Ensign Yachts has a team of passionate and experienced boating personnel across Australia. The team has in its ranks former super yacht skippers, engineers, world-class competitive sailors, blue water sailors with trans-ocean experience, game fishing, power boat and coastal cruising enthusiasts. The accumulated knowledge in the Ensign Yachts team is varied and widespread and comes from all facets of boating with experience gained worldwide.
Sean Rush - Managing Director
Sean joined the Ensign Group in May 2019 as a joint owner and managing director together with Andy. Sailing has been a passion for Sean since he was young.
He has been on many adventures with his family and friends sailing in Australia and internationally, from sailing in Sydney, where he now lives, to cruising in New Caledonia.
Sean brings to the Ensign Group 25 years’ international experience in global law firms advising corporations on major transactions and projects.
Stuart McKinlay - Executive Director & Head of Sales
Stu has joined the Ensign team as an Executive Sales Consultant. He has a long history in sales in the corporate world, previously heading up MasterCard in New Zealand and a senior sales roles at Australia Post and Equifax.
Stu is also passionate about boats and a competitive sailor, having won 3 Australian sailing titles in one design classes and runner-up on multiple occasions. Please reach out to Stu if you have any queries!
Ray & Sandra Entwistle
Ray and Sandra from J/Boats Australia joined the Ensign team in 2024. They were keen asymmetric dinghy sailors in the early days, sailing Cherubs to International 14’s to 18ft skiffs throughout UK, Europe and Australia.
As the years have passed we’ve upsized to yachts, and learned a thing or two about the qualities and attributes of various designs and builds. We are passionate about the J/BOATS brand because of what they give sailors of all ages and interest, whether is be one-design fleet racing, club and offshore racing or performance cruising.
Kate Douglass
Kate has been involved in sales for over 30 years, working in the real estate, medical device and marine industries.
She has been with Ensign Yachts since early 2015. Kate helps her clients to navigate through the process of buying and selling motor and sailing yachts.
The fact that her clients keep coming back to Ensign with repeat business is testament to her professionalism and customer service. Experienced in selling new and second-hand boats, Kate will ensure you achieve your boating dreams.
Raman Flawn
A Pittwater local, Raman knows the pleasures of getting out on the water. He is enthusiastic about finding great outcomes for those wanting to enjoy boating.
With a passion for power boating, Raman has wealth of know-how about how to find the right boat to suit your needs and lends a professional touch to the customer experience.
Rebecca Fussell
After 15 years in the Superyacht industry, Rebecca has gained valuable experience worldwide in every aspect (sail, motor, private, charter, newbuild and refit).
Combined with a decade in high-end sales, Rebecca’s diverse skill set ensures both vendor and buyer are supported with the additional ability to step in as owner representative during project construction, crew placement and management.
Ron Jacobs
Ron has multiple wins both outright and line honours in the Sydney Hobart Race, along with numerous Hamilton Island Race Week wins.
He says he has been blessed with seeing the world while competing against many of the best sailors in the world.
Ron started his own brokerage in 1998, specialising in the import and sale of boats to the performance yachting market. He later joined Ensign Yachts providing first-class service to our valued clients and community.
Simon Marden
Simon’s passion for boats is lifelong. His sailing experience includes many trips between Spain and North Africa, crossing the English Channel, and a near-complete circumnavigation of Australia during the COVID years, hence mainly solo!
Simon is a qualified commercial boating examiner for AMSA and is also an RST examiner on behalf of the Department of Transport WA. His experience on a wide range of boats, along with his background in real estate and sales means that he is well-equipped to help prospective buyers find and purchase their ideal boat.
Gary Shea
Gary is the co-owner of Windward Marine in WA and represents Ensign Yachts as an ambassador and representative of the Ensign brands in Western Australia.
He is also the Principal and Chief Instructor of Oceanwest Charters RYA Sailing School and is a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor / Examiner and a member of the RYA Inspection Team. In addition to this, he also holds an Australian Master 24m commercial qualification.
Gary has sailed the West Coast of Australia, Queensland and NSW, the Mediterranean, and the UK. He has well over 50,000 cruising miles on yachts and knows the West Australian coast intimately.
Having spent over 22 years in the British Royal Navy, finishing his career as a Chief Engineer, and the past 16 years in the Australian boating industry, Gary has a wealth of engineering and boating knowledge.
Chris Links
Chris from Northshore Marine Group joined the Ensign team in 2024.
Chris is a Rigger and Shipwright and a professional yachtsman who was the operations manager for the Kookaburra Challenge program for eight years. He has been the Operations Manager of Farr 40 campaigns.
Chris was involved with the refitting and race preparation of the Swan 45 Joe, Reichel Pugh 60 Wild Oats to Wild Joe, Farr 40 Black Snake and regatta preparation for Wild Oats X & XI, Wild Joe and Loki. He was also the racing helsman on Wild Jo (Reichel / Pugh 60) and more recently joint helmsman on Wild Oats XI.
Heath Walters
Heath from Northshore Marine Group joined the Ensign team in 2024.
Heath is a rigger and shipwright. Heath started the repair business Boatmate and went on to purchase and build Northshore Yachts. Heath introduced Australia to the Internationally renowned exciting Melges racing class, building the Melges 24, promoting and organising events for the M20, M24, M32.
Heaths racing career, includes Australian Spotsboat Champion, Melges 24 Australian Champion, plus a life time of sailing experience both Nationally and Internationally.
Rob Partridge
Rob is a new addition to the Ensign team having recently relocated to Queensland. Originally from the UK, with a strong racing background, Rob spent 10 years living in Hong Kong, initially as an international sail racing coach and professional sailor.
In recent years Rob has ventured into boat sales, working with a yacht dealership in Hong Kong while developing a portfolio of brands across the Asia Pacific region. Rob has come aboard with Ensign Yachts with a strong technical background and proven experience as the dealer for JBoats in Hong Kong.
Rob has raced everything from JBoats (J80 HK Champion) to TP52 (2x Around HK Island Winner) and foiling boats (International Moth), as well as having coached sailors to podium level at World Championships.
Angus Stranack - Marketing and Sales Manager
An avid ‘boatie’, Angus has never been far from the sea, whether that be competing in a variety of dinghies and keelboats at a high level, or cruising around the Whitsundays and New Caledonia.
These days you’ll find Angus racing in the Woody Point Twilight Races on Pittwater or cruising up the Hawkesbury on the weekends in his 24’ yacht.
Angus graduated from his Bachelor of Commerce and Marketing degree in 2018. He is keen to bring his passion for all things boats to the Ensign team!
Carolyn Jones - Operations Manager
Joining the crew in January 2021 as Operations Manager, Carolyn is our client relationship specialist and works hard behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly for crew and clients alike.
Covering a diverse range of day to day functions from accounts, contracts, logistics and events her calm and positive attitude and attention to detail ensures our clients remain our top priority and that their Ensign experience is second to none.
Trent Strochnetter - After Sales Service
Trent has been with the Ensign Yachts team since 2006, from detailing boats on the weekend whilst studying IT, to becoming a full time member of the Ensign team at their Gold Coast head office.
During this time, he’s done it all – Boat detailer, deckhand, website & server administration, IT support, e-marketing, insurance agent, after sales service including spare parts & warranty for all our new boat brands.
Trent is always there to support both the Ensign team and our customers alike.
Adrian Wotton - Ensign Ambassador
Adrian is the proud owner of a 2010 Bavaria 40, School’s Out. He commenced his love of sailing when he joined the Royal Australian Navy, aged 15.
He has a love for both cruising and racing, achieving podium places in his division in the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race on several occasions, winning the Cruising Yacht Club of SA Offshore Series twice, and most recently being awarded the prestigious CYCSA Yacht of the Year Award.
He is passionate about the strength and quality of Bavaria Yachts, having sailed School’s Out across the Bass Strait seven times without a scratch and feeling safe at all times.
Tony Ross
Tony has been involved with Ensign Yachts for decades and was one of the previous owners.
He helped develop Ensign to where it is today. In 2019, Tony handed over the reins to Sean and Andy.
A passionate sailor and owner of several vessels himself, Tony continues to support Ensign lending his extensive knowledge and industry connections to the business.
George Chung
George has been involved in trade and business in Australia and China for decades.
That experience, combined with an in-depth knowledge of multiple Chinese dialects, make him an invaluable support to Ensign Yachts and its customers and community.
Andy Howden
Andy is a qualified skipper and engineer and has worked in the marine industry since 1992.
He has spent the past decades working in Australia, the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, where he has gained experience in the charter, multi-brand sales, distribution, after-sales, service delivery and commissioning aspects of the sector.
Working with Bavaria Yachts since 2002, Andy was previously involved in the management of Ensign Yachts for many years and continues to support the business.