Our team

Sail Northwest sits in a unique position in the new and used boat dealer category with its built-in audience via their involvement with the over 450-member Seattle Sailing Club. Not only is Sail Northwest located in a prime location on the seawall at the Puget Sound’s largest recreational boating marina, but she works hand-in-hand with the Seattle Sailing Club’s members on a daily basis. This built-in network of sailors offers you a dedicated audience to view your listing, as well as placing your listing in a location that offers buyers a unique chance to integrate their new purchase within the capital-generating service of the Seattle Sailing Club’s diverse fleet of boats.

 

Bob Ross
Certified Professional Yacht Broker
Owner of Sail Northwest

Bob’s journey into the marine lifestyle began at a very early age with his love of the water, surfing, and sailing in small boats off New York’s Long Island.

This journey continues today, and after over 40 years working in the maritime industry, Bob Ross brings the knowledge and experience needed to sell your boat or help you find your dream vessel.

Bob’s involvement in the boating community is evident by currently serving as a board member for Sail America, as past Treasurer of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, as a past member on the Northwest Yacht Broker Association Sailboat Committee, and a past member of the Board of Directors for NYBA and past member on the Corinthian Yacht Club board.

Bob’s business commitment to the Northwest boating community is unparalleled. As owner of Sail Northwest, the local dealer for J/Boats, and a thriving sailboat & powerboat brokerage, he sells and services discriminating boat buyers.

When Yachting Magazine cancelled Whidbey Island Race Week, one of the top ten regattas in the US and the premier NW sailing event, Bob thought it so important to the Pacific Northwest sailing community that he created Northwest Marine Productions, which brought you Whidbey Island Race Week from 1994 to 2007 and J/Fest NW for a number years as well. He also was involved with Sail Sand Point Benefit Regattas and is personally running the Shilshole Friday Night Sail Fest in August.

In 2002, Bob, as principle partner, bought the Seattle Sailing Club, a sailing club offering unlimited day-sailing and teaching as many as 800 sailing lessons per year. “It is important to grow our sport, and through the Seattle Sailing Club we introduce people to our great asset, the waters of Western Washington.”

Not only does Bob sell boats, but his involvement in the sailing community is one we all benefit from. As a business owner of three diverse marine-related companies, Bob knows the critical importance of client satisfaction, and he uses his years of experience to deliver just that.

 

Ben Braden
Broker

Ben learned his boating lifestyle on Bainbridge Island before his earliest memories and, after years of motor and sail experience in the waters of the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River Gorge, the California coast, and cruising the Northeast Coast of the United States in a small 27’ sailboat, offers a unique view of the boating lifestyle.

Ben has lived aboard various sailboats off and on since 1998, most recently spending 4 years living aboard a Wasa 38 with his wife, Labrador, and cat. Ben has raced extensively over his years on the water, beginning with his early years at Port Madison Yacht Club and extending through his adult life by crewing on various race boats around the sound. Ben has raced new and old boats, big and small boats, he’s cruised the PNW in old wooden classics, modern composite speedsters, and small beach-able dinghies. Ben understands different boats and all aspects of the sailing lifestyle.

Ben has served as the Moore 24 Pacific Northwest Fleet Captain, Port Madison Yacht Club Race Chair, Northwest Yachting Race Editor, Pressure-Drop.us PNW Editor and has been published in NW Yachting, 48 North, Latitude 38, Sailing, & Sailing World. His experience is an asset to anyone looking for a new or used sailboat.