Whether it is by nature or nurture, Ben shares his father’s passion for yachting. Growing up in Maine, Ben spent every summer cruising with his family and racing dinghies at the Portland Yacht Club. As a youngster, two of his favorite Knowles family sailing adventures include the six months they spent cruising on a Mason 43 through the Caribbean islands and the two months during which they sailed from Yarmouth, ME to the northern most tip of Newfoundland on a J44.

When he wasn’t cruising with his family, Ben enjoyed dinghy sailing. As a dinghy sailor Ben got his first taste of racing and honed his boat handling skills, winning various state and regional awards along the way. Outside of the dinghy boat arena, Ben has enjoyed campaigning a J100 throughout Maine with his father and racing J Boats in the Monhegan Island, Marblehead to Halifax, and Bermuda races.

Ben attended St. Lawrence University and graduated with an economics degree. After spending his college years landlocked in upstate New York, Ben was eager to get back on the water. Since graduation, Ben has worked, lived, and raced on an assortment of boats. Ben delivered several boats to the Caribbean, where he later spent time working on boats of all shapes and sizes and racing as a bowman on Kialoa V, an 80’ maxi race boat. Prior to joining the ECYS team, Ben was one of three captains running a twelve-boat program. When he wasn’t travelling to Europe as shore team manager on a RC44, Ben was running a J122 and a Grand Banks 49 Eastbay, serving as mate on a Lyman Morse 90’, and maintaining several center consoles. Given his background, Ben’s wide range of skills and unique experiences bring a different perspective to his customers.

Ben is passionate about what he does, and as a yacht broker he hopes that he can help others make as many great memories on the ocean as he’s had.