A yacht is arguably one of the greatest HNW status symbols. Only the favoured few can afford to charter, buy – or, better yet, build – these state-of-the-art floating palaces that bring glamour to the marinas of Miami and Monaco. Regardless of the destination, yacht advisers are essential for navigating the industry’s choppy waters.
For charter clients, advisers are practised in the art of sourcing the perfect vessel, and are on hand to take care of administrative tasks including arranging the crew, as well as behind-the-scenes considerations like liability and due diligence.
In fact, yacht advisers play a bigger role than just helping to buy or sell a boat. They’re trusted advisers to clients throughout the entire ownership journey, from the early stages of thinking about a purchase, to day-to-day operations and management, and even selling or upgrading when the time comes.
[See also: The enduring appeal of the superyacht]
Not only that, but many advisers featured in our index aren’t just focused on a single yacht transaction, but they often look at the client’s whole portfolio and lifestyle to offer broader, holistic advice.
Their job often starts with understanding what the client wants to achieve – not just in terms of the yacht itself, but how it fits into their overall plans and property portfolio. That can involve advising on ownership structures, flag choices, insurance and making sure everything is set up in a way that protects the client’s interests in the long term.
Once the sale is completed, advisers will often help (U)HNW clients with yacht management, crew recruitment and other practical operations. For some clients, advisers can be involved almost daily, supporting them with tasks such as connecting with crews, sorting out schedules, handling logistics or coordinating with charter teams.
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In 2025, a number of advisers that the Spear’s Research Unit spoke to during our research have seen a noticeable rise in clients choosing to commission new builds rather than buying existing yachts. According to the experts featured in this index, it is a sign that many owners are looking for more tailored and innovative designs.
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- Methodology
- The best yacht advisers: some names to know
- The best yacht advisers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best yacht advisers: some names to know
George Wolstenholme
- Focus: Yacht interiors
- Ranking: Recommended
- Firm: Lawson Robb
George Wolstenholme is the creative lead at Allect Design Group interior design firm Lawson Robb, where he draws upon more than a decade of experience to shape the interiors of superyachts and super-prime residential spaces.
The designer prides himself on a strong focus on details and a passion for bespoke creations, as well as on holding clients’ hands on projects from the conception stage right through to completion. ‘I combine our bespoke approach with forward-thinking details and clients’ preferences,’ he tells Spear’s.
Read George Wolstenholme’s full profile on Spears500.com
Chris Cecil-Wright
- Focus: Feadship yachts
- Ranking: Top recommended
- Firm: Cecil Wright & Partners
Chris Cecil-Wright is a yacht specialist who founded his own firm, Cecil Wright & Partners, in 2013 after spending 17 years at Edmiston. He has a particular love for Feadship, but the relationship with the client comes first, a principle that has seen him become one of the most influential brokers in the superyacht class.
‘Being a specialist is an important, substantial value-add that I can provide,’ he tells Spear’s. ‘I have developed and continue to develop a deep knowledge of the industry.’
Read Chris Cecil-Wright’s full profile on Spears500.com
Nicholas Dean
- Focus: Yacht management for HNW
- Ranking: Recommended
- Firm: Dean & Waters
Dean & Waters founder Nicholas Dean has more than 40 years of experience in the yachting industry, and is well-versed in helping HNW clients with yacht management, as well as refits and new-build projects.
He previously built up the prominent sales and charter firm Ocean Independence, starting the business in 2005 and selling his shareholdings in 2022.
Read Nicholas Dean’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best yacht advisers: the complete list
Contact us
- To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
- For further information about rankings, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
- For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles, please contact Commercial Director Shady Elkholy: shady.elkholy@spearswms.com
- To keep up to date with the Spear’s 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear’s on Linkedin and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2025, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
- Click here to order a print copy of The Spear’s 500.
