Yacht Delivery.

Shipping of yachts, catamarans, motor boats.

 

What is Yacht Delivery?

Yacht Delivery a yacht is the delivery of a boat from point A to point B.

As a rule, the customer who orders the Yacht Delivery is interested in it being done in the shortest possible time and for the least amount of money.

But this is where the catch lies, as we all know, “free cheese only comes in mousetraps.”

The customer’s task is to find the golden mean in terms of price and quality of the services provided.

Our company professionally deals with Yacht Delivery.

What does professionally mean in this case? – see the end of the article. Namely, I will answer the main questions of the customer:

– how to make the right choice of the Yacht Delivery team;

– how to find a Yacht Delivery team and be sure that your boat will be delivered safe and sound and on time;

– how to correctly estimate the cost of the Yacht Delivery service so as not to overpay and not end up in a situation of “a miser pays twice”;

– how to control and track the movement of the boat if you entrusted it to the yacht deliverymen,

and much other useful information…

In addition, Yacht Delivery a boat (and this most often happens over fairly long distances, and, sometimes, in extreme conditions) allows you to identify “sick” and weak points on the boat, as well as the under-equipment of the boat, which can help in the future or during the Yacht Delivery process, to determine the required repairs, replacement of faulty or “dying” units, assemblies and the necessary modernization in this case. But for yacht deliverymen, especially incompetent and unprepared (synonym – cheap), this can become a headache, since incompetent crews will not be able to properly diagnose, eliminate significant deficiencies and malfunctions that arise during the Yacht Delivery process, breakdowns for which the yacht was not ready (either due to the initial under-equipment or old age, wear and tear). Not to mention the fact that this will require additional time and money from the customer.

Thus, for the customer, during the delivery, the task of testing and identifying problem areas on the boat is also solved, as well as receiving a corresponding report, which is a big plus, of course, if the hired crew is competent, professional and technically competent!

 

When is a Yacht Delivery required?

1. When purchasing a boat.

The new owner does not always have sufficient qualifications, a crew, time and desire to deliver the yacht to a new mooring place, not to mention possible difficulties associated with the water area of ​​the delivery, the time of year, weather conditions of the corresponding time of year (“the window has closed”), there is sufficient knowledge in preparing and filling out the necessary documents for the delivery, including in this case, passing border and customs formalities, entering and exiting the territorial waters of different countries, and the need to pass through potentially dangerous, from the point of view of piracy, water areas has not been canceled (for example, the coast of Somalia, Eritrea, Yemen).

Probably, it really makes sense, in this case, to contact professionals in order to get your “swallow” safe and sound and in the shortest possible time, and in the future to enjoy its operation.

2. Seasonal Yacht Delivery (fleet boat migrations).

Just as migratory birds fly to warmer climates, so boat owners/charter companies move their boats/fleets to warmer climates to extend the season.

Of course, in this case, if it is your own boat, you can try to get by with only your yachting friends during the delivery, but if there is no time and/or you are not confident in your skills and the competence of your friends, then you cannot do without, at a minimum, a professional captain or a yacht delivery team.

I know many cases when boat owners undertook to do this on their own, and then, having had a bunch of problems, ranging from unresolved org. questions, problems when crossing borders, ending with breakdowns, storms, etc., interrupted their trips and turned to professionals, but the price of the repair issue, the timing of the yacht delivery, and even payment was already different, not to mention the lost time.

3. Training yacht delivery trips or boat delivery after charter – one way.

For professionals, such yacht delivery trips, especially if they are short distances, are not very profitable commercially, but for young captains – this is a great opportunity to participate in such yacht delivery trips inexpensively (usually for the general costs of food, parking, fuel, and maybe even without these payments), roll miles, gain invaluable experience under the guidance of experienced yachtsmen.

 

What does the yacht delivery give to yachtsmen? What skills do we improve during the yacht delivery?

1. Planning skills.
2. Independent decision-making skills.
3. Adaptation skills to work in a crew.
4. Skills in solving technical issues, including repairs in extreme and stressful conditions.
5. Skills in assessing weather conditions, weather forecasts and meteorology in general.

And also we roll up miles, gain invaluable offshore experience. And of course we get a sea of ​​impressions, new acquaintances, and even find ourselves in a real sea adventure, not a printed one, yes, in the very adventure that Alexander Green and Jules Verne wrote about.

 

Checking and preparing the boat, crew for the yacht delivery, drawing up and signing the contract for the yacht delivery.

Any yacht trip to sea requires planning, and the yacht delivery especially carefully. At the same time, preparation in this case has its own characteristics. How does it all happen in reality?

1. Documentation.

The most important component of a successful passage is the availability of the necessary documents for the boat and for the yacht delivery. Experience shows that this issue should be given great importance, since failure to resolve these issues threatens to disrupt the yacht delivery deadlines, as well as additional, sometimes quite large expenses. The potential customer should check with the yacht delivery team in advance whether they know the full list of documents that may be required for the yacht delivery, including border and customs formalities for both the boat and the crew.

2. Budget.

Discussed and accepted together with the customer of the yacht delivery. As always, this is one of the most important components of a successful passage, since proper planning of expenses, both for equipping the boat with everything necessary, and for the passage, including visas for crew members, payment of duties when entering ports of foreign countries, etc., as well as payment of salaries to the yacht delivery team in the future will reduce problems and minimize risks. And timely financing, as well as transparency in calculations, reports – this is one of the components of a successful yacht delivery, preserving nerves and increasing mutual trust between the parties to the contract.

3. Technical condition of the boat.

The captain and his assistant check the functionality of all systems and units on the boat and prepare a report on the required repairs and purchase of additional spare parts. There is no place to expect help at sea, so the assessment must be carried out properly so as not to miss significant points, especially those affecting the safety of the boat and the crew, and of course, all significant deficiencies are corrected.

4. Developing the route (navigation plan for the passage, assessing the weather forecast for the short-term and long-term).

Purchase and download of the necessary, both electronic and paper (if necessary) charts.

5. Preparing the crew.

The captain appoints the first mate and also distributes roles on the vessel. In addition, depending on the number of crew, a watch schedule, kitchen and cleaning duties are drawn up.

6. Additional equipment for the boat and purchases before the crossing.

 

Depending on the duration, conditions of the crossing and many other factors, including fuel consumption per unit of time or route, taking into account weather conditions, the number of crew, their preferences, etc., an assessment is made and a decision is made on the purchase of the required amount of fuel (or equipping the boat with additional fuel tanks), food, water, even if a desalination plant is available.

In our practice, there was even a case of equipping a motor ocean yacht for crossing the Indian Ocean with additional soft fuel tanks, which were made to order according to size and placed in the lower rooms so as not to disturb the balance of the vessel.

 

What conditions should you be prepared for?

So, a yacht delivery is first and foremost a job, not some amateur regatta or cruise, even if it is not always paid, since the agreements are different (and in some cases even paid by the participants!)

It is worth going on a yacht delivery, especially a long one (for example, across the ocean or if difficult weather conditions are predicted…) if you already have at least minimal experience at sea. And even if you consider yourself an advanced yachtsman, illusions can quickly dissipate.

1. Physical activity

Of course, during a yacht delivery, as a rule, the crew provides for itself. What does this mean? You will have to participate in purchases, keep watches, cook food, eliminate technical problems, and in some cases replace sick or injured crew members, etc. If you are unlucky with the weather, there may be constant dampness on the boat, damp bedding, clothes, shoes with the impossibility of drying them another time, or exhausting heat, and with a small crew, constant lack of sleep… And as a result, fatigue will accumulate, and the body may fail. Therefore, good physical shape and stress resistance are not desirable, but necessary during Yacht Delivery.

2. Seasickness

Even experienced yachtsmen are not immune to this. However, what kind of active participation and assistance to the crew can we talk about if the yacht deliveryman is seasick and constantly prone to seasickness. After all, in this case it is not he who helps, but he who needs help, attention and constant care.

For advice on how to avoid this, train the body and other recommendations, see here.

3. Conflicts on board.

Coexistence, sociability, compatibility – these are concepts in psychology. Of course, an extremely important aspect of the life of any team, and especially on board a boat during an autonomous voyage. Everyone understands this well, because one person who falls out of the general values, or a psychopath, or an easily excitable, or an extremely political person, can aggravate the situation on the ship and the mood of the entire crew. Therefore, it is important to get to know people before the yacht delivery … And of course, in this regard, a lot depends on how the captain organizes and builds life on the boat. A lot depends on his confidence, ability to extinguish conflicts and make the right decisions, even in matters of organizing watches, including the well-being of the entire event!

4. Unpredictability

“We propose, but God disposes!” With the sea, too. Plans and calculations can change dramatically due to many reasons, and believe me, there can be many of them, especially at sea during the yacht delivery. I will list only the obvious ones, these are weather conditions, breakdowns on the vessel, inconsistencies in the arrival time in the country where there are weekends or holidays, etc. Therefore, if you decide to go on such a trip, you need to allocate more time than you planned.

5. Communication.

Yes, modern technologies have practically solved the problem of humanity with communication. Many types of communication are now available, tracking movements, etc. The Internet has firmly entered our lives.

But modern technical devices, even if there are many of them, and everyone in the crew has them (GPS trackers, satellite and cell phones, modems) can malfunction and fail for a variety of reasons, including lack of electricity, lightning that disables all equipment, weather conditions (fog, clouds, sandstorms worsen the passage of electromagnetic waves), being in a water area not covered by a satellite network, failure of the satellites themselves and communication networks, inability to pay for communication services. In short, you need to be prepared for the fact that in the offshore zone you may find yourself without your favorite Internet, weather forecasts, as well as communication with your loved ones and relatives.

6. Isolation

Yes, yes, for some this can be a serious problem when you are in a small crew, and maybe even with a person you do not like, you will find yourself in a confined space and in difficult conditions for a long time. You need to be prepared for such conditions.

 

What should you take with you on a yacht delivery?

Note that usually the space on the boat is limited. Therefore, you need to approach what you plan to take with you on the vessel very carefully, so that later you do not regret the absence of your “favorite toy” – a joke.

1. Suitable clothing for different occasions

Heat, cold, rain, limited personal hygiene conditions – all this must be taken into account when choosing clothes. Additional recommendations can be found here.

2. Technical devices and yacht accessories
3. Chargers, extra batteries, power banks will definitely come in handy during your crossing.
4. Headlamp. In the dark, this small device can come in handy, especially when mooring and anchoring.
5. Personal SART, GPS tracker, inflatable life jacket – a great

topic for personal safety and rescue.

1. Gloves, sunglasses on a cord, a hat with a clip or a bandana will come in handy.
2. A thermos mug is one of the most convenient things on board. You will appreciate it when you are on watch, and you have hot tea or coffee at hand.
3. Books and movies.

Crossings can be long and tiring, and peering into the horizon or talking to the crew will get boring at some point.

4. Medicines and vitamins.

Take with you everything you use on shore. Of course, there is usually a first aid kit on a yacht, but it may not contain the products you need.

Just in case, it is better to pack everything in waterproof bags, and get special covers for gadgets.

 

Cost of the yacht delivery. What is the cost of the yacht delivery?

So, one of the most important questions that worries both the customer of the yacht delivery and the contractor (skipper and/or yacht delivery team).

Important!!! Discuss all the issues on the shore, record all the conditions in writing.

1. The cost of the captain’s services during the yacht delivery and his crew.

There are different ways to evaluate the work of the captain and his yacht delivery team:

• By miles. The route is laid out and calculations are made depending on its length.
• By calendar days. The calculation is made from the date of arrival of the captain and his crew on the vessel and the date of disembarkation after arrival at the destination port, regardless of the duration of the stops, including due to weather conditions.
• Fixed cost for the yacht delivery, not tied to miles or days spent at sea.

2. Delivery of the captain, his assistant, and in some cases the crew.

Everything is individual, as agreed with the customer. But, as a rule, if the customer is interested in the yacht delivery and a specific captain and his crew, then he pays for the flight there and back.

3. Assessment of the technical condition of the vessel and its repair and equipment.

This is a rather serious and extensive issue. Everything depends on the current condition of the boat, the availability of funds and the customer’s desire to resolve technical issues completely or partially before the start of the yacht delivery. Sometimes it is enough to replace bed linen and dishes, and in advanced cases it may be necessary to repair the engine, hull, steering wheel, etc., as well as purchase the devices and systems necessary for the yacht delivery. Not to mention the rescue and safety systems (life raft, life jackets, EPIRB, SART, etc.)

4. Preparation and execution of documents.

In the first place are the documents for the boat (registration, insurance, execution of a power of attorney for the captain), the presence or order of MMSI …

In second place is the availability of the necessary documents for the crew (personal foreign or sea passports, personal insurance), checking the possibility of the crew entering other countries when Yacht Delivery through waters and passing through the territorial waters of other countries, documents for the opening and closing of borders, registration of a transit log, and in some cases special permits.

Conclusion and signing of the contract for the yacht delivery.

5. Parking in ports and marinas.

Yes, as a rule, in order to save the customer’s money and time for the yacht delivery, the route is calculated with a minimum number of calls to ports, however, they cannot be avoided other times due to the need to refuel with fuel, water, revealed breakdowns, due to weather conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to take these points into account and include possible expenses in the estimate.

6. Fuel.

Of course, it is necessary to carefully calculate this item. This is especially true for motor yachts, since an error in calculations can seriously affect not only the financial side, but even the safety and results of the entire yacht delivery. Imagine if the captain made a mistake with the calculations and, despite the fact that full fuel tanks were filled due to weather conditions (head waves, wind and current), the fuel ran out before arriving at the destination port right in the ocean.

7. Food.

This is not an idle question, especially if a multi-day passage in difficult conditions is ahead. Of course, the customer pays the cost of the agreed “food basket”. Payment for food is usually calculated per day per crew member, and of course can vary greatly depending on the starting country and passing other countries, where it will be necessary to replenish food and drinking water supplies.

Crew work.

I have taken this point out of the calculations, since, as a rule, this issue is decided by the captain himself with his yacht delivery team, recruiting it himself.

As for the options for hiring a yacht delivery team by the captain, there is no clear-cut answer here.

For example, a captain or an organization professionally engaged in Yacht Delivery already has its own trained crew, in which everyone already knows their places, their roles and interacts with each other as a close-knit team.

“Free” captains search for and recruit crews from their also trusted friends, and sometimes from advertisements.

As for hiring newcomers or young captains for the yacht delivery and paying them for these services, there are two options, as you understand,

– either they pay to get into such a yacht delivery and gain experience, improve their skills;

– or they are paid because they already know a lot (and/or, for example, have sailed in a particular water area and know its nuances).

This is always decided individually, and, first of all, depends on the qualifications, experience and knowledge of the hired person.

 

How to get into a yacht yacht delivery?

If you have such a dream, then believe me it is achievable, even with us!

You just need to set it in front of you and systematically go for it. I have real similar examples, when in just a year a person began to professionally engage in Yacht Delivery, earning good money on it. But!!!

First of all, of course, you need to invest in it, including financially, and undergo training in one of the yacht schools. You can even do it in ours – Ru-sailing – the international IYT training system, and in the future, going towards your dream, do not miss the opportunity to take a yacht on charter, participate in a regatta, improve your skills by taking additional courses, for example, in our school the Super Mooring course or Coastal/Offshore Yachtmaster, take courses in first aid, marine safety and rescue (Sea Survival). Communicate more with other yachtsmen, be active on the Internet – subscribe to yacht groups … Take recommendations if you managed to participate in such events.

By the way, I also periodically take new people on the runs, and first of all graduates of my yacht school. Of course, it is clear why I do this, I know their level of knowledge and skills and I can be sure of many of them.

Gain experience, improve your skills, become a professional, connecting your life with the sea – what could be better for a person who dreams of the sea and dreams of the ocean. Believe me, there is nothing impossible in this dream!

 

Information for the customer of the boat delivery.

 How to make the right choice of the delivery team?

Of course, those who have read the information above have already found the answer to this question, but since everyone is currently saving time and wants to find an answer “without lyrics”, I will give the quintessence here:

2. These should be professionals who have already done deliverys and know how to organize it correctly and carry it out without problems with minimal costs. They know the pitfalls that are hidden on this thorny path and can foresee possible problems in advance, from technical aspects to legal ones.
3. In fact, there are not so many captains and teams capable of organizing and carrying out such missions efficiently and on time.

Basically, either beginners, or amateurs, or captains who are not able to assess the issues that arise during the delivery on a large scale (see the material presented above) offer their services. Systematic approach to solving yacht delivery issues, starting from route development, budget calculation, assessment of the technical condition of the boat, weather conditions on the planned route, legal aspects, etc., is extremely important here. Therefore, look for proven companies and captains, using word of mouth – good yacht delivery teams are passed from hand to hand and they are ordered in advance, of course, the Internet and Google will help you.

3. A professional a priori cannot be cheap – this is an axiom, just as a good doctor and lawyer are expensive, so a captain who has spent years improving his skills, knowledge, will not spend his time “for pennies” on work that requires the concentration of a wide range of knowledge, skills, experience, as well as be responsible for the safety of the crew and have responsibility for the expensive property entrusted to him. Well, a customer who is not ready to pay a decent fee to a professional will end up dealing with mediocrity and the problems or losses that follow from this in the future, which can many times exceed the supposedly saved funds for a professional.
4. A professional has the appropriate qualifications, and these are confirmed licenses and certificates, letters of recommendation.

Of course, a professional has the knowledge and skills to provide first aid, confirmed by the international AFR certificate; he has the knowledge and skills to rescue a person who has fallen overboard, organize a rescue operation, as well as send and / or transmit distress signals, confirmed by Sea Survival, VHF Marine Communication Master SRC certificates and others … A professional offers a solution to the problems that the customer has, and does not shift their solution onto his shoulders.

5. A professional already has a ready-made contract template for its discussion and signing. And also ready-made lists and lists: a) documents required for legally unhindered entry/exit from ports and navigation in the territorial waters of other states; b) checking the technical condition of the boat, the equipment necessary for its completion, including boat safety systems, personal safety of crew members, the necessary radio-electronic equipment; c) completing the first aid kit, medicines; d) purchasing water and food, calculated by the days of travel, etc.
6. Professionals already have basic communication, security, navigation systems and installed professional programs for obtaining reliable meteorological forecasts.

For example, we already have ready-made sets of the global satellite communication system Internet – Starlink Mini; tracking and SMS alerts, including the transmission of a distress signal – Garmin inRiach Mini2; individual personal safety and distress signal devices – AIS MOB “Easy2” etc.

7. Finally, a professional already has trained crews, or at least a Co-Skipper or First Mate.

 

How to correctly estimate the cost of a yacht delivery service and not overpay, and not end up in a situation of “a miser pays twice”.

In fact, the answer to this question is already contained in the question. My advice to you is not to chase dumping offers, since at stake “in this game”, so to speak, is the price of human lives (the sea does not like amateurs) and your property – a boat. The cost of services in this area has already been formed. The average price on the market fluctuates between 4 and 5 euros per mile. In some difficult cases, when the question is about the passage at a potentially dangerous time – the favorable season of the passage has ended and the season of storms and hurricanes has begun, and the boat needs to be delivered, or the route passes in close proximity to potentially dangerous regions of piracy or political and military instability, the price can reach 6-7 euros per mile.

As for our company, we consider different payment options for our services from those described above (in the section Cost of the yacht delivery. What is the cost of the yacht delivery? Cost of the captain’s services during the yacht delivery and his crew), so that it is as convenient as possible for both parties to the yacht delivery agreement, everything is decided individually. Personally, I am a supporter of the payment system – cost per mile. On average, to estimate the cost of our services – this is 5 euros per mile of the yacht delivery, plus tickets to the start and finish for two people (skipper and co-skipper/first mate), plus a fixed amount for food for the calculated and agreed upon contract time (days) of the yacht delivery for the entire crew.

If you are interested in cooperation with us, and you are ready to choose our company to yacht delivery your boat, contact us immediately, and we will resolve your issues at a high professional level! Contacts for urgent communication e-mail: and5578331@gmail.com

tel. +7(747)3593001

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