Ben Ritchie

My Story

I’ve always been drawn to environments where hard work and exploration go hand in hand. Growing up in the north of England, I spent weekends dinghy sailing, where a love of speed and heeling on a tiny Laser got me hooked. After school, I trained as a ski instructor in Argentina before heading to Verbier for the winter season. A friend then introduced me to the superyacht industry, and I spent 18 months working on three private and charter yachts across the Mediterranean and Caribbean before moving ashore.

Today, I help clients buy and sell yachts, but the role is really about understanding how they want to use the asset and what they want ownership to look like. Having experienced yachting from several perspectives, I can see beyond a specification sheet and focus on how a yacht will perform in the real world. At Y.CO, I work alongside specialists across the business, bringing together different perspectives and first-hand experience to give clients a clearer view of what they’re buying, and why it matters.

Beyond Yachting

I’ve always been happiest when there’s a sense of adventure involved. Long before I worked in yachting, I was spending winters in the mountains and summers chasing opportunities that would take me somewhere new. That curiosity has never really gone away. Whether it’s discovering a new country, exploring a remote stretch of coastline or simply taking the less obvious route somewhere, I enjoy experiences that come with a story attached. Travel remains a big part of my life, and my wife and I make a point of finding somewhere unfamiliar to explore whenever we can. If I’m not at work, there’s a good chance I’m outdoors, on the move and planning the next adventure rather than sitting still for very long.