Welcome to the BERNARD GALLAY Yacht Brokerage - BGYB world

BGYB specializes in the yacht sales & purchase, luxury yacht charter and  yacht management, offering our clients a unique, professional and enthusiastic service. We ensure that we build up a close relationship with our clients, based upon trust, honesty and dedication in order to give them the best service offered within the yachting industry.

BGYB is a member of the MYBA – Mediterranean Yacht Broker Association, which the most important international brokerage companies belong to and whose commercial terms and uses have become an international reference for the yachting industry.

Not only does BGYB have its membership with MYBA to guarantee its credibility, but the company's representatives are experienced yachtsmen and reputable sailors including Philippe Monnet (Monaco), François Boucher (Paris), Nicolas Marchand (Monaco), Stephane Della (La Ciotat), Jean-Yves Candelot (Palma), Richard Szyjan (Grenada), Lisa Spiller (Montpellier), Bruno Gallien (Montpellier) and Thierry Barrot (Hong Kong).

BGYB plays a significant role in the brokerage world, with offices scattered internationally: Montpellier, Paris, Moscow, Palma de Mallorca, Monaco, Grenada, Hong Kong, La Ciotat and Turkey.

Yacht Market Overview (Summer 2012)

Bernard Gallay 13/04/2012

During the transition period between 2011 and 2012, BGYB and indeed the whole yacht market have seen significant price reductions on vessels of all shapes and sizes. With prices continuing to drop, buyers have started to become increasingly active in the market at the start of this year suggesting that buyers who have waited are benefitting greatly. The price reductions that we have seen have already started to stimulate and re-boot the market resulting in more enquires and more sales. With this increase, the market will no doubt re-establish itself and prices will soon return to their normal levels.

The sales and purchase side of our business has taken a significant step forward in recent months. Not only have we continued to sign larger yachts as Central Agents but we also have signed superb yachts as Co-Central Listings such as 109ft Centreboard Sloop AVENTURA and 108ft Converted Maxi Catamaran SWIFT with brokerage house Fraser Yachts. This cooperation with our colleagues in the industry allows us to share our resources, build stronger relationships with our clients and provide an outstanding service.

Perhaps the most exciting news that BGYB has to announce since autumn is the opening of our new office in Turkey. Our brokers, Thierry Sagnes and Christophe Apotheloz are based in Marmaris on the West coast of the country. They operate along the entire Turkish coastline as well as in Greece, Lebanon and Israel. A presence in this market is not only important for us in the further development of our brand and business but we also strongly feel that this is a market that will develop considerably in the coming years. We have also seen our management activity do well as new facilities in Sète in the South of France allow us to welcome more and more of our yachts, especially those of over 50m in length, during the winter months.

On the charter side of the business, we have seen continual development and have not experienced a single step back since we moved into the field five years ago. We have signed prestigious yachts as Central and Co-Central Listings such as 100ft Southern Wind Shipyard Yacht CAPE ARROW and 80ft Wally Yacht GENIE. CAPE ARROW has recently been announced as a finalist in the ShowBoats Design Awards 2012 for both the Naval Architecture Award and the Interior Layout Award for Sailing Yachts. This fantastic nomination further highlights the quality of the yachts we have available for charter.

In the last few years, the passion and enthusiasm for sailing regattas has increased considerably and we have attracted business from clients wanting charters for racing events such as Les Voiles de St. Tropez and The Rolex Middle Sea Race to name but a few. The most rewarding aspect about this is that many of these customers are repeat clients, which demonstrates the confidence and loyalty that they have in our business and reflects the excellent service we offer. We have also experienced interest from new markets, notably Russia, and we will be present at the MYBA Charter Show in Genoa for the first time this year as well as the Antibes Yacht Show in April for the fourth time.

In addition, we have seen growing activity in catamaran charter over the last year as we have experienced more and more interest in yachts of this type. BGYB was present at this year’s Antigua Charter Show where catamaran WORLD’S END won two prizes (Coffee Roasters Prize Winner and Chef’s Culinary Challenge) in her category for yachts under 100ft. This is the second consecutive year that a yacht from our charter fleet has won in this competition as catamaran MAGIC CAT won the meeting last year. This competition highlights some very accomplished chefs and charter yachts that currently represent the best standards of creativity in the culinary world.

From mid-March onwards, signs of improvement in world finance means we have received more and more contact from potential clients in both sales and charter sides of the business, which is very promising for the rest of the year to come. We believe that the rest of 2012 and 2013 will be better years for the industry and that we will see the true resurgence of the market in 2014 and 2015.

Yacht Market Overview (Autumn 2011)

Until now, BGYB has experienced a very similar year in 2011 to that of 2010. We have enjoyed continued success in all aspects of our business which has been very exciting for us in this challenging time.
BGYB have signed more and more wonderful yachts as Central Agents this year. This provides us with the ability to create and maintain strong relationships with the owners and also the opportunity to work with other brokers around the world. These relationships are based upon honesty and trust, thus what is important at BGYB at this time is realistic pricing. This allows us to be true to not only our potential buying clients but also to the owners of the boats we have for sale. The asking prices here at BGYB and indeed worldwide, have become very interesting meaning that there are intriguing proposals to be seen and fantastic opportunities to be had in what has continued to be a buyers’ market in 2011.
The charter area of our business has increased in productivity over this year. We are about to finish the summer season with several luxury yacht charters booked for the famous “Les Voiles de St. Tropez” at the end of September. We have also secured a year long charter on 53 metre MY SANSSOUCI STAR, demonstrating the ambition and enthusiasm inherent throughout our business and providing us with a real sense of achievement.
BGYB are currently gearing up for the Cannes and Monaco Yacht Shows 2011 and will also be present at a number of others, including Antibes Yacht Show next year. Perhaps the most exciting event that BGYB will be attending is the London Luxury Yacht Exhibition in November at the Henry Moore Gallery in Kensington, which we are very much looking forward to as this will allow us to prepare the 2012 season.
Going into 2012, there are still a few key questions that need to be addressed ; Has demand stabilised? How will the market develop? What is clear is that after this year’s yacht shows that will finish in October, we will be able to get a clearer idea of the shape of the market and take this into 2012 full of optimism.
For us here, 2012 looks to be a very compelling year. We will continue to invest time in developing our offices in Hong Kong and Moscow while ensuring that BGYB continues to be a firm that moves with these challenging times.