Ashley has been messing around in boats for as long as he can remember. His journey began at the age of six, when his father built a Mirror Dinghy for him and his brother. What followed was a childhood spent on the water - sailing dinghies, doing some racing, and enjoying plenty of Swallows and Amazons-style adventures.

A fortunate twist of fate at Portsmouth was the first of several moments that would shape his career. Competing for places on the Polytechnic’s sailing team, Ashley found himself up against future Olympians and Team GBR sailors. He didn’t even make the 2nd team - in fact, he was left on the dock - but that disappointment turned into an unexpected opportunity when he met the owner of a racing yacht who was looking for additional crew. Almost overnight, Ashley found himself stepping up a few gears and into the world of yacht racing.

Another stroke of luck came when the founder of one of Europe’s largest yacht brokerages happened to give Ashley a lift to Cowes Week. Their conversation naturally turned to boats and sailing, and by the time they reached the Isle of Wight, Ashley had been offered a job for when he finished his degree.

His career in boat sales and yacht brokerage began from there, and more than 34 years later, his enthusiasm for the industry shows no sign of slowing down.

At his first London Boat Show, Ashley thought he had sold six boats on the opening day and promptly demanded more availability from the manufacturer. Thankfully, he has learned to measure his enthusiasm a little better since then - although boat shows still have much the same effect on him as his excitement escalates to that of a red setter puppy.

Much of Ashley’s professional life has been spent in boat sales and yacht brokerage, continually learning from new experiences and the people he has met along the way. He has been privileged to represent some of the marine industry’s leading brands and has also worked alongside design and product development teams, contributing to working groups focused on bringing new products to market.

He has witnessed enormous changes in the way boats are marketed and sold - from printed brochures and traditional boat visits to today’s highly sophisticated online experiences. Yet, for Ashley, nothing replaces seeing a boat in person. Boat shows and viewings remain invaluable opportunities to understand what clients really want and to help guide them through what is often a very personal and significant purchase.

Above all, Ashley believes that exceptional customer service is at the heart of successful boat sales. From the very first introduction, through negotiations, delivery and handover, and into ongoing support and aftersales, every stage of the customer journey matters.

After 34 years in the business, Ashley has seen many customers return to buy their second, third or even subsequent boats. Some have become valued friends along the way - something he considers one of the greatest privileges of working in the marine industry.