How does yacht delivery work? From first offer to handover

Short answer: a yacht delivery works in eight steps. You share the route, the boat and your timing; captains reply with offers; you compare their licences, experience and quotes; you choose one and agree a written contract; you check your insurance covers the passage; the captain prepares the boat and waits for a weather window; the boat is sailed to its destination while you get regular updates; and the captain hands it over and settles expenses with you. On Boat Gigs posting a delivery is free and your email and phone number stay off the public post.

What is a yacht delivery?#

A yacht delivery is a one-off passage in which a professional captain, often with crew, takes a boat from one port to another for its owner. Owners use it to move a boat to a new home port, to or from a season in another cruising area, to a yard for refit, or to a new owner after a sale. The owner is usually not on board.

Step 1: share your route, boat and timing#

Captains need four things to give you a useful offer: where from, where to, which boat (type and length) and when. Add anything that changes the job, such as a fixed arrival date, a boat that has not been used for a while, or known issues. On Boat Gigs you can post your delivery in about 90 seconds, or use the short form at the end of this page.

Every delivery is linked to an email account, so captains and Boat Gigs can always reach you about it. Your email and phone number are not shown on the public post.

Step 2: receive offers from captains#

Captain Tim, delivery captain and founder of Boat Gigs, replies to your post with an indicative all-in price. Other captains who sail your route can apply with a message and their own fee. You get an email for each new application, and you can read and answer them on the web or in the Boat Gigs app.

Step 3: compare captains, not just prices#

The lowest offer is rarely the one to pick. Look at:

• Licences that fit the passage, for example RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or Ocean
• Verified certificates, shown as badges on the captain's profile
• Experience with your type and size of boat, and with the route
• What the quote includes: day rate or fixed fee, and which expenses are billed on top
• How they communicate: a clear, specific reply is a good sign

What a fair quote looks like: What does yacht delivery cost? and real prices from real routes.

Step 4: agree terms in writing#

When you have chosen, accept the captain and put the details in a short written contract: route and dates, fee, expenses, crew, cancellation, liability and how you will get updates. Captains can only share phone numbers and email addresses in their messages once you have responded to them, so the first contact always runs through Boat Gigs. Payment is arranged directly between you and the captain. What the contract should cover: Yacht delivery insurance and contracts.

Step 5: check your insurance covers the delivery#

Before the boat moves, confirm with your insurer that the policy covers a delivery with this captain, on this route, in this season. Most policies set a minimum skipper qualification and navigation limits. Send the captain the relevant part of your policy.

Step 6: prepare the boat#

The captain will want the boat ready to go: engine serviced, rigging and sails checked, safety equipment in date and the ship's papers on board. Our owner's checklist lists what to sort out before handover. Expect the captain to spend a day or two on board checking systems and provisioning before departure.

Step 7: the passage#

The captain waits for a suitable weather window and sets off. Offshore, plan on roughly 100 to 150 nautical miles a day, so a 500 mile passage is about four to six days at sea. Agree how you will get updates, for example a daily message or a satellite tracker, and who decides on stops or diversions.

Step 8: arrival and handover#

At the destination the captain hands the boat over, reports anything that needs attention, and settles expenses with you against receipts. Go through the boat together if you can, and keep the report for your records.

How long does a yacht delivery take?#

Add a day or two for preparation and a day for handover. Weather can add more: a good captain waits rather than forcing a passage.

How much does a yacht delivery cost?#

Cost follows distance, boat size and route. As an all-in indication for a 40 ft cruising yacht, Palma de Mallorca to Gibraltar runs €1,500 to €2,500 and an Atlantic crossing €11,000 to €20,000. For your own route, use the calculator on yacht delivery routes and prices, or get an offer below.