YACHT DELIVERIES BY TRUSTWORTHY MASTER OCEAN DELIVERY SKIPPERS.
Trusted Yacht Delivery (Australia & International)
We deliver sailing yachts and catamarans with the discipline of ocean racing and the care of an owner’s skipper. Below you’ll find exactly how yacht delivery works—the process, staffing, safety windows, readiness, and what’s included—so you can decide with confidence.
WHO WE’RE FOR
FIRST-TIME OWNERS (USED YACHT DELIVERY):
YACHT DELIVERY PLUS HANDS-ON FAMILIARISATION. PAIRS WELL WITH OUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.
NEW-BUILD YACHT COMMISSIONING & DELIVERY:
YARD-SIDE ADVOCACY, SEA-TRIAL ACCEPTANCE, PUNCH-LIST, WARRANTY CLAIMS & FOLLOW-UP, THEN YACHT DELIVERY AND HAND-BACK. [MORE ON NEW BUILDS]
OCEAN RACING YACHT DELIVERY:
SEA-TRIALLED, WHITE-GLOVE DELIVERY TO START LINE OR HOME FROM FINISH. VESSEL READINESS, PRE-SCRUTINEER CHECKS, AUDIT ATTENDANCE. CREW: EX-OCEAN RACERS.
WHAT WE FOCUS ON
Sailing monohulls & catamarans, luxury yachts • Offshore ≥36 ft (ideal 40–60 ft, max 80 ft) • Routes greater than 300 nm • Anywhere around Australia, Yacht Deliveries from/to New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG, Philippines, Palau, Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Thailand, Tonga, Solomons, Samoa, Vietnam, China. Anywhere else possible • Yachts typically 1995+ (earlier by exception after inspection) • No motor vessels. No Ferrocement.
EASY AND STRAIGHT FORWARD PRICING MODEL
OUR PRICING MODEL (TIME-BASED, SAFETY-ALIGNED, TRANSPARENT)
We quote a clear target day count tied to your route, season, and readiness. For predictability you can add a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Days cap (excludes documented weather holds, owner-caused delays, and pre-existing faults). If helpful, we’ll show an equivalent $/nm for context—billing remains time-based to reward prudent seamanship.
WHY $ PER MILE MISPRICES REALITY
DISTANCE NOT EQUAL TO TIME
Distance isn’t effort; weather, vessel readiness, and safe windows drive time. The only honest basis for pricing a yacht delivery is time.
WHY TIME-BASED WORKS BETTER (FOR BOTH OF US)
STOP PAYING FOR MILES—PAY FOR SEAMANSHIP
The Pricing Truth No One Tells You — Time-based quotes reflect real work—weather windows and readiness—not arbitrary miles, keeping incentives honest and your yacht safe.
WHAT CAN CHANGE THE DAY COUNT
(AND HOW TO REDUCE IT)
WANT FEWER DAYS? PLAN LIKE A PRO
Weather, bar openings, and mid-passage fixes can add days, but—“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” (Eisenhower)—a comprehensive prep and tight readiness checklist, a seaworthy vessel, flexible windows, and fast go/no-go calls shave time and keep your delivery predictable.
EASY TO UNDERSTAND
BASED ON KIND OF PASSAGE
Depending on the distance, vessel and its condition we work out the level of sailors need, the crew and how many needed.
WE WORK OUT A DAILY RATE
We select from our bench the delivery crew for your requirements. The fee is a daily rate by number of days needed.
VHF Channel 16 (156.800 MHz): the global hailing & distress frequency. Our number tips its hat to it with 156 800. (call here, then switch to a working channel)
WE ESTIMATE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES
You are still up for the normal operating expenses like fuel, provisioning, marina fees and depending on the relocation travel. We estimate these.
WHAT YOUR QUOTE INCLUDES
NOT JUST A NUMBER, A TRANSPARENT DELIVERY PLAN
Not just a number, a plan—route, target days, crew & safety window, what’s included, and SKED24x7 oversight so you can say yes with confidence.
BOTTOM LINE: pay for the professional time it actually takes to move your yacht safely and well—no pressure to chase miles, no hidden risk loading, and no surprises. We ensure your requests are handled with meticulous attention to detail. Our proactive approach is to make your yacht delivery easier, stress-free and better by providing quality, tailored professional services aligned to your requirements, schedule and budget.
HOW OUR YACHT DELIVERY PROCESS WORKS
CONFIDENCE, NOT GUESSWORK
Expect accountable leadership, clear communications, and a tidy hand-back that saves time and money
Think of it as a professionally managed passage, not a gamble. A Master Ocean Delivery Skipper owns your outcome—turning your brief into a clear plan with a target departure window, fair milestones, and conservative go/no-go rules so we sail when it’s safe, not when a calendar says so. Before lines are cast off, we align on readiness and responsibilities; underway you get SKED24x7 oversight, daily updates, and calm, transparent decision-making that never chases miles at the expense of seamanship. At the finish, you receive a clean hand-back, a track and log archive, and the confidence that the job was run like a program—predictable, insurer-friendly, and built to minimise surprises.
1) ENQUIRY & FIT CHECK
Tell us the pickup location, drop off location (we will work out the route), timing, and vessel details. We confirm it’s a good fit (sailing mono/cat, ≥36 ft offshore, route ≥300 nm, typically 1995+).
2) DISCOVERY CALL (MASTER OCEAN DELIVERY SKIPPER)
We discuss your objectives, vessel history, crewing requirements, and set a target departure window. You’ll understand how we plan, staff, and monitor your passage.
3) OWNER SELF-CHECK (PRE-PROPOSAL)
Before we price, you complete a readiness self-check (not a VRA): autopilot status (mandatory), safety gear in date, AIS/comms, clean fuel, recent engine service. This avoids surprises and keeps the proposal accurate—the formal VRA happens only after you accept.
4) TIME-BASED PROPOSAL (WITH CERTAINTY LEVERS)
You receive a private proposal that shows a clear target day count tied to route, season, and your readiness inputs, plus:
our safety-window plan (we sail on windows, not weather-blind dates),fair milestone payments (acceptance deposit → pre-departure mobilisation → progress → hand-back),the option of a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Days cap for added predictability (excludes documented weather holds, owner-caused delays, pre-existing faults). If you want a simple comparison, we can show an equivalent $/nm—billing remains time-based.
5) ACCEPTANCE & BOOKING
You approve the proposal and milestones. We lock in the go/no-go criteria we’ll use for weather and bar/headland transits, and schedule the on-site VRA (Vessel Readiness Assessment).
6) MANDATORY DOCUMENTS
You need to confirm that you have a current yacht insurance policy that covers the relocation of your yacht by sailors instructed by you to undertake the delivery. This documentation is required before we commence travel to pick up the yacht. It is your responsibility to ensure that your vessel insurance covers third-party liability that extends to the vessel’s captain, crew, and guests. Provide the following in digital form (we will need to sight these documents):
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Current yacht insurance certificate of currency (or equivalent)
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Proof of current yacht registration with the relevant state authority
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Proof of ownership interest in the yacht
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Sailing instructions by owner (letter of authority)
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For newly acquired yachts relocated internationally: all purchase documentation required for customs entry
7) CREW ASSIGNMENT & WATCHBILL
We confirm the professional crew and share short bios/resumes.
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Coastal (~500–1,200 nm): 2 professionals
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Long-haul coastal & oceanic (~1,400–5,000 nm): 3 professionals
Autopilot is mandatory; if unserviceable, we add +1 pro for a safe 24-hour watch. Owners are welcome for mentorship but do not reduce professional crew (Cat-0 exception only by assessment/approval).
8) WEATHER-WINDOW PLANNING
~10 days out we begin formal window checks. We route conservatively, set contingency ports, and—during cyclone seasons—avoid forecast impact zones. Dates can move to match the safe window (we’ll coordinate early if a shift is sensible).
9) CREW MOBILISATION & TRAVEL
We book crew logistics. Typical arrival: ~2 days before coastal departures; ~5 days before oceanic/international.
10) VRA & OPTIONAL SEA-TRIAL (AFTER ACCEPTANCE)
We conduct the Vessel Readiness Assessment on site (300+ checks), verify provisioning/fuel, install our satellite trackers/Starlink, and in some situations we may complete systems tests/sea-trial. Any punch-list items are addressed before departure.
11) DEPARTURE & EN-ROUTE OPERATIONS
We depart inside the approved window and run SKED24x7 oversight: daily SKEDs, logbook, routing updates, and clear comms with you. Holds and deviations are logged with rationale under our safety policy.
12) ARRIVAL, HAND-BACK & WRAP
On arrival we berth, secure and decamp (rig tidy, clean-down, perishables removed, linen/towels bagged), brief you, and provide your track & log archive. For new builds, you also receive the acceptance/warranty pack. We reconcile expenses and close milestones.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERIES — WE HANDLE THE ADMIN
Deeper readiness review; customs, immigration and biosecurity (inbound/outbound), port paperwork, remote agents where needed, fuel/provisioning logistics, and SAR registrations if applicable. Owner/guest travel insurance is mandatory for international legs.
NEW-BUILD COMMISSIONING — OWNER-SIDE ADVOCACY
Yard liaison & options advisory; sea-trials and acceptance testing; defect identification/rectification; warranty documentation; final relocation and owner hand-over.
VESSEL READINESS ASSESSMENTS (VRA)
DON’T SAIL ON LUCK—SAIL PREPARED.
(STOP PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY START)
WANT FEWER DAYS? PLAN LIKE A PRO
A VRA turns uncertainty into a plan—“Chance favours the prepared mind” —by surfacing show-stoppers early, sequencing fixes, and giving you a realistic, insurer-friendly readiness timeline. “Preparation is the key to success” ; a VRA builds the playbook—what’s ready, what’s missing, and what to do next—so departure isn’t a coin toss.
WHAT OUR VESSEL READINESS ASSESSMENT (VRA) IS—AND IS NOT
NO MAGIC, JUST SEAMANSHIP
A VRA isn’t prediction—“prediction is difficult, especially about the future”—it’s a structured assessment that finds gaps, organizes repairs, and aligns skipper, yard, and insurer before you cast off.
THE VALUE OF YOUR VRA
IT IMPROVES THE ODDS
You leave the VRA with clarity: what must be addressed to sail safely, what improvements lift resilience, and documentation that supports insurance, hand-over, and future resale conversations. In short, a VRA doesn’t guarantee outcomes—it improves the odds—saving time, saving money, and making the whole passage feel a lot less like a coin toss.
OWNER READINESS: GET YOUR YACHT PASSAGE-READY
SAFETY AND PREDICTABILITY START WITH YOU
FIXING ISSUES EARLY PREVENTS DELAYS
Before we ever cast off, safety and predictability start with you. Our Owner’s Critical Controls Checklist is a short, plain-English guide to the systems that most often derail a delivery or escalate into life-threatening events. Please read it and walk your boat against it now.
OWNER’S CRITICAL CONTROLS CHECKLIST
OWNER READINESS: IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safety and schedule reliability depend first on the condition of your vessel. Our Owner’s Critical Controls Checklist is a plain-English aid to help you review common failure points before we attend. It is guidance only. It is not a survey, certification, or guarantee of seaworthiness, and it does not replace professional maintenance or statutory inspections.
YOUR PART (BEFORE WE ARRIVE)
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Use the Owner’s Checklist to confirm the boat is safe, serviceable, and insured for a crewed delivery on the intended route and dates.
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Remedy any “no-sail” items (e.g., flooding control, steering fallback, clean fuel and filters, core power/charging, liferaft/medical readiness).
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Ensure your certificate of currency explicitly covers delivery by named skipper/crew with appropriate third-party liability and navigation limits.
Our shared aim is simple: a safe vessel, a predictable schedule, and an uneventful logbook. If you’re unsure about any item, we’re happy to show you what “good” looks like and help you prioritise fixes before the VRA.
1) FLOODING DETECTION & DE-WATERING WORKS
Prove pumps and alarms work so rising water is found early and pumped overboard fast. Mitigates: undetected flooding → loss of vessel Checks include: - [ ] Test automatic bilge float switches and manual overrides on all pumps (wet test where practical). - [ ] Operate manual bilge pumps (cockpit & cabin) for sustained strokes; confirm suction and overboard discharge. - [ ] High-water bilge alarm audible where crew are; alarm test completed. - [ ] Inspect discharge hoses, loops, and non-return valves; no kinks, crush points, or cracking. - [ ] Clear limber holes, scuppers, drains; clean strum boxes/strainers. - [ ] Portable/emergency pump that can de-water any compartment staged and tested; heavy-duty buckets with lanyards accessible.
2) BELOW-WATERLINE VALVES & HOSES ARE SAFE
Make every seacock and hose reliable and labeled so any leak can be shut quickly and plugged. Mitigates: sudden hull flooding Checks include: - [ ] Exercise and label every seacock/valve; tie the correctly sized wooden bung at each through-hull/transducer. - [ ] Inspect all below-waterline hoses; double clamps opposed; no corrosion/perishing; spare clamps aboard. - [ ] Check skin fittings/through-hulls and transducer/log glands for cracks or weeps. - [ ] Damage-control kit aboard: collision mat/fothering sail, underwater epoxy/putty, timber wedges, soft patches.
3) STEERAGE REDUNDANCY IS REAL
Ensure the boat can still be steered if steering gear fails or the rudder is lost. Mitigates: loss of control Checks include: - [ ] Fit the emergency tiller and steer under power for ≥1 minute. - [ ] Inspect steering cables/chain, quadrant, key fasteners, and autopilot-ram attachment; verify end-stop free travel. - [ ] Check rudder bearings for play; rudder tube/gland dry. - [ ] Prove a rudder-disabled steering method: drogue/warps steering or an emergency rudder solution.
4) ENGINE RAW-WATER COOLING & DRIVE BELTS ARE RELIABLE
Keep the engine cool: strong raw-water flow, sound hoses, working temp alarm, and spare impellers/belts ready. Mitigates: overheat → engine loss Checks include: - [ ] Observe strong exhaust water flow; raw-water strainer clean/airtight; no suction-side air leaks. - [ ] Impeller condition confirmed; spares (with gaskets/O-rings) and tools ready for swap-out. - [ ] Temperature/overheat alarm verified at cruise RPM; cooling hoses/clamps tight and dry. - [ ] V-belts (alternator/water pump) condition and tension OK; spare belts onboard; sizes recorded.
5) FUEL QUALITY & CAPACITY ARE ASSURED
Keep clean fuel and enough of it: water-free diesel, spare filters, and endurance for the longest leg plus reserve. Mitigates: engine stoppage in seaway Checks include: - [ ] Sample fuel at the lowest point/water separator for water/sediment; drain until clean. - [ ] Carry spare primary & secondary filters, seals, and a bleed kit; crew can change/bleed underway. - [ ] Confirm endurance for longest leg + reserve; add jerry cans with proper lashings/vents/labels. - [ ] Stage transfer kit (siphon/hand pump, funnels, absorbents); fuel shut-offs accessible; tank breathers clear.
6) CORE POWER WILL STAY ON
Keep essential electrics alive: healthy batteries, isolation controls, spares, and a realistic power plan for night and bad weather. Mitigates: “dark ship” event Checks include: 1. [ ] Battery state-of-health/voltage checks; batteries secured/vented; terminals tight and clean. 2. [ ] Isolation switches identified/tested; spare fuses/breakers carried; spare nav-light bulbs (if applicable). 3. [ ] DC/AC distribution tidy (no hot spots); realistic power budget for nav/comms/pumps overnight. 4. [ ] Electrical tool kit aboard: multimeter, crimper, terminals, heat-shrink, spare cable.
7) CHARGING SOURCES DELIVER
Prove alternator, solar, genset and chargers can keep batteries charged during the passage. Mitigates: progressive power failure Checks include: - [ ] Alternator output and regulator behaviour verified under load (belts covered in #4). - [ ] Solar/MPPT/regulator producing to expectation; wiring/terminations sound; settings match battery chemistry. - [ ] Genset run at 50–70% load; cooling and AC output stable. - [ ] Shore-power/charger test; RCDs/breakers function where fitted.
8) WATERTIGHT OPENINGS WON’T DOWN-FLOOD
Stop seawater entry: hatches, ports and lockers seal and drain correctly under green water. Mitigates: down-flooding/capsize cascade Checks include: - [ ] Hatch/portlight gaskets intact; dogs/latches secure; hose/leak test where practical. - [ ] Washboard/companionway panels fit and can be secured at sea. - [ ] Cockpit/locker drains/scuppers clear; locker latches hold under green water. - [ ] Heavy-item securement to a knockdown/180° standard: anchors, batteries, gas bottles, dinghy/outboard, spare fuel/water.
9) FIRE & GAS HAZARDS CONTROLLED
Prevent fire or explosion: in-date extinguishers and blanket; gas system leak-free and vented; smoke/CO alarms working. Mitigates: fire/explosion Checks include: - [ ] Fire extinguishers in date and correctly distributed; galley fire blanket to hand. - [ ] LPG system leak-tested (soapy water); solenoid/shut-off working; dated hoses; locker vented overboard; sniffer (if fitted). - [ ] Smoke/CO detectors operational; engine-space suppression (if fitted) armed.
10) VESSEL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES & MEDICAL ARE PASSAGE-READY
Be ready to save lives: liferaft, lifebuoys, MOB recovery, flares, searchlight, grab bag, and a stocked offshore medical kit. Mitigates: fatality after incident; inability to abandon or recover MOB Checks include: - [ ] Liferaft in date; cradle/lashings/HRU secure; liferaft reachable to lifelines ≈15 s from stowage. - [ ] Lifebuoys with light/smoke and danbuoy ready; heaving line available. - [ ] MOB recovery gear (Lifesling/recovery ladder/davit) riggable; pyro flares in date (Cat-1 level); searchlight working; grab bag prepared. - [ ] Offshore medical kit (Cat-1/2 style) stocked & accessible; dedicated emergency water stowed and logged. NOTE: - (Personal PFDs/tethers/AIS-MOB/PLBs are brought by delivery crew.) - We can bring along a Cat-0 Medical Kit (fees apply)
11) DISTRESS & COLLISION COMMS + NAVIGATION REDUNDANCY PROVEN
Guarantee rescue and awareness: EPIRB, VHF/AIS and backup comms tested; charts and backup navigation ready; nav lights working. Mitigates: delayed rescue/collision Checks include: - [ ] EPIRB registration current; self-test (incl. GPS) passed; expiries noted. - [ ] VHF DSC programmed with MMSI; test routine performed; AIS TX/RX verified; waterproof handheld VHF aboard; emergency VHF antenna carried. - [ ] Conspicuity: passive radar reflector (adequate RCS) or active RTE fitted. - [ ] Navigation redundancy: paper charts/pilots/plotting tools, handheld GPS with spare batteries, and a second compass. - [ ] All navigation lights operational; reserve/independent nav-light set (if fitted); sound signals available. - [ ] Passage plan & shore contact documented with check-in procedure (Wx gates, no-go zones, contingencies). NOTE: We do bring portable handheld VHF and satellite phones, starlink
12) RIG INTEGRITY AT DECK LEVEL
Keep the mast and fittings sound: secure chainplates, pins, furlers and fasteners; tools to cut rigging in an emergency. Mitigates: dismasting/sail loss Checks include: - [ ] Chainplates/turnbuckles sound; cotter/split pins correct, secured/taped. - [ ] Furler bearings/toggles smooth; no play/cracks at tangs/stemhead; hold-downs secure. - [ ] Halyards/sheaves free; chafe points addressed; gooseneck/mast-base fasteners inspected. - [ ] Rig-sever tools aboard (bolt-croppers/hacksaw) sized to cut standing rigging in an emergency. NOTE: Rig age: treat >12 yrs (cruising) / >8 yrs (racing) as a heightened-inspection trigger, not automatic end-of-life.
13) HEAVY-WEATHER SAIL PLAN READY (WITH PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVES)
Have a small, controllable sail plan for storms or use practical alternatives; brief how to heave-to or deploy a drogue. Mitigates: loss of control in heavy weather Checks include: - [ ] If no storm sails: deep 3rd-reef main + small staysail, or reefed headsail with foam luff/gale-sail sleeve. - [ ] Rig preventers/downhauls; confirm reefing systems run free under load; brief heave-to and series drogue/warps plan. - [ ] Spare halyard available; pre-lead heavy-weather sheets to reduce deck work in a blow.
14) ANCHORING SYSTEM CAN HOLD AND RECOVER
Hold and retrieve anchor safely: windlass works, rode marked and secured, snubber ready, and a second anchor available. Mitigates: dragging → grounding Checks include: - [ ] Windlass load-tested; remote/controls function; breaker known. - [ ] Rode length & markings confirmed; bitter end secured to boat. - [ ] Snubber/chain stopper ready; swivels/shackles sized & moused; anchor bridle/hook (cats) checked. - [ ] Primary anchor deployable ≤5 minutes (timed drill); second anchor (different type) ready; locker drains clear. NOTE: Some passages require more than 50m of chain.
Confirm current insurance covers this delivery and third-party liability for the planned area and dates. Mitigates: catastrophic financial exposure after an incident Checks include: - [ ] Certificate of currency explicitly covers delivery by named skipper/crew with third-party liability; navigation area/dates match the passage. - [ ] Digital copy onboard and shared with the skipper in advance.
15) INSURANCE COVER IN FORCE
WE'RE BETTER IN MANY WAYS.
In an industry with little regulation and standards we are the gold standard on yacht deliveries and related services.
✓ the best skippers
✓ the biggest bench of offshore sailors
✓ an intense focus on safety
✓ an unbelievable ground crew support
✓ awesome service
✓ a track record that shines
✓ best of all - "great value for money"
Trustworthy skippers
Australia-wide network of vetted blue-water sailors (Master skippers, navigators, ocean racers). Every skipper is credentialed and reference-checked; bios provided on booking.
Our people are experienced, master’s, navigators, ocean sailors, race managers and emergency response managers. We have the depth and experience in our team to manage or support all facets of your sailing needs. Our skills honed over many years of racing, cruising, deliveries and race campaign management.
YACHT DELIVERY FOR YACHT RACES
We know ocean racing and racing yachts.
It's hard enough preparing and doing a yacht race let alone trying to deal with the complexities of deliveries to the start line or back to home port.
Our crew will manage the conversion from racing to delivery and make sure that she is back in great shape for your next race.
We use SKED24x7 to track and watch over the delivery very much like racing.
We save you time and grief
We save you time in many ways. We find candidate crew that meet your requirements quickly to a high standard and great value. Our vetting process means that you can quickly get that team together. This makes it easy for you to pick your relocation team quickly, easily and surely.
And when things change - we have a deep bench of more awesome sailors waiting to lean-in and get involved.
Just like aircraft control tower but for yachts
We provide SKED24x7 a service like aircraft control tower but for yachts. It operates anywhere in the world and is manned by people who are experienced blue water yacht race directors. Continuous tracking, SKEDs, safety audits, weather routing, emergency plans and real-time support of the crew. When you're in the vast ocean you don't need to be alone.
Great value for money
Our very experienced sailors do gigs on sailor.com.au as a lifestyle choice. They love sailing in the ocean and do it because they are passionate about it. They all declare their rates upfront with their experience and background. You will be pleasantly surprised at their rates. There are no hidden costs or charges.
Our delivery services are affordable. No complicated pricing. High quality sailors.
YACHT OWNERS WELCOME ON RELOCATIONS
If you want, and have the time, you can come along. It's a great way to learn from our experienced sailors how they undertake an offshore passage.
Join your delivery for hands-on mentorship—systems, watchkeeping, passage decisions—without reducing professional crew. We’ll help ensure your policy endorses participation.
Buying a yacht - we can help (a lot)
If you are in the market or just purchased a new yacht - we can help bring it home with less stress.
Thinking about buying from overseas? see "SOME IDEAS FOR BUYING A YACHT FROM OVERSEAS"
Onboarding
Our very experienced sailors can provide you with hands-on practical training on a relocation passage. This is a great way to learn your new yacht. And understand the "right way" to prepare for offshore passages. Along the way you will improve in your navigation, helming, trimming and mooring skills.