NEWS RELEASE
KNIGHT & CARVER YACHTCENTER SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
************************* Matt Sawyer: One of the world's youngest megayacht owners. His 115' yacht undergoes major refit, exterior paintwork
SAN DIEGO - As owner of Golden Boy II, Matt Sawyer wants to make it clear that he's just a normal guy who happens to own a 115-foot yacht.
"I'd rather sound like a successful businessman than an arrogant young kid," said Sawyer, "because I really don't think I'm that way."
But the undeniable fact remains that at age 23, Sawyer ranks among the world's youngest megayacht owners - maybe even the youngest.
"I'm not used to having stories written about me," he said. "I go to my warehouses and nobody wants to interview me. All of a sudden, I guess I'm sort of a celebrity in yachting."
All he had to be was younger than nearly everyone else who owns a big yacht.
An industrial business developer based in Southern California, Sawyer bought his latest of five boats, a 94-foot Hargrave, in 2005.
It was his first crewed vessel and he named it Golden Boy.
That's what his late grandfather, his business mentor, nicknamed him when Sawyer was growing up.
This past summer, just after selling Golden Boy, he purchased a nine-year-old 115-foot Sovereign that he promptly renamed Golden Boy II.
Last September, he brought the yacht to Knight & Carver YachtCenter in San Diego for a four-month refit and exterior paint project.
"I'm so grateful to my captain and crew," he said. "They really made it happen. All I've ever heard about yard periods is late, late and later, but that didn't happen here at all. Everything was done on-time and on-budget. Believe me, I love my crew. Without them, I'd be totally at a loss."
Vereck Breaden, the 31-year-old captain of Golden Boy II, values Sawyer's supportive stance.
Despite the non-traditional age differential, the two share an easy camaraderie.
"I treat Matt with the same dignity and respect I would any owner, no matter what our ages," said Breaden. "I've learned I can be very frank with Matt. Some older owners might believe they know more than I do, even if they don't. Matt's great because he listens and we definitely respect each other’s opinion."
As for his personal worth, Sawyer demurs.
"I'm not comfortable with (giving) that. You don't have to tell anyone but your banker how much you're worth. I know this: I don't have as much money as I had when I started this project," he said with a laugh.
Already, Sawyer is contemplating the joys of moving up.
"I see a 160-footer in my future," he said. "You can always be happy with what you have - and I am - but I want to be progressive and move forward. When we have a serious buyer, that's when I'll upgrade."
The vessel, now valued at around $8 million to $10 million, offers five staterooms and accommodates up to 10 guests, plus crew.
It is managed by Luxury Yacht Group of Fort Lauderdale.
Next up is winter cruising in the Caribbean followed by summer chartering along the East Coast, based in Newport, R.I.
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