James Pool

Yacht Sales & Purchase | Monaco

“I’ve worked on yachts and managed them shoreside, so I’m able to bring that experience into the advice I give clients.”

– James Pool, Yacht Sales & Purchase

A smiling man in a black ski jacket stands in the foreground with snow-covered trees and a pale sky in the background.

My Story

I spent the early part of my yachting career on board, which means I tend to look at yachts a little differently.

It’s easy to be impressed by size, design or specification, but once you’ve lived and worked on board you start noticing the things that really affect how a yacht feels day to day – how the spaces work, how practical the layout is, how well it’s been looked after and whether it genuinely suits the way someone wants to use it.

My route into yachting actually started through fitness. I was working in personal training and running a boot camp in Palma when I landed my first yacht, Oasis. I spent the next 15 months on board before later moving ashore and into yacht sales. I also spent time as a ski instructor in Whistler, so working closely with people, understanding what motivates them and adapting to different personalities has been a thread through quite a lot of what I’ve done.

That mix of experience gives me a useful perspective when I’m helping someone buy or sell. I like getting into the detail, asking the questions that matter and being straightforward about what I think. A yacht can look perfect on paper and still not be the right yacht for that particular client. Finding the one that is – or helping an owner get the best result when it’s time to sell – is the part of the job I enjoy most.

Experience

Yacht Sales, Purchase & New Build Broker at Y.CO since 2021.

20+ yacht sales and purchases, nearly 1,000m combined LOA.

Former Deckhand and Personal Trainer aboard M/Y OASIS.

Experience across brokerage, management and onboard operations.

Previously led Y.CO’s yacht culture initiative, shaping onboard recruitment, training and working environments.

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, Coastal Skipper and maritime qualifications.

A man in a striped shirt and sunglasses talks on his phone while leaning on a railing on a sunny yacht deck.

Beyond yachting

Sport has always been a big part of my life. I grew up playing rugby, later worked as a personal trainer and ski instructor, and these days I’m usually doing some combination of squash, padel, cycling, CrossFit, Hyrox or golf.

My wife and I met while working as ski instructors in Whistler, so skiing is still a big part of our lives. I also love teaching sport, travelling and working our way through an ever-growing bucket list of places to visit.

And I’m a massive foodie. There’s really no point pretending otherwise.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT MY ROLE?

That age matters. A younger broker can still have the experience and judgement to manage a client’s interests well. A big part of the role is being able to coordinate confidently with people across different areas of expertise and knowing when to draw on the wider team around you. It’s definitely not a one-person job.

WHAT’S A SKILL PEOPLE AT WORK MIGHT NOT KNOW I HAVE?

I play the guitar.

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

I think the motive of the broker is often misunderstood. The right broker should prioritise the client’s needs rather than focus on the short-term deal. A lot of the work happens behind the scenes with lawyers, surveyors, captains and crew, making sure the client’s interests are properly represented and protected.

A skier carves through deep powder snow, with a blurred, snowy mountain landscape in the background.

A skier carves through fresh powder in a snowy forest with a bright blue sky overhead.

WHAT’S MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE?

When capturing the perfect selfie gets in the way of actually living in the moment.

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT’S MUCH EASIER TO GET RIGHT WHEN IT’S CONSIDERED EARLY?

The crew culture on board. The earlier you define the kind of culture you want on board, the more accurately you can recruit for it. Get that right and you improve the service, reduce crew turnover and create a much better environment for everyone. Happy crew, happy owner.