GRABAU - Key Persons


Adriana Fernandes

Originally from the island of Madeira, Adriana has never lived more than a few hundred metres from the sea. Having moved to the Channel Islands and then Southampton to study a medical career, Adriana is now based in Lymington and enjoys yachting on the Solent as well as walking with the office dogs in the surrounding New Forest.

Alex Grabau - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Broker
  • Managing Director
  • Member of ABYA
Having initially studied Naval Architecture in Southampton before graduating with a degree in Marine Management, Alex went on to work with one of Europe's leading largest brokerage houses where he remained for 15yrs as their Senior Broker. During this period, Alex also completed his first trans-Atlantic crossing as part of the World Cruising Club's ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers). With an international reputation for the very highest professional and knowledgeable service in the specialist field of high-quality blue water and cruising yacht brokerage, Alex started Grabau International Yacht Brokerage & Conveyancing at the beginning of 2015 to continue doing what he loves best. A fellow and full broker member of ABYA, Alex is also a long-standing member of the ABYA committee, with particular interests in the development of sale & purchase contracts and broker training. Alex has also previously sat on the British Marine Federation's Boat Retailers and Brokerage Association (BRBA) committee and was one of the first brokers in the UK to receive the ABYA/BRBA Boat Sales Qualification which is an industry-led qualification designed to provide recognition for the professionalism of yacht brokers. Alex now splits his time between Grabau International's Lymington HQ and the island of Madeira which is a popular stopping-off point for yachts sailing across the Atlantic.

German Frers

Job Titles:
  • Naval Architect

James McNeil

Job Titles:
  • Broker
With yachting in his blood from an early age and a yacht owner himself, James is a Lymington local who has always been either on the sea or next to it. Having studied Business and Finance in Cheltenham. James now brings to Grabau International a wealth of invaluable skills in the sale and marketing of high-value assets developed through a hugely successful career in high-value property sales. Like all Grabau International brokers, James is also ABYA trained.

Jascha Bach

Job Titles:
  • Broker
Jascha has been a competitive regatta sailor since childhood. Moving up from Optimists through 420s and then 470s, he graduated towards yacht racing while studying law at the University of Amsterdam. Following his graduation, Jascha joined prestigious Dutch superyacht broker Van der Vliet before gaining his DOC dor Yachtbroker and becoming a sworn and certified broker in the Netherlands in 2001. In 2000, Jascha founded Bach Yachting and built the company into one of Europe's best-known performance yacht brokerages before joining Grabau International in 2022. Away from the office, Jascha is a highly successful yacht racer, winning the ORC Worlds in 2016 aboard his Italia Yachts 9.98, taking 3rd in the 2012 ORC worlds aboard his Salona 37 and taking several Dutch Championships with his Bach Yachting racing team. More recently, Jascha has returned to his roots and races in the Finn class at an international level, while also enjoying more leisurely cruising aboard his S&S Swan 57.

Jonas Renlund - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Broker
  • Co - Founder
Jonas has always been close to the water. He entered the first regatta at the age of 6. After this, he continued his ambition with sail racing with the National team of Finland. Later moving on to Yacht racing and offshore racing with an Atlantic crossing as a helmsman. Jonas left his studies at University to focus on his passion for working with boats and boating. He now combines sail racing and yacht management with yacht brokerage. He enrolled in marine officer training where he got his strong work ethic and discipline. In addition to being a partner in Grabau International Scandinavia, Jonas is also co-founder and partner of Nordic Boathouse, a business specializing in high variety of blue-water sailing yachts and high-quality motor yachts worldwide, also representing as the global agents for Ocean Explorer Catamarans and CMY powerboats.

Jonathan Hadley-Piggin

Job Titles:
  • Solicitor
  • Conveyancing Specialist
Aside from his work with us, Jonathan is also a practicing solicitor and partner in the renowned City of London law firm Keystone Law. In that capacity, Jonathan routinely advises marine businesses, crew and other leisure marine operators such as yacht management companies and marina owners as well as assisting banks and private individuals in the yacht and superyacht industry. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Jonathan spent twelve years at sea, firstly as a deck officer with BP Shipping and then as a nuclear submarine officer in the Royal Navy. Following his qualification as a lawyer with Stephenson Harwood, Jonathan went on to set up yachting departments and hold partnerships with established marine specialist law firms including Shoosmith and Lester Aldridge (LA Marine).

Lucio Pellegrini

Job Titles:
  • Broker
Lucio was born near the famous sailor's area of Santa Lucia in Naples, just a few steps from their prestigious yacht clubs. Having started out his sailing career aboard his father's yachts, he went on to work as a professional yacht captain and engineer aboard a variety of different yachts in the Mediterranean, taking in a diverse range of activities including competitive regattas, deliveries and private charters. A graduate in industrial engineering, Lucio went on to complete a masters in Yacht Design at the University of Pisa as well as more recently a diploma in Yacht Brokerage from the Maritime Training Academy. A commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster, Lucio enjoys year-round sailing around the waters of the Balearics. Lucio now splits his time between Grabau International's Palma office and Barcelona, covering all of the Balearics and Southern Spain.

Mark Cameron

Job Titles:
  • Broker
With over 20 years of experience in the marine industry Mark Cameron, brings a wealth of knowledge to the business. Having sailed since he was a young child Mark pursued a career in the marine industry after leaving school. Completing vocational qualifications in Yacht and Boat Building while working part time in the Scottish marine industry, he moved to Southampton and gained a BSc Honours Degree in Yacht Manufacturing and Surveying, while also acquiring a huge amount of experience in the centre of the UK marine industry. Moving back to Scotland he took up a junior position in the management team of one of Scotland's busiest and most respected repair yards. During the following 15 years; working alongside some of the finest craftsmen he progressed to General Manager, assuming the role of in house Yacht Broker and in 2010 became a Full Member of ABYA.

Matias Renlund

Job Titles:
  • Broker
  • Co - Founder and Managing Director of Nordic Boathouse
Matias started sailing at a young age and continued with racing for the National team of Finland. Afterwards, he continued with offshore sailing and regattas with Swan yachts. Studying Naval Science at Aland Island and continuing a career at sea with oil tankers, ice breakers and sailing passenger ships was always something he dreamt of doing. His strong marine knowledge combined with his training in the Finnish Navy Special Forces in Recon division makes him a dedicated leader and focused professional with a passion for the sea. In addition to running Grabau International Scandinavia and subdivision in Marbella, Matias is also co-founder and managing director of Nordic Boathouse, a business specializing in high variety of blue-water sailing yachts and high quality motor yachts worldwide, also representing as the global agents for Ocean Explorer Catamarans and CMY powerboats. Matias is based in Gothenburg, Sweden and splits his time between there and Grabau International Scandinavian's main office in Helsinki, Finland.

Michele Antonini

Job Titles:
  • Broker
A sailor since childhood, Michele trained as a lawyer before moving into the yachting sector where he has worked in marketing and communication for one of Italy's most highly-regarded boutique yacht builders. Like all Grabau International brokers, Michele is also ABYA trained.

Vittorio Papa

Job Titles:
  • Naval Architect
Vittorio was born in a family of seafarers and yachtsmen. International dinghy sailing wins and experiences in Olympic and highly technical sailboats, fired out Vittorio's interest for the science behind sailing and performance. He then went on to complete a master's degree with top-grade from University of Naples and an MSc from University of Southampton in Naval Architecture. Before founding Spinta Studio in 2020, Vittorio was Senior Naval Architect for Hoek Design for seven years contributing to ground-breaking superyacht projects like Elfje, the J-Class Topaz and Svea, Meraki, the explorer MY Blue II among many others. In 2016, he moved to Mallorca to follow more closely the evolution of the racing J-Class fleet and other superyachts programs. Regular at most regattas and boat shows, alongside his involvement with Grabau International Palma, Vittorio is the founder of the Palma-based design & naval architecture company Spinta Studio.