The OCC has renewed the `partnership’ arrangement with Berthon, one of the world’s leading brokerage firms. The Berthon Sales Division specialises in blue water cruising yachts and has offices in Lymington, England, in Golfe Juan in the South of France, at Real Club Nautica in Palma de Mallorca and in Newport, Rhode Island,. They are also the official broker to the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).

In essence, OCC Members contemplating buying or selling a yacht may obtain free advice on market conditions, on the likely price of a particular vessel (whether offered privately, through Berthon or through another broker) and on the best way of proceeding with the desired sale or purchase.

If required, Berthon will also carry out the administrative process on an agreed sale or purchase, holding the funds, drawing contracts and dealing with title change and necessary due diligence at a much reduced rate. A fee will be quoted on a case-by-case basis once the scope of the task to be undertaken has been agreed . Of course their full brokerage service is always available at their usual rates.

Berthon sells around 200 yachts a year and works with all the major brokerage houses worldwide and is a member of the YBDSA and MYBA. Wherever you are based, contact Sue Grant at the Lymington office on brokers@berthon.co.uk

Other services available to OCC members from Berthon are as follows:

1. Berthon Lymington Marina will always find a berth for visiting OCC members overnight, over week, over winter, over summer or on an annual basis. Contact Berthon Lymington Marina

 2.  Berthon exhibits at Southampton, Cannes, and Paris, as well as having a presence at Dusseldorf, and Miami. Berthon is always happy to be a staging post for OCC members and to look after coats etc if needed and show you the lay of the land at these shows.

 3.  Berthon publishes an annual Market Report, which reviews the market and gives an overview of the whole market as well as reviews of the market at a local level in the UK, US, and the Mediterranean –follow - . Berthon Market Report 2009

 4.  There is an annual lifestyle magazine which features subjects connected with yachting and is available both online – link – and in hard copy. To be sent a copy of this publication please follow this link – http://www.berthon.co.uk/additional-products-and-services/berthon-lifestyle-magazine.html .

 5.  A monthly Enews letter – follow the link - comprises a simple A4 page of what’s on and what’s been happening at Berthon for the month. To subscribe go to http://www.berthon.co.uk/scripts/berthon-mailform/mailit.php .

 6.  Berthon holds an annual cocktail party in the Canaries prior to the start of the ARC and is always happy to see OCC members there.

 7.  Full refit, repair and maintenance services are available at Berthon Boat Company in Lymington, England, The yard offers fully trained skilled engineers with Caterpillar, Cummins Onan, Volvo Penta, Eberspacher, Webasto, Perkins, Mercury. Paint finishes with Awlgrip, International Paint, Sikkens, Ameron, Dupont, Mankiewcz, Epifanes. Berthon specialise in marine electronics from initial advice to one-off purchases or complete solutions for overseas cruising with expertise in Raymarine, Garmin, and Icom products.

While the Committee of the OCC has approved this arrangement which has been negotiated in good faith any contract which results must be between Berthon and the Member and the OCC will accept no liability for any consequences which may arise.