For yacht owners
Delivery skipper rates: what you'll pay in the UK and Europe
A professional delivery skipper charges €250 to €500 a day, or €3 to €8 per nautical mile on a long passage, with fuel, marina fees, provisioning and their travel home on top. For a 40 ft cruising yacht that makes a Solent to Falmouth hop €1,200 to €2,000 all-in and Solent to Gibraltar €5,000 to €9,000. Here is how skippers price a job, what you pay on top, and how to get real offers for your route without paying a broker.
How a delivery skipper charges
Three models cover almost every quote you will see. Which one a skipper uses depends on the passage; what they all have in common is that the skipper's fee pays for their time and responsibility, and the running costs of the boat are yours.
| Pricing model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Day rate | €250 to €500 per day | Coastal passages, and anywhere weather holds are likely |
| Per nautical mile | €3 to €8 (monohulls under 50 ft), €5 to €12 (catamarans and larger yachts) | Long, predictable offshore passages |
| Fixed fee | One figure for the whole job | Owners who want certainty up front |
Delivery skipper rates in the UK: route examples
Indicative all-in bands for a 40 ft cruising yacht, including the skipper's fee, fuel, marina fees, provisioning and travel home. UK skippers usually quote in pounds; the structure is the same. Under 40 ft comes in about 15 percent lower, 50 ft and up about 25 percent higher.
| Route | Distance | Days at sea | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salcombe to the Solent | 100 NM | 1 to 2 | €800 to €1,400 |
| Solent to Falmouth | 200 NM | 2 to 3 | €1,200 to €2,000 |
| Plymouth to Dublin | 300 NM | 2 to 3 | €1,500 to €2,500 |
| Amsterdam to the Solent | 300 NM | 2 to 3 | €1,500 to €2,500 |
| Solent to Largs | 700 NM | 5 to 7 | €3,000 to €5,000 |
| Solent to Gibraltar | 1,300 NM | 9 to 13 | €5,000 to €9,000 |
| Solent to Lagos | 1,500 NM | 10 to 14 | €6,000 to €10,000 |
What you pay on top of the skipper's rate
Billed separately, usually against receipts: fuel, the skipper's and crew's travel to the boat and home again, marina, mooring and lock fees, customs and paperwork, and provisioning. Paid crew, where the passage needs them, earn €150 to €300 a day. A fair quote lists all of this; if you get one number with no breakdown, ask for it.
A fair quote also counts every day the job takes: a day or two of preparation before departure, a day for handover at the destination, and the travel days either side. A five-day passage is often an eight-day job, and the skipper who says so is being straight with you.
What moves the rate up or down
Up: a Yachtmaster Ocean or MCA Master ticket rather than Yachtmaster Offshore, a bigger boat, a catamaran or motor yacht, high season (July and August captains are scarce), a fixed departure date, and a difficult passage such as Biscay in late autumn.
Down: flexible dates, and above all a skipper already sailing your way. A return leg or a linked trip takes the travel and standby costs out of the price, which is the single biggest saving available to you. Say so when you ask for offers.
Get real offers for your route
Rates are orientation; the real number comes from a skipper who has looked at your boat, your route and your dates. On Boat Gigs you post your delivery once, free. Tim, delivery skipper and founder, replies first with an indicative all-in price, and other skippers who sail the route apply with their own offers. You see their licences, verified certificates and sea miles, chat with them, and choose. You agree the price directly with the skipper.
Frequently asked
- How much does a delivery skipper charge per day in the UK?
- Experienced delivery skippers charge €250 to €500 a day, and UK skippers usually quote the equivalent in pounds. Fuel, marina fees, provisioning and the skipper's travel home are paid by the owner on top.
- How much does a delivery skipper charge per mile?
- On long passages many skippers quote per nautical mile: €3 to €8 for monohulls under 50 ft and €5 to €12 for catamarans and larger yachts, expenses on top.
- What does a yacht delivery from the Solent cost?
- For a 40 ft cruising yacht: Solent to Falmouth about €1,200 to €2,000 all-in, Solent to Largs €3,000 to €5,000, Solent to Gibraltar €5,000 to €9,000 and Solent to Lagos €6,000 to €10,000. Boats under 40 ft come in about 15 percent lower, 50 ft and up about 25 percent higher.
- Does Boat Gigs charge a fee on top of the skipper's rate?
- No. Posting a delivery and receiving offers is free, and there is no commission on either side. The price you agree with the skipper is the price you pay.
- How do I know a skipper is properly licensed?
- Every skipper on Boat Gigs has a public profile with their licences, sea miles and the boats they've sailed. Certificates they upload are checked by Tim before a Verified badge shows. Ask your insurer which licence your policy requires and check it against the profile before you accept.
Get offers from vetted skippers
Post your delivery free. Skippers who sail your route reply with their own price, you see their licences and certificates, and you choose. Your contact details stay private until you respond.
Post your delivery free