Hamish started his career at sea with a cadetship in the Merchant Navy, spending five years on container ships and product tankers before moving into the yachting industry in 2005. He is a Class 1 Master Mariner and spent 15 years travelling the globe on high profile charter and private yachts. He joined Burgess in 2018 as Yacht Manager and made Partner in 2023.
Hamish began sailing aged five and went on to sail both competitively and professionally. When he made the decision to move shoreside in 2018, he regarded Burgess as an obvious fit, having previously worked aboard a Burgess managed new build yacht. His role as Yacht Manager dovetails well with his years of experience on board, utilising his practical management expertise with his well-rounded yachting knowledge on certification, class and flag, as well as his understanding of technical issues.
‘Being able to draw from my experiences as a captain brings a level of credibility to the role,’ he says. ‘I like that I can step aboard a yacht, look the captain or owner’s representative in the eye and assure them that I know what I’m talking about.’
Hamish specialises in the management of large yachts and was involved in the delivery of a 93m new build within the first two years of joining Burgess. He prides himself on his approachability and diplomacy, and welcomes collaborative and strategic discussions with his peers, clients and younger colleagues. ‘I believe we’re always learning from the people around us, and we have a duty to pass that experience on to the next generation.’
He relishes the fast-paced nature of yacht management, matched with the sheer variety of daily challenges that yachting presents. Since joining the Burgess Partnership Scheme in 2023, Hamish has given time to a collaborative in-house project – the Burgess ‘culture deck’ – which looks to define and embolden the company ethos, both internally and externally.
‘The level of knowledge, expertise, professionalism and teamwork is what sets Burgess apart,’ he says. ‘It’s what the Burgess culture is all about.’
