssics regatta in August. A landmark in the Mediterranean classic racing circuit, it will be followed with much interest by Nathalie, as she took part in it in 2017 on board the iconic 15m class rule MARISKA.

At the time we are writing this (the end of January), strong winds and stormy skies are rolling over the bay, and it is very much winter in other parts of Europe – but the market will get busier as the warmer weather returns and the sailing season approaches. With the warmer weather comes more market activity, as well as another broker for Berthon Spain. We are looking forward to working with Henk Sijbranda who will join our team in time for the Palma Superyacht Village at the end of April, so see you there. We are looking forward to the possibilities that 2025 will bring.

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