on 25 Sep 2026
Leigh-Smith Yachts has opened a Sydney office at The Spit in Mosman, bringing six decades of boutique brokerage experience to Sydney Harbour owners and buyers.
The Australian brokerage now has a permanent presence in one of the country’s busiest and best-known boating markets. Led by experienced Asia-Pacific yachting professional James Sidoti, who has returned to Sydney after more than a decade working across the region, the new office extends a family yachting name that has served Australian owners since 1964.
From its long-standing base at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, Leigh-Smith Yachts has become known as a trusted boutique brokerage. It sells new and pre-owned motor yachts and supports clients throughout ownership. The Mosman office now brings that experience directly to the competitive Sydney market.
Full Service on the Harbour
The Sydney office will handle brokerage sales, new yacht enquiries, vessel inspections, private viewings, sea trials and ongoing work with owners. It will cover Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and the wider New South Wales market, while also giving the company a stronger local base for its new yacht brands, which include Alaska, Hampton, Endurance, Vicem and AvA.
For owners and buyers, the benefit is practical. People rarely choose a yacht from a listing alone. The decision comes from conversations on the marina, time aboard and a clear idea of how the owner plans to use the boat. From The Spit, Leigh-Smith Yachts can respond locally while drawing on the reach, experience and buyer network of the wider business.
Sidoti to Lead Sydney Office
James Sidoti leads the new Sydney office. He has more than nine years of experience in yacht brokerage, dealership representation, charter and commercial yacht operations in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
His career covers new and pre-owned yacht sales, charter management, yacht management and owner representation. That work has included coordinating inspections, viewings, sea trials and client handovers. He has worked closely with high-net-worth clients, captains, shipyards and service partners across the region, including in senior commercial roles in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
That background shapes a straightforward approach to brokerage: understand the person, how they will use the boat and what owning it really involves before recommending one.
“The best outcomes in yachting begin with trust and a clear understanding of what the owner is trying to achieve,” says Sidoti. “A yacht is a significant asset, but it is also highly personal. Our role is to bring sound market advice, disciplined representation and genuine care to every stage of the process.”
Why The Spit
Sydney Harbour is a natural next step for the brokerage. The city has a mature community of yacht owners and a strong demand for luxury motor yachts. It also has direct access to some of Australia’s most appealing coastal cruising grounds. At The Spit, on the city’s north shore, the business sits within an established marine precinct, close to owners, captains, shipyards, surveyors and specialist service providers.
Leigh-Smith Yachts says the office is meant to be more than a sales outpost. It aims to be a useful point of contact for Sydney’s boating community. Owners can discuss market timing, presentation and sales strategy there, and buyers can get considered advice. The company also wants its relationships with clients to continue well after settlement.
For sellers, the Sydney office combines local management of the yacht with the company’s wider marketing and its established client network. For buyers, it offers direct access to brokerage listings and new yacht opportunities. They are backed by a team with experience in sales, ownership and day-to-day operations.
“The opportunity in Sydney is to be present, accessible and consistent,” says Sidoti. “We want owners and buyers to know they can sit down with us at The Spit, talk openly about their plans and receive advice that is grounded in both the market and the realities of yacht ownership.”
With the Mosman office now open, Leigh-Smith Yachts works from both Sanctuary Cove and The Spit. The two offices strengthen their ability to support clients along Australia’s east coast and across the wider Asia-Pacific market.
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