Five minutes with: Sarah Piggin Retail Charter Broker

Camper & Nicholsons
7th June 2021

Interviews

Five minutes with: Sarah Piggin Retail Charter Broker

Camper and Nicholson’s Retail Charter Broker Sarah Piggin grew up on the ocean, her family calling a 90 ft sailing yacht based in the South of France home until she was 12 years old. It was only natural that a career in yachting would follow.

She spent a decade working on several large and prestigious motor yachts, including as Chief Stewardess on a 75m yacht. As crew, she travelled extensively across the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, Caribbean, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, the USA and Canada.

In November 2020, Sarah joined Camper & Nicholsons in our Cannes office after more than 15 years at Yachting Partners International. “I feel very lucky to work at C&N, the most respected and long-established company in the industry,” Sarah says.

Along with English, Sarah speaks Russian, French and Italian. We are delighted to have Sarah as part of our industry-leading team.

C&N: What do you love most about your job?

Sarah Piggin: What isn’t there to like about offering people an escape from it all on fabulous yachts in exciting destinations! I also love seeing satisfied clients, whether a charter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will be forever etched in their memory, or a repeat client who I really get to know and can tailor the yacht, crew and itinerary to suit them in detail. It’s the trust which is so rewarding.

C&N: What is your favourite charter destination and why?

SP: It is difficult to choose one favourite destination as there are so many wonderful places to visit by yacht, but one of my favourites is the Aeolian Islands just off the northerly coast of Sicily. Each one of these little islands is quite different from its neighbour, from the impressive black volcano of Stromboli to small and chic Panarea, verdant and sleepy Salina, or sulfurous Vulcano — and that is to name but four!

C&N: What’s something you’re passionate about in the industry?

SP: I think it’s being able to meet people from all walks of life. Yachting is a very international and cosmopolitan environment and we have the privilege of meeting really interesting clients, yacht crew and colleagues.

C&N: What are some of your best memories of the industry?

SP: My best memories have to be when I worked on yachts as a young woman just out of university. I was lucky enough to work on Paul Allen’s (co founder of Microsoft) first yacht and travel extensively on board. Paul was a passionate diver and he gave us so many opportunities to dive with him in some of the best dive spots in the world.