Ann Avery is an international yacht broker with multi-lingual skills who has represented clients from throughout the world, including Britain, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Ann's lifelong career in yachting, and her enduring love of the sea, began in 1981, when she spent the entire year with her family living aboard their own boat and cruising throughout the Caribbean. After realizing how inspirational life on the water could be, Ann became a professional yacht captain herself, one of the very few women at the helm in the world of yachting at the time. She spent the next ten years sailing private and charter yachts in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, including the legendary Sirocco, a 75-foot Alden once owned by Errol Flynn.
Today, Ann is a professional broker with the distinguished Northrop & Johnson agency, which she joined in 2001 after brokering with Bartram & Brakenhoff and then Bertram Yachts during most of the 1990s.
Throughout each transaction, Ann is motivated by a genuine desire to help her clients experience the joy of yachting for life. She offers a wealth of expertise and experience, along with an extensive network of international contacts, as she guides each client through a collaborative process for buying or selling a yacht.
She has represented numerous buyers and sellers of yachts ranging from 65-feet to 175-feet, including the motor yacht brands Offshore, Lazzara, Codecasa, Trinity, and Feadship and the sailing yacht brands Southern Wind, CNB, Jongert, Palmer Johnson, Fitzroy, Alloy, Vitters, Huisman, and Perini Navi.
Ann was named Sailboat Broker of the Year in 2019 by the International Yacht Brokers Association. She is a member and former board member of the International Superyacht Society as well as a member of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association. She's also been featured in Executive Women magazine as one of the rare female yacht captains, and her own articles about yachting have been published in Dock Walk and Showboats International. Ann has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature and a Masters in Educational Communications and Bilingual Education from the University of Washington.
When she's not traveling, Ann lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and she often spends her free time on the water there as well. She also enjoys photography and calligraphy -- and the occasional pina colada.
Read more below about what Ann Avery's clients are saying.
And link here to read Ann's online interview with Unlocked.
"Annie is one of the most knowledgable and helpful experts in the entire recreational marine field. We have used her as a broker and advisor on a series of projects, and her wisdom and negotiating skills are awesome. She uses her winning personality on behalf of her customers, and never hesitates to speak truth to either party. I can recommend her wholeheartedly." — Roger Widmann, client
"She guided us with grace and class and knowledge." — Tim Lynch, client and owner, Blue Horizon
"It was a real pleasure to collaborate with Annie throughout an extremely complex transaction and to have the benefit of her expertise from start to finish. I can highly recommend her as an outstanding yacht broker -- a true professional who is both knowledgeable and thorough in every detail as well as patient and accommodating when unexpected challenges arise. She's an excellent communicator, and she's an artist at arranging the elements of an entire deal into efficiently manageable pieces. As a captain myself, I also found that Annie's own history as a captain gave her an insider's understanding of the boat's credentials and its unique suitability for the buyer. Her Northrop & Johnson support team is top notch as well. Great experience." — Scott Whittaker, Captain & Owner's Representative
"A pro all the way and a delight to do business with." — Tom Sturgess, client
"I have known Annie personally since 2011 when we purchased our boat with her. I am usually suspicious of brokers' motives, but as soon as you meet Annie you understand that you are in good hands. Her prime motivation is to make your dream come true. She is intrinsically honest and trustworthy. She delivers the information straight, and discloses it precisely, in any situation. No games, no strategies. You will find that she first and foremost values the experience and the process. She makes an effort to understand your life story and what you are trying to achieve. Buying a boat is a personal and emotional decision, which requires a salesperson to be sensitive in order to make the right choice for you and your family. Why choose Annie? She is highly respected among her peers, which creates unique business opportunities. She has the ability to listen and understands your vision, helping you march ahead to make the right choice for your lifestyle. She brings you confidence and trust in all aspects of the dealings. She will, as the good captain that she is, see the obstacles and hurdles coming ahead to save you time and money. She is extremely knowledgeable of yachts and the international market, which provides you with the confidence of dealing with a proven professional yacht broker. She has cultivated essential business contacts in the industry which gets you the critical information required to meet your needs. She excels at researching and is detailed oriented, which results in a successful transaction. She is a wonderful human begin. Smart, cultivated, with a unique human touch that will make your buying experience memorable. She will pleasantly help you turn your dream into reality." — Francois Gagnon, client
"My husband and I are long-time clients of Annie's and she remains a dear friend and colleague. We chartered with Annie in the British and American Virgin Islands where she exceeded every expectation we had for a special and personalized sailing experience. Her creative spirit and extensive knowledge about the area made every voyage extraordinary. She is the quintessential yachting professional and we would recommend her to anyone wanting the best in personal and professional service, whether you are buying, selling, or building a luxury yacht. Working with Annie is a joy." — Ellen Meier, client and CEO, Sharp Rees Stealy
"Ann is the consummate professional who thoroughly understands the market, is direct and honest in every aspect of her client relationships and in every transaction seeks to serve their very best interests. Moreover, Ann has strong convictions about the"soul" of money and a deep appreciation of how wealth can be used both to bring people together as well as keep them apart from those who are important in their lives. Her breadth of experience, engaging personality and unique view of the world make her a fascinating person to spend time with as you search for the perfect boat." — Jim Gilbert, Editor-in-Chief, President, ShowBoats International
"During the past 20 years, Ann Avery has been my broker for numerous transactions in the boating community -- both buying and selling -- and she is a true professional. She's always been the essential key in handling the many details required to make the process move smoothly for all parties while finalizing my transactions. I would not hesitate to recommend Annie, nor would I choose any other broker for my representation in the future. She is extremely knowledgeable and has a great feeling for the market." — Bill Shaw, Client