About Andrew Collingridge
Andrew Collingridge is Sales Manager at Performance Boating Sales, working across Pittwater and the wider Sydney boating market. He brings together around 20 years of professional sales and marketing experience with a lifelong involvement in sailing.
That combination matters in yacht brokerage. Andrew understands the commercial side of presenting, negotiating and selling a boat, but he also understands why people become attached to particular yachts and how differently boats can perform once they leave the marina.
A lifetime around sailing
Andrew began sailing at about eight years old and has remained involved with the sport ever since. His experience includes sailing in Australia as well as on both the west and east coasts of the United States.
Exposure to different sailing areas provides a broader perspective than experience limited to one harbour or one style of boating. The conditions, sailing culture and types of yachts found around Sydney can be quite different from those encountered on the American coasts.
His public profile points to broad recreational and club sailing experience rather than presenting him as a professional offshore skipper or delivery captain. His strength is the combination of genuine time on the water and an established career in sales.
Sales and marketing experience
Before applying his skills to the marine industry, Andrew developed a long career in professional sales and marketing. This experience is particularly relevant in yacht brokerage, where successful transactions depend on much more than publishing an advertisement and waiting for enquiries.
A broker needs to understand the vessel, identify the right market, communicate its strongest qualities and manage conversations between buyers and sellers. They also need to keep expectations realistic as inspections, negotiations, surveys, sea trials and settlement move forward.
Andrew’s sales background helps him guide these conversations clearly while keeping the transaction moving.
Role at Performance Boating Sales
As Sales Manager at Performance Boating Sales, Andrew works with customers buying and selling sailing yachts around Pittwater, Sydney and beyond.
Performance Boating Sales is closely associated with performance-oriented sailing yachts, Jeanneau sailing models and the sale of pre-owned boats. This places Andrew in contact with a varied range of sailors, from people purchasing their first yacht to experienced owners moving into a newer, larger or more specialised vessel.
His role can involve helping buyers refine their requirements, arranging vessel viewings, discussing model differences and assisting with offers and negotiations. For sellers, it includes preparing a yacht for market, developing its presentation and handling communication with prospective buyers.
Jeanneau sailing yachts
Andrew’s brand exposure includes Jeanneau sailing yachts, one of the better-known names in modern production yacht building.
The Jeanneau range covers several different styles of ownership, from comfortable coastal cruising and family sailing to larger yachts designed for extended cruising. Individual models can vary considerably in layout, handling, equipment and intended use, even when their overall length is similar.
A buyer considering a Jeanneau may need to compare factors such as:
- Cockpit layout and ease of movement
- Short-handed sailing arrangements
- Number and configuration of cabins
- Galley and saloon practicality
- Sail controls and deck hardware
- Engine and systems access
- Storage for coastal or extended cruising
- Draft and keel configuration
- Previous maintenance and upgrades
- Suitability for club sailing, coastal cruising or longer passages
Andrew’s sailing background allows these conversations to include how the boat may feel and function in use, not simply what appears on the specifications sheet.
Performance yachts and pre-owned brokerage
Performance yachts often attract owners who care about sailing ability as much as accommodation. They may be looking for responsive handling, efficient sail plans, good helm feel or the ability to participate in club racing while still enjoying comfortable weekends aboard.
Pre-owned performance yachts can require careful assessment because their histories vary. Some have been lightly cruised, while others may have completed years of club racing or undergone changes to sails, rigging, electronics and deck equipment.
Andrew’s experience can help buyers ask practical questions about previous use, maintenance, modifications and whether the vessel’s current setup suits their plans. A formal marine survey remains essential, but an experienced broker can help a buyer arrive at that stage with a clearer understanding of the boat.
Working with yacht buyers
For buyers, Andrew can help turn a collection of preferences into a more focused search. Budget is important, but intended use, experience, crew size and maintenance expectations are just as influential.
Someone wanting relaxed weekends on Pittwater will have different priorities from a sailor planning coastal passages, regular racing or extended time aboard. The most suitable yacht is not necessarily the largest or fastest option. It is the one that matches how the owner expects to sail most of the time.
Andrew’s combination of sailing and sales experience is useful when comparing vessels, interpreting equipment lists and discussing the compromises found in every yacht design.
Working with yacht sellers
For owners preparing to sell, Andrew’s marketing background helps with positioning the yacht clearly and presenting it to an appropriate audience.
A strong listing should communicate the vessel’s character, history, equipment, condition and likely uses without burying the important details. Buyers want to know what has been maintained, what has been upgraded and where future work may be required.
Andrew can also help sellers understand the practical stages of the transaction, including inspections, offers, negotiations, surveys, sea trials and settlement.
Local knowledge around Pittwater
Pittwater is one of Sydney’s most active sailing areas, with yacht clubs, marinas, moorings and easy access to Broken Bay and the coastal waters beyond.
Local ownership comes with practical considerations such as marina availability, swing moorings, tender access, draft, maintenance facilities and the conditions encountered when moving between sheltered Pittwater and open coastal waters.
Working in this market gives Andrew regular exposure to the boats, buyers and ownership priorities commonly found around Sydney’s northern waterways.
What Andrew brings to a yacht transaction
Andrew’s most useful strength is the natural overlap between his professional career and his personal sailing experience. He understands sales and marketing, but he is also a sailor who has spent time on the water in Australia and the United States.
For a buyer or seller, that creates room for a more practical conversation about Jeanneau yachts, performance sailing boats, pre-owned vessel condition, intended use and the realities of yacht ownership.
Current role: Sales Manager
Company: Performance Boating Sales
Location: Pittwater and the wider Sydney market
Professional background: Around 20 years in sales and marketing
Sailing background: Sailing since approximately eight years of age
Sailing regions: Australia and both coasts of the United States
Relevant vessel experience: Jeanneau sailing yachts, performance yachts and pre-owned sailing boats
Main areas of focus: Yacht sales, brokerage, marketing and buyer guidance
