ABOUT

Naos Yachts is the leading sailboat brokerage on the entire west coast of the United States for a reason - we are passionate about the sport of sailing and compassionate about the boat buying experience. Founded by offshore racer Charles-Etienne Devanneaux, who has mastered the art of crossing oceans and running a business at the same time, Naos is committed to the customer.

He began the company in 2009 with the idea that if his unbridled enthusiasm and love for sailing could become contagious, a dedicated team would form and buyers would appear. By 2015, Naos becomes the leading seller of Beneteau yachts, Lagoon catamarans, Amel Yachts and CNB on the West Coast.

Charly’s relentless work ethic and business philosophy of treating customers like family has helped Naos expand with a successful Sailtime branch and an excellent certified sailing school that teaches the tried and tested American Sailing Association curriculum. And now they have also entered into the powerboat world selling Antares, Wellcraft and Fourwinns.

The team at Naos are all experienced (many professional) sailors who see sailing as more of a life-calling than a way to spend their recreational time. They don’t just sell… they advise, assist and aim to make buying a boat an exciting and pleasurable experience that becomes a cherished memory instead of an obstacle course of annoyance and difficulty.

Naos is a first class ticket, the VIP section, the corner office. We understand that this is an important decision and one that requires professionals who know this world in and out. We do…

Charles-Etienne Devanneaux

FOUNDER

Born into a sailing family, Charly has effectively been a sailor his entire life. He was a passionate racer in his youth and still is. In 2011, he won the Newport-Cabo Race and in the same year finished second in Transpac on the Beneteau First 40. The following year Charly won the double-handed division of the Pacific Cup (San Francisco to Hawaii) on a Beneteau First 30 and in two subsequent editions came in second both times. In the Pacific Cup 2018. on the new foiling Beneteau Figaro 3, Charly won the ''line of honor'' and in 2019 finished 4th in Division in the Transpac, being the smallest boat and only double-handed crew.

But you will see him cruising on his Lagoon 450 around the Caribbean islands or Sea of Cortez. He is using this ''free time'' to test a lot of new equipments before to advise customers. Charly has also crossed oceans and posted podium finishes on catamarans; finishing third in the ARC 2012 across the Atlantic and in the 2016 edition of the race in a Lagoon 400 and Lagoon 42 respectively. Charly was formerly a manager in the marine division of Yamaha Motor Europe and is also a UCLA grad in Executive Education.

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Anne-Cecile Devanneaux

CFO and SAILTIME Manager

After 20-years of working in the world of finance for Japanese and American companies, Anne-Cécile Devanneaux has found her way into the world of sailing and is loving it. While husband Charly sails the globe, Anne-Cécile makes certain the business elements on shore are operating as fluidly and seamlessly as they should. While she may not be regularly on the foredeck wrangling a giant spin while rounding a mark, she does enjoy cruising on the family catamaran, Clapotis, a well appointed Lagoon catamaran or one of the Sailtime boat.

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Gunnar Swanson

BROKER - BENETEAU and LAGOON Specialist - Marina del Rey

Gunnar grew up in a sailing family in Southern California. His grandfather sailed in the merchant marine and his father was a collegiate sailor. Next to enjoying sailing with his family, Gunnar loves nothing more than introducing new people to the sailing life. Ask about his second favorite hobby, making nautical leashes for man’s best friend.

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Benjamin Morse

BROKER - Marina Del Rey

Benjamin Morse is a California native and a 4th generation sailor whose family has owned boats since the 1930’s. He has sailed many boats from many points around the world, including Sabots, ancient canoes in Saipan, and long ocean voyages on tall ships. A Sociology undergraduate from UCSB and a graduate of the UCLA Anderson School of Management's Executive Program, Benjamin has spent most of his career in the power-sports, automotive, and manufacturing industries, and is now following his boating passion full time, helping others find their ideal boat. His own sailboat, "Passage," is docked in Port Royal, Redondo Beach, where he lives.

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Brad Fisher

BROKER - OXNARD OFFICE

Brad is a true fisherman and powerboat addict.

He grew-up in Alaska, lived in Hawaii and has a long sailing experience on motor yachts

(more to come)

Young

BROKER - OXNARD OFFICE

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John Nelson

SERVICE MANAGER

When John isn’t writing crime novels, he is the go-to, very efficient customer service manager at the Naos office. He has a varied background including motion picture and television production, but mostly spends his days making sure customers have everything they need to sail their new boats without a hitch. Nelson is a US SAILING certified Small Boat Sailing Instructor who taught beginning and advanced dinghy sailing at UCLA's aquatic facility for more than a decade. At NAOS Yachts, John interfaces with clients and our service personnel to ensure that warranty and service requests are successfully completed in a timely manner.

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Denis Laborderie

SAILTIME BASE TECHNICAL MANAGER

Following his grand father steps, as he served during the second world war in the free French Navy.

His first experience on the water started with the 1er RIMA { French marine infantry)

Using his educational skills in machining and tooling, he then got involved in boat building with numerous projects through out California and china. 1995 was the year when he got involved in the refitting of the NIPPON CHALENGE boat in San Diego and the Building of AMERICA 3 for the America's Cup

2000 was the year he built the R33 multi hull race boat who got quite a success among open ocean racers, in southern California.

For 10 years, Denis was the skipper on a 90 feet sloop designed by Ron Holland and Gibbs Research

He participated in numerous regattas, open ocean races, on board boats from 30 feet to 90 feet.

With 30 years of sailing, across oceans navigating and building boats of all kind, Denis has a solid experience to to take care of the maintenance of our Sailtime program

Paul Devanneaux

SEA TRIAL MANAGER

Paul started to sail a week after he was born... If his schedule allows he does all customer seatrials explaining to them how to use an electric winch or turn the wheel to port or starboard. If there’s time and he’s in the mood, he can also demonstrate how to build a boat with a Lego or Playmobil. Paul is usually in the office on Saturdays, training on his Beneteau First 14 but he’s a busy man so he takes no scheduled meetings.

Mike Stevens

SALES - HAWAII OFFICE

A licensed captain, and a lifelong sailor Mike purchased his first sailing dinghy in 1963, and has owned a series of cruising boats ever since. Although he loves cruising as much as anyone, he’s also been involved in high-level racing in the SORC circuit and is a regular in the local Wednesday night beer-can races. Stevens is also an experienced offshore sailor who has crossed the Atlantic four times in both monohulls and catamarans. Today, Mike is one of our most knowledgeable yacht salesmen at the Naos office in Oahu, Hawaii.

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