Introduction

This year we celebrate 50 years of Burgess. I am a great believer in celebrating milestones – and 50 years is quite the landmark! 

I haven’t been with Burgess since the very beginning – the company began in 1975, and I joined in March 1981 as a very keen but ‘green’ 23-year-old. That puts me in my 45th year here. Back then we were a three-man band with one office, and today we’re nearing 300 people with 18 offices around the world.

Back in the 1980s, yachting was a glorified form of camping on the water. A yacht worth USD 10,000,000 (it was all dollars in those days) was the pinnacle! The most expensive charter yacht in the world in 1981 was just USD 7,000 per day and the owner told me: ‘I don’t believe you will ever have a client who can afford my yacht!’

Today, yachting – or should I say superyachting – has come of age. The vessels we’re dealing with are truly luxury floating islands. We’ve been an integral player in creating this world of superyachting, and yachts today are a true feat of engineering and design. It’s been a fascinating journey to be part of.

With the incredible advancements in the industry, we’ve had to twist and turn, and change the way we operate over the years. But the most important thing is that we’ve always kept the integrity and fabric of our business, as well as the team culture and family spirit.