Delivery/assisted passage skipper. Recommendations please.

[peterandjeanette]

Wife and I are looking to take our boat - Jeanneau 45DS - from Southampton to Gibraltar in April.

We accept that we do not have enough experience ourselves to cover such a journey by ourselves and need the assistance of a professional skipper and crew for the trip.

We have already received a couple of quotes but need recommendations to help us decide on the appropriate "companions" for the journey.

Having searched this forum we have noted several names. Some good, some bad. If you have any knowledge of assisted passage skippers please let me know. If you don't want to name and shame any bad ones that you feel we should avoid you can always PM me.

Many thanks

 

[Tranona]

I used Max Walker for a similar trip (the other way). As you know, most skippers will be self employed and the contact will be through an agent like Max. You will get a choice, usually with a CV and testimonials, but then you really need to meet your short list and assess whether you would be happy with the individual. It is crucial if you are going on the trip to have confidence not only in their ability but also be able to get along with them. It is different from a delivery trip where you are only interested in their ability to safely deliver your boat.

I was "lucky" - I considered about 5 possibles, and the first one I met ticked all my boxes and was available when I wanted. Worked out OK - only a couple of short minor tiffs on the way.

Don't think it right to give individual recommendations as the choice is personal. As your boat is here, you may want to consider a "trial marriage" - say a weekend passage before deciding for real.

Good luck - if you get it right it will be a great experience.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Wife and I are looking to take our boat - Jeanneau 45DS - from Southampton to Gibraltar in April.

Assuming your final objective is actually the Med, not Gib, you might want to have the staff with you through the Straits, which can dish up some unpleasant conditions.

 

[jordanbasset]

Having seen your profile you are very experienced, do you need a professional skipper or would a couple of crew be sufficient.
We did it with a lot less experience from you. Okay we did take our time and there were mishaps but we never felt in danger. Also meant we could stay in places we liked without the constant thought we needed to move on.
Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[peterandjeanette]

Having seen your profile you are very experienced, do you need a professional skipper or would a couple of crew be sufficient.
We did it with a lot less experience from you. Okay we did take our time and there were mishaps but we never felt in danger. Also meant we could stay in places we liked without the constant thought we needed to move on.
Good luck with whatever you decide

"Very experienced" Possibly, but have to 'fess up - only on mobos.

Just joined the dark side having been a mobo man all my life ( so far ) so experience of sailing limited to flotilla holidays, bareboat charters and Day Skipper training.

We need to get to Gibraltar within 2 - 3 weeks of departure. (Departing Mid April) Our intention is to leave the boat there for 3 weeks whilst we return home to work, then go back out and spend another three weeks on holiday going up to Sant Carles - possibly with a visit to Ibeza en route.

Thanks for all the replies that have been sent, especially the PMs. Will discuss with 'er indoors tonight.

 

[jordanbasset]

Understand, best of luck

 

[mph]

Delivery - UK to GIB

PM Sent

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

We would be delighted to help. I will call you to discuss further...

Pete

 

[BlueSkyNick]

We need to get to Gibraltar within 2 - 3 weeks of departure. (Departing Mid April) Our intention is to leave the boat there for 3 weeks whilst we return home to work, then go back out and spend another three weeks on holiday going up to Sant Carles - possibly with a visit to Ibeza en route.
.

As TwistedKen says, the conditions in the Straits can be yucky - before we made the trip in the opposite direction I worried about this for 4 months. Apparently, the wind blows into the Med for 5 days, has a day off, then blows out for 5 days. We were very lucky to get there on a quiet day and had to motor past Tarifa - well known as a windsurfing location because of its strong breezes!

So my tip would be not to commit to Gib (which has its own problems) because you might arrive there on a good day and want to keep going. Its another 140miles to Almerimar (ignoring Porta Banus, etc) which is sheltered and cheap. Its half an hour by taxi to Almeria airport, which has regular SquEasyJet flights to Gatwick.

Conversely, Lagos on the Algarve would be a good stopping point, with flights home from Faro.