TL;DR
Before a delivery, owners usually ask me how the yacht will be prepared, how weather decides the dates, who will be aboard, what paperwork and insurance need checking, and how they will hear from me underway. In short: a delivery is planned around the yacht’s readiness and the weather, not the calendar; the paperwork and insurance questions belong in writing before departure; and you should receive clear, regular updates from the dock to arrival.
A delivery is one of the most common reasons owners call me. A yacht needs to reach a new cruising ground for the season, a yard for a refit, or a buyer on another coast, and the owner would rather not make the passage themselves. The questions that follow are the ones I hear most often in those first conversations. As with my earlier posts in this series, they are the questions owners bring to me, in my own words. None of what follows is a quotation from a client.
“How soon can you leave?”
As soon as the yacht and the weather are both ready, and not before. I understand the pressure of a refit slot, a charter season or a closing date, and I plan hard to meet them. But a delivery that leaves on a fixed date regardless of conditions is a delivery that has stopped being planned. I prefer to agree on a target window with you, watch the forecasts as it approaches, and commit to a departure once a sensible weather window opens.
“What do you check before departure?”
Everything a passage will lean on. Before I accept a departure, I go through the yacht from the engine room up:
- Engines and generators: fluid levels, belts, hoses, raw-water intakes and strainers, fuel filters, and the maintenance records behind them.
- Fuel: quantity, quality and a realistic range for the route, with a margin I am comfortable with.
- Steering, bilge pumps and alarms, tested rather than assumed.
- Navigation and communications: chartplotter, radar, AIS, VHF and a way to stay in touch offshore.
- Safety equipment: life raft and life jackets, flares, EPIRB, fire extinguishers and first aid, checked for condition and service dates.
If something needs attention, I tell you plainly, with my view on whether it must be fixed before we leave or can wait until arrival. A short sea trial before departure is often time well spent.
“Who will be aboard?”
That depends on the yacht, the route and the length of the passage. A short coastal run may need only a small crew; a longer offshore passage needs enough experienced hands to keep a proper watch around the clock. I propose the crew I believe the passage requires, and I am glad to discuss it. Some owners like to join for part of the trip, which can be a fine way to learn the yacht; we simply agree beforehand that, while underway, the captain’s decisions stand.
“Will my insurance cover the delivery?”
This is the question I most want owners to ask early. Policies often have conditions about navigation limits, seasons, named-storm periods and who may operate the yacht. I cannot interpret your policy for you, so please contact your broker or insurer, describe the route and dates, and ask for their confirmation in writing before departure. If the route crosses into another country, the same goes for entry requirements: verify them with the relevant authorities, and with the USCG for U.S. waters, rather than relying on memory or hearsay.
“What paperwork should I have ready?”
At a minimum, I will ask for the yacht’s registration or documentation, proof of insurance and a written authorization for me to operate the vessel on your behalf. For international passages, additional documents may be needed. I will tell you what I expect for your particular route, but the official requirements always come from the authorities themselves, so we confirm them together well ahead of the departure window.
“How will I know how it is going?”
You will hear from me before departure, at agreed intervals underway, and on arrival. I keep updates short and useful: where we are, how the yacht is running, what the weather is doing and whether anything has changed in the plan. If a decision needs your input, I will say so clearly. Silence is not a style I believe in on a delivery.
“What if the weather turns while you are out there?”
A good passage plan includes places to stop. I identify safe harbors and diversion options along the route before we leave, and I will use them if conditions call for it. A day or two waiting in port costs far less than pushing on into weather the yacht or crew should not meet.
Share your story
If I have delivered a yacht for you and you would like to share your experience, I would be honored to publish it here with your permission and on your terms. Reach out through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a yacht delivery take?
It depends on the distance, the yacht’s cruising speed, fuel stops and, above all, the weather. I agree on a target window with you in advance and confirm departure once a sensible weather window opens.
Do I need to be aboard for my yacht’s delivery?
No. Many owners stay ashore and receive regular updates. You are welcome to join for part or all of the passage if we agree on it in advance.
Where does Captain JC deliver yachts?
Across the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean and U.S. waterways, in English or Spanish, whether for a new season, a refit, a sale or a hurricane move.
Captain JC — Juan Carlos Castro II. USCG 200-Ton Master · 500-Ton ITC · English & Español. About Captain JC
This article is general guidance from one captain’s experience, not a substitute for your surveyor, insurer or the U.S. Coast Guard. Rules and requirements change; verify current ones before you rely on them.
