Vanessa Brown

Vanessa’s sailing experience began in Lake Macquarie NSW Australia with her father onboard a Columbia 22.  Leaving home to travel her passion for boats grew at the age of 22 when she was travelling through the East Coast of America and made her way out to the Caribbean.  After completing a season crewing for Sunsail charter deliveries throughout the Antilles and participating in local regattas she returned to Southampton UK to gain a crew position on IOR Maxi Yacht Nirvana. - Nirvana is a known world champion,  holding courses records for the Newport to Bermuda,  the South China Sea Race, Sydney/Hobart and the the renowned Fastnet.

 

Returning to the Caribbean for a further season Vanessa gained employment in St Maarten with the 12 Meter Challenge as a head-sail trimmer giving guests an experience in a competitive, head-to-head match race between authentic America’s Cup race yachts including Stars and Stripes (US-55)- considered among the most famous sailing vessels in the history of the America’s Cup. Continuing to be based in the Caribbean, Vanessa participated in regattas such as the Hieneken and Antigua Sail Week’s Lord Nelson Trophy as crew on a winning Nelson /Marek 50. During this time she also continued to crew for transatlantic deliveries including a Sundeer 60- aero-rigged, a German Fres designed Swan 53, a custom converted motor-sailer trawler and a Beneteau Oceanis 50.

 

After buying her first Yacht in St Maarten, a 1972 Bill Lapworth designed Islander 44 sloop, Vanessa turned her attention to the Pacific and her passage home to Australia.

On arrival and having taken time out in Australia to start her family she earned her Business Administration Diploma and started her first yacht refinishing business with her Husband before relocating with the Family for 2 years back in the UK where she worked for Moran Yacht Management under Simon England Marine.

On return to Australia it was a natural progression to move into Yacht Brokerage & Management drawing on her skills to become the Director of Belfort & Brown Yachting.

 

Vanessa brings her positive and vibrant personality to the company, with her varied industry knowledge and her ability to communicate with people from all walks of life to form enduring relationships with clients and industry colleagues alike.