Tim Kershaw, whose background spans time aboard superyachts and selling them, is the new director of sales for Delta Marine. He’ll be the first point of contact for brokers, captains, and potential clients stateside and internationally.
A New Zealand native, Kershaw entered the yachting industry in 2012 as a deckhand. Following that, he pursued a career in sales and marketing for a few companies. Most recently, he represented Dunya Yachts in Turkey. He further has been an independent sales and marketing consultant based in Europe for the last few years. Additional prior experience with a law firm has helped him walk yacht buyers through the new-build process.
With builds like the yacht Zembra (above) and Project Discovery (below) set for launch later this year, there’s more attention on the Seattle-based builder. Although the shipyard has delivered a few yachts in recent years, the customers have required strict confidentiality. That’s why the two current megayachts mark a “a dynamic moment for Delta,” notes Michelle Jones, the yard’s vice president.
Zembra is a 152-footer (46-meter) with styling and naval architecture from the in-house Delta Design Group. The owners have had a wide variety of boats and yachts, including a superyacht. Additionally, they’ve cruised in the South Pacific, South America, and other far-flung regions. They plan to take their 12 grandchildren to several of the same places, too, aboard Zembra. The 156-foot (47.5-meter) Project Discovery, meanwhile, puts a priority on wellness. A sauna and a cold plunge pool are both where you might expect to find a traditional beach club, for instance. An alfresco gym has dedicated space on the bridge deck.
Based at the shipyard through August, Kershaw will show potential clients the progress on these two yachts as examples of the capabilities. He’ll also travel throughout Europe and Mexico, two markets that Delta Marine says have become important. “Tim’s market knowledge and hands-on background give him exactly the perspective we want at the front of our new-build conversations,” Jones says.
Delta Marine deltamarine.com
