Big Sydney yacht dealership sells to happy customer

A keen Sydney sailor and happy customer of Windcraft has bought the successful Pittwater-based yacht dealership started by industry stalwart Peter Hrones some 18 years ago.

Anthony Bishop, who owns a Dehler 38 yacht and Axopar 28 day runabout, apparently jumped at the opportunity to buy Windcraft and take it forward with some fresh ideas.

The Kiwi, who learnt to sail an Optimist built by his grandfather and can also fly light planes, carved his career in the IT industry and cemented it with helping start-up businesses get off the ground.

Bishop's happy purchasing experience of his Dehler 38 yacht Rocksalt was said to be partly the reason he has bought Windcraft, which is the biggest Hanse Group dealer in the Southern Hemisphere.

"When I bought Rocksalt, the whole experience was effortless and every little detail was taken care of," Bishop recounts.

"The whole commissioning experience was a breath of fresh air with the whole process handled in-house by people who really understand customer service."

Bishop says that the process of buying the Windcraft business from Peter Hrones, who will be staying on in a consultancy role for the next few years, has been similarly smooth sailing.

"I have some exciting new ideas in the pipeline to discuss when we are ready but in the short term it is business as usual," says the new Windcraft owner.

"My other consideration is that I have a young family. Some of the best moments in my life are with family and friends in boats. Continuing to run Windcraft as a family business and getting to know all the other owners is a priority for me," Bishop says.

Appropriately, the opening photo above shows new Windcraft owner Bishop (left)
next to the first Hanse imported into Australia 18 years ago by Hrones
(right).

Meantime, it's business as usual at Windcraft in Australia and New Zealand. See www.windcrafthanse.com.