Meet Our Team

Our team of full-time marine boat brokers, who are all boaties themselves, are here to help you buy or sell your boat. Meet the Vining Marine Group team.

Marine Broker

Marine Brokers

Sarah and Kevin have a long love affair with the sea from sailing, sports fishing, pleasure cruising and all forms of water sports both above and below the water line.

Sarah’s twin sons have raced in IRB surf boat racing and now work on Super Yachts around the world.

Kevin has built and renovated caravans and boats.  This gives him a practical knowledge in most areas.

When not on the water Sarah likes to paint while Kevin enjoys being on stage as an entertainer. They also love rock and roll dancing and teach at their local club.

Give them a call to chat about your boating dreams, you might even get a chance to give young Sunny Bear a pat.

Marine Broker

General Manager - Vining Marine & Vintage Works Nelson

David is General Manager for Vining Marine and Vintage Works Nelson and has been around boats a good portion of his life. David started with P class yachts as a kid and finding himself in the Royal Australian Navy for a time. His favourite posting was on HMAS Vampire which you can see today at the Australian Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

David’s own boat is a Ganley Solution 42 Centre Cockpit and although she isn’t ready to sail as yet,  she will ensure many adventures to come.

With his love for the sea and boats, David looks forward to meeting you to discuss your boating needs.

Marine Broker

Byron brings a wealth of experience to the table with over 17 years of sailing, both professionally and recreationally. His career highlights include navigating deliveries and charters up the east coast of Africa and Cape Town where he was skipper of a traditional gaff rigged schooner. His calling toward blue water sailing saw him delivering catamarans across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

In Thailand, he made a mark as a sailing instructor and chartered boats around the islands. One of his most notable achievements was skippering a 44ft Beneteau from Egypt to Japan. With a strong background in yacht maintenance, sailmaking, and rigging, Byron’s transition into yacht sales was a natural progression. His deep knowledge and hands-on experience make him an invaluable guide in helping clients find their perfect yachts.

Marine Broker

Rob Greenwood, of Vining Marine in Nelson, has been facilitating boat sales nationwide and internationally for over 15 years.

Reflecting his passion for boats, Rob has extensive and wide-ranging boating experience. He holds a New Zealand Commercial Launch Masters qualification and a RYA Offshore Yachtmaster MCA commercially endorsed.

A past Rear Commodore of the Timaru Yacht and Power Boat Club, the Nelson Yacht Club, and the Tasman Bay Cruising Club.

Rob has owned several sailing boats over his boating life, besides owning a 58ft motor launch which was in charter around the top of the South Island, he presently races his yacht, a J 124 “Wild Blue” in around the buoys as well as participating in offshore events.

Skipper of both his own yacht and for other owners in ocean races to the Pacific Islands he has twice raced in the gruelling two-man race around the North Island. As well as delivering launches and yachts up and down the New Zealand coastline, Rob has skippered international delivery trips to and from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands plus Asia and the Caribbean.

With his passion for all boating, Rob can provide a knowledgeable service to people thinking of buying or selling any sort of vessel and he looks forward to meeting you and discussing your boating needs.

Marine Broker

Marine Broker

CEO JA Marine

Rob’s been sailing and around boats since he was 8 years old and has owned and skippered yachts since the age of 15. His passion is boating and has extensive knowledge about most makes and models of boats around the world.

His sailing history includes several trips up and down the South African coast, delivery from Fiji to Auckland, competing in the Agulhas Race (Similar to Sydney Hobart), winning a number of yacht racing series both in Auckland and South Africa and numerous Coastal Classics.

He has also served in the South African Navy as second navigation officer on a Frigate, officer in charge of a harbour patrol boat and running a diving unit. Yachts he has owned include Young 88, Noelex 30, Ross 780, Wagstaff 30, Whiting 40, Young 11 and his latest yacht is a Beale 33.

Marine Broker

Marine Broker

Pete has been boating and fishing around the North since he was 8 years old. That was 70 years ago. When he and “Jan” The Boss married in 1971 and moved North to live the dream he was the youngest Charter boat owner/operator in the B. O. I.

35 years at sea as an owner/operator along with a further 8 years commercially fishing the 3 Kings on his 40ft steel boat the “Gabriel” offers you reliable and solid experience.
Pete holds a Coastal Masters Ticket, a RLL Ticket and a Diesel Engineers ticket 2nd Class.

Over the years he has gained extensive knowledge and experience in the boating world which he enjoys passing on to others.

Working from the Opua Office Pete will be concentrating on the Launch and Commercial boat side of the brokerage. But of course, if you want to learn how to rig up a skip or swimming bait, run lures, set up your Game Fishing gear, or purchase a boat for fishing and cruising he can help you there as well.

CEO Vining Marine Ltd

Ian Michel has spent the last twelve years as part owner, then outright owner, of Vining Marine. He oversaw the expansion of the business into Nelson, Westhaven, Whangarei, and Northland, and has several brokers working in other centres around New Zealand.

Ian has licenced off four offices, now independently owned and operated, but still part of the wider Vining Marine Group. The Westhaven Office sits with Steve Raea, the Nelson Office with Robert Greenwood, and Whangarei & Northland with Rob White. They are experienced marine brokers with a wealth of knowledge and passion for boats.

Ian loves yacht racing aboard ‘Astruso’. He enjoys mucking about in the garden with his rhodos, roses, azaleas, and a whole host of other plants he doesn’t know the names of. His grandchildren occupy a bit of  his time as well! He is also known to enjoy a quiet rum or three – when the occasion demands.

Marine Broker

After three years in the Navy as a marine engineer Gavin left New Zealand to go sailing around the Pacific and Australia for a year.

On returning to New Zealand Gavin went back to marine school and obtained his Commercial Launch Master’s ticket and made a living driving water taxis, ferries, tugs and delivering various vessels around New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific.

After more study and obtaining his New Zealand Offshore Master’s qualification, Gavin spent a period teaching Commercial Launch Masters and Coastal Masters at Maritime School before returning to delivering boats again. This took Gavin to the Caribbean, South, and Central America and on to the USA and Canada. On returning to New Zealand Gavin and his partner Sarah worked as tender drivers for the super yacht fleet at the America’s Cup in Auckland.

A chance meeting with the owner of a 90′ Ron Holland yacht who was looking for a skipper and cook to sail himself and his guests through the Pacific to Hawaii was the opportunity for Gavin and Sarah to get into the white boat industry. This led to deliveries to Asia and on to the Mediterranean where, for three years, Gavin was fortunate to skipper yachts including a classic 72′ Herreshoff schooner, a 70′ Swan and several large motor vessels.

Returning once more to New Zealand, Gavin and Sarah were involved with the last America’s Cup in Auckland before returning to Picton to start a family and enjoy the Marlborough lifestyle. Being a marine broker for the last six years with Vining Marine has given Gavin the pleasure of meeting both experienced and novice boat owners. Whether buying, selling, or just making an enquiry Gavin is happy to discuss your requirements.

Marine Broker

Pip has a lifetime of boating experience, starting at a young age he sailed a P Class moving through to the Cherub later on. From there Pip moved into Keeler Sailing, he occasionally purchased yachts in Auckland taking them south to Banks Peninsula for renovation and refurbishment before cruising to the Pacific Islands for some rest and relaxation.

Pip completed an Auckland to Suva race followed by a position skippering a 50ft yacht from Lyttelton to Tahiti.

Pip moved to Picton 12 years ago together with his wife Jill and their two sons. Prior to joining Vining Shipbrokers, he was working as a boat builder at Jorgensen’s Boatyard working mainly on traditional timber vessels.

Living in the Sounds prompted Pip to change from yachts to launches including a 47ft Charter Launch.
Pip is happy to use his experience with different types of boats to help clients find the boat best suited to their needs.

Marine Broker

Hamish grew up sailing out of the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club. He first represented New Zealand at just 12 years of age sailing an optimist. Hamish followed that up, representing New Zealand every year to the age of 16 before switching to starling class and placing 4th at the National Championship in New Plymouth. During this time, he was also captain of the Marlborough Boys College sailing team.

After the completion of high school, Hamish moved to Palmerston North where he gained his pilots license with Massey University. Hamish returned to Marlborough to engage in the Mussel industry, working his way from junior deckhand to deck-boss within 6 months.

Now back in the Waikawa Office after a stint in our Westhaven Office, Hamish is keen to meet up with his former clients and build long and lasting relationships with boaties and yachties of all backgrounds.

Be it buying, selling or you just need a hand with your boat, Hamish is keen to help. Call him on 022046 8979