Meet the Star Broker From the New ‘Yacht Deals Monaco’ Series
When I video call Cornelius Kistler, he is on the sundeck of the 128-foot Smooth Operator at Cannes Yachting Festival. The Swiss entrepreneur, who founded boutique yacht brokerage Breeze Yachting in Zurich in 2013, tells me he sold the Jongert motor yacht within the first hour of the show—something he claims has never been achieved before. He is, quite rightly, about to pop a bottle of Ruinart. That Kistler is willing to divulge so much so quickly is no doubt part of why Disney+ decided to spotlight him and his brokerage in a new reality TV series.
“They were looking for somebody who really understands the business and is also willing to open up about the stories and show a bit behind the scenes,” he says.
The warm and charismatic straight-shooter, who has clocked 20 years in the biz, has no qualms with exposing the inner workings of what can be a highly secretive industry.
“My mission is to demystify yachting in a positive way, not in a whistleblower way, but showing how beautiful it is,” he explains.
The exterior of “Smooth Operator.”
Breeze Yachting
He does exactly that in Yacht Deals Monaco. The new series, shot across Monaco and the French Riviera, lifts the lid on the famously private world of yacht deals. It follows eight wannabe brokers as they try to prove they have what it takes to work in an industry that Kistler says can be “absolutely cutthroat” at times. Over seven episodes, the candidates take on the actual work of a broker, negotiating multimillion-euro deals and handling discerning clients.
“They’re real boats and real clients that I brought in from my existing relationship,” Kistler says.
He and yacht consultant Marcela de Kern Royer ultimately decide who can handle working at Breeze Yachting. It is not exactly an easy position, either, given the brokerage is growing at an impressive clip. Kistler says the firm sold 14 yachts last year, with a $150 million turnover. It is on pace to eclipse that this year.
“This [Smooth Operator] is deal number 11,” he adds, “so we’re on that 1.3 to 1.4 yachts per month average.”
The interior of “Smooth Operator.”
Key to the brokerage’s success is openness and transparency. Breeze Yachting is taking a novel approach to yacht deals, giving both buyers and sellers greater visibility and clarity. That modus operandi was also catnip to Disney+ execs, according to Kistler.
“They were looking for a firm that approached the market in a fresh way,” he says, “and I think we definitely ticked that box.”
Kistler adds the brokerage was “quite early” with things like walkthrough videos and 3-D scanning, helping clients get a complete picture of each yacht.
“We believe in information parity, he explains, “that the potential buyer should have as much information as the seller.”
Adding to brokerage’s appeal is a stellar fleet. Kistler tells me that famous superyacht DNA will be listed in the coming months. The 150-footer—delivered by renowned Dutch yard Feadship in 1981, then refitted in 2016 and 2018—reportedly welcomed Diana, Princess of Wales at one point. Perhaps it will star in the next season, as Kistler is positive there will be a second installment.
All seven episodes of Yacht Deals Monaco arrive on Disney+ on September 30.
