Moving from Mallorca to Italy

Screwie

Member
Joined
29 Dec 2017
Messages
28
Visit site
Hey all,

I would like to move my boat (Sunseeker Manhattan 60) from Mallorca to Italy. I can't do it myself as I don't have the right license etc.

What is the best way to go about this? I guess I need to hire a captain in Mallorca who then waits for the right weather and moves it to Italy and flies back? Does anyone have any experience with this? And if so, can anyone recommend a captain that they have had a good experience with?

Thanks for any help!
 
I am not sure what licence you perceive you need?

If you can captain it in Mallorca you can take it to Italy.

If coded AND on charter then I suppose there would be the distance from shore rules etc, but i assume this is you moving your own boat.

I have done this 2 ways - and it would depend on where in Italy you were heading! Mallorca, Mainland, Bay of Roses, along french coast. Longest crossing is circa 130 miles across the bay of roses. You could head straight to the Marseilles from Ciutedela but this is 210 miles which is getting close to the range of most boats like this ( you can always start at displacement speed i suppose).

Other option is Mahon - Sardinia - Italy - crossing is about 190 miles.

Given it is the end of the season and the boat was probably serviced at the start I would replace fuel filters given the nominal cost. Also make sure the bottom and props are clean. At the weekend I was 1700 rpm, 17 knots 195 lph. I knew props were dirty ( 4 weeks in Palma only). Went out in scuba kit and cleaned it all up - and it is by no means perfect - 1700 rpm, 19 knots and 160 lph - so if you are going a long way the cost is huge and the risk of running out of fuel far higher!

If you want help moving it let me know.

Do bear in mind the crossings are relatively long and the weather is now generally on a down hill trend so I would aim to be moving it in the next 3-4 weeks.
 
Well, the reason is that I only have the RYA day skipper and I am a total novice... so I guess even if I was allowed with the day skipper, I'm not sure I should do that without experienced help...

Good tip on cleaning, that seems to be a big problem here in Mallorca at least. Seems to clog stuff up pretty quickly.
 
The guys who look after my boat have also done deliveries from italy to mallorca many times. They delivered my boat from france to mallorca. If you want their number to discuss prices let me know.
 
I have used commercial skippers many times to move my boat in the Med. One thing you absolutely have to do is to get your insurance company's explicit confirmation that your existing insurance policy covers the boat for the delivery trip because I assume you will not be on board. That will very likely mean sending a copy of the skipper's commercial licence and his passport to your insurance company for their approval. Obviously you should also check that the skipper has experience with motorboats of this size and type and agree a daily fee up front for him and his crew. You may have to transfer a cash sum in advance to his/her account to buy fuel and berthing for the trip

I have a skipper I have used regularly but he is based in France. It would probably be a good idea to contact the Sunseeker office in Majorca to get them to recommend a skipper because for sure they will have used skippers to move boats
 
I know an Italian guy who we used for Naples /Cannes .
I was onboard as crew .
About 600 miles over two long days motoring at P speed .We had a few days weather window waiting in Corsica .
It took the guy about 5 days in all and €2000 ish from memory.
His local knowledge was invaluable dealing with fuel opening times , marina berthing and for us Guardia Finanza .
On that note make sure all the boats paperwork is in order .You don,t want them challenging anything .

You fund his travel to the start and then ,home from the finish .You fund the sudsistance and of course the fuel ,marina fees and AN other exoences .
Yup to clean sterngear etc .
Pm me for his e-mail
 
Do you have any friends that have the experience.
Apart from an ICC which you could get with your Day Skipper, you don't need any qualifications.
None of it is "rocket science".
IMO, you would get lots out if it by moving her yourself.
Lots of help on this forum
Lots of places enroute.
Carloforte for example.

I would hate to have a lovely boat like yours and hand it to someone else to enjoy.

Long passages are the best part of owning a boat.
 
Do you have any friends that have the experience.
Apart from an ICC which you could get with your Day Skipper, you don't need any qualifications.
None of it is "rocket science".
IMO, you would get lots out if it by moving her yourself.
Lots of help on this forum
Lots of places enroute.
Carloforte for example.

I would hate to have a lovely boat like yours and hand it to someone else to enjoy.

Long passages are the best part of owning a boat.

Totally agree with this, it's a great way to gain experience of more than just 'bay hopping'. If the OP has a couple of mates with the time available and at least one of them has some experience, then that would be fine. If no one has sufficient experience (and no one on here puts their hand up!) then I'd go across the middle (Mahon to Alghero, round to Olbia then across to mainland Italy) and just pay a skipper to do the two open water bits. Possibly only one open water bit depending on where in Italy he wants to end up... Have done it a few times myself at displacement speed through the night and it was fantastic.
 
Thanks for all the tips (and even offers of help), very much appreciated! Funnily enough, when I was in Mallorca this weekend I met our neighbour and he turns out to be an ex-Sunseeker captain and willing to help out with a lot of stuff and would even help take the boat across when we want to!

I had a few bad experiences with (sales)people trying to 'help' me with the problems with my boat (one of the reasons I wanted to get out of Mallorca quickly) but now feel much more optimistic. Also this forum is really cool, you guys are all really helpful and nice, I guess as always it's just about network and meeting the right people.Thanks again to all for all the offers of help and tips!
 
The op is heading to Genoa area
Where did he mention that? I can only see Italy as a generic destination.
Anyway, also assuming that he's heading to Genoa, the route trough Sardinia and Corsica is worth considering, imho.
The longest open sea passage is from Mahon to Alghero, 190Nm or so - well within the range of a 60 footer, anyway.
But from there onward, it's all coastal cruising ('cept the last leg when leaving Corsica), along a really beautiful coastline.
And by heart, I believe that the overall distance from Mallorca to Genoa is not much longer compared to mainland Spain+SoF.

Happy to assist if Screwie would decide to follow Hurricane suggestion and head towards my second home in S of Sardinia instead.
But of course, that wouldn't be make sense for anyone just interested to reach Genoa.
It's rather the most typical stopover for transfers from the Balearics to S Italy/Sicily/Adriatic/Greece.
So, it really depends on the final destination, I reckon.

What I wholeheartedly agree with is that I'd never leave to a skipper the fun of such a great cruise.
Keep us posted about it, regardless of your final route! :encouragement:
 
Top