Three skiers in red jackets carve down a snowy slope under a clear blue sky, with a ski lift visible in the background.

David Price

Charter Management | Monaco

“After years on board and ashore, I've learned that the strongest charter yachts aren't always the most impressive on paper.”

– David Price, Charter Management

My Story

I grew up in Western Canada, spending most of my time skiing, playing team sports and sailing whenever I got the chance, despite living a long way from the ocean.

In 1993, I came across a sailing school in Cowes and decided to give it a go. There wasn’t a grand plan behind it, but it led to five years sailing professionally, racing classic yachts and crossing the Atlantic aboard Mariette in the first Transatlantic Challenge Cup.

That experience still shapes the way I think about charter management. The longer I’ve worked in yachting, the more convinced I’ve become that people make the difference. A great yacht matters, but so do the crew, the relationships on board and how the whole experience comes together.

I’ve also been fortunate to manage yachts that generated more net charter income than their operating costs over a full fiscal year. For me, that comes from getting the fundamentals right: the crew, the positioning and a clear understanding of what the owner wants from the yacht.

EXPERIENCE

25+ years across charter management, yacht sales and yacht management and at Y.CO since 2016

Five years working on board sailing yachts

Participated in the first Transatlantic Challenge Cup

First-hand experience of classic yacht racing and life at sea.

Secured charter income exceeding annual operating costs for two yachts

MBA with High Honours from SKEMA

Beyond Yachting

Growing up in Canada, I found my passion for skiing early. My Dad first pushed me down a hill at the age of four, and from then on I skied whenever I got the chance, eventually competing on the Alberta Provincial Freestyle Ski team in my teens. Skiing has been a constant throughout my life, and I get onto the slopes whenever I can.

I also enjoy hiking, running, golf, photography and travel. I’ve always liked being active, being outdoors and having something new to explore.

My parents raised me to be honest and hard working, and I think sport reinforced a lot of that too: discipline, teamwork and turning up properly for the people around you.

WHAT DO CLIENTS MOST OFTEN UNDERESTIMATE ABOUT YOUR AREA OF WORK?

Owners can often underestimate the value of an excellent crew onboard their yacht. Crew are inseparable from a successful charter, regardless of the yacht.

MOUNTAINS OR SEA?

Mountains.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR MOST VALUABLE LESSON FROM WORKING IN YACHTING?

Working closely with people from all over the world, with different cultures, experiences and backgrounds, I’ve learned that the world is small and people ultimately want the same things.

WHAT’S ALWAYS ON YOUR PLAYLIST?

Peter Gabriel, In Your Eyes.

WHAT’S THE MOST ADVENTUROUS THING YOU’VE DONE?

Packed up everything and moved from Canada to Cowes on a bit of a whim.

I’d found a sailing school there and decided to give it a go, without much of a plan for what would happen afterwards. I’ve never lived in Canada since.