Yacht delivery skipper - any recommendations?

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Sidedrum

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I'm hopefully going to be in need of a delivery skipper for a small yacht (28') delivery from Newcastle to Inverness in April. I'm particularly looking for someone with plenty of experience of older boats and I'm not really interested in the bigger firms - 'minimum crew of three' implies their deliveries are generally on yachts with more than three berths!

If any forum members have recommendations based on personal experience, I'd be very grateful to hear them.

Many thanks in anticipation.
 
Sidedrum said:
I'm hopefully going to be in need of a delivery skipper for a small yacht (28') delivery from Newcastle to Inverness in April. I'm particularly looking for someone with plenty of experience of older boats and I'm not really interested in the bigger firms - 'minimum crew of three' implies their deliveries are generally on yachts with more than three berths!

If any forum members have recommendations based on personal experience, I'd be very grateful to hear them.

Many thanks in anticipation.
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Here is a video taken during the recent delivery of a 28ft yacht... We had three on board and it was cosy!


I have an excellent Skipper based not far from Newcastle, he will be busy in the early part of the month but could possibly help depending on the exact dates you require.

All the best,

Pete
 
Thanks Jonic, and to everyone else who has replied.

The problem I'm trying to solve is this: I'm buying a boat. Therefore the boat's new to me. And I need her to sail from Newcastle to Inverness no later than 21 April.

Ideally, I get to take her up there, with or without crew. Alternatively I crew, with or without a delivery skipper + another crew - the variables here are because I've work commitments so limited time. Maybe I've too many options here - but every penny I spend on getting the boat to Inverness reduces what I can spend on the modifications to make her my own.

So as I said in my OP, I'm after personal recommendations.
 
Sidedrum said:
So as I said in my OP, I'm after personal recommendations.
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I've known the chaps who operate the company in the link in my previous post for over five years. The founder was Griff Rhys Jones' skipper for several years before he got married and set up 'Thumbs up'. Based in Scarborough too so not a million miles from Newcastle.
 
Thanks to everyone who's replied, here or by PM. Fingers crossed I've got a window to take the boat up myself with a willing crew (as in willing to join my learning curve on a new boat) first week of April. If the weather's truly foul then I may have to revert to plan B and employ the delivery skipper and crew.
 
Woodlouse said:
I've known the chaps who operate the company in the link in my previous post for over five years. The founder was Griff Rhys Jones' skipper for several years before he got married and set up 'Thumbs up'. Based in Scarborough too so not a million miles from Newcastle.
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Thanks for the kind words Woodlouse! Scotland is a fantastic place to get your yacht delivered to! In fact, we recently went on a holiday up to the Highlands with my Albacore dinghy in tow, we got some great photos and I also did a little write up of the reasons to get your yacht delivered to Scotland.
Check it out here: http://sailingyachtdelivery.com/yachtdeliverynews/yacht-delivery-scotland/

Lets just say we'll definitely be going back!!
 
When I bought my boat a few years ago I took her up the east coast from Essex to Newcastle. Things tend to break on boats that haven't been used much recently. There isn't much shelter from a North Easterly once north of Newcastle and marinas are a bit thin on the ground so have good ground tackle.

Sidedrum said:
Thanks to everyone who's replied, here or by PM. Fingers crossed I've got a window to take the boat up myself with a willing crew (as in willing to join my learning curve on a new boat) first week of April. If the weather's truly foul then I may have to revert to plan B and employ the delivery skipper and crew.
Click to expand...
 
Agreed. The NE up here can be extremely vicious, especially in the North Sea's relatively shallow water! The surf we get up here in the winter is obvious proof of this, Nonetheless it makes for hardy sailors!
 
I would add another vote for Halcyon yacht delivery. My 28 foot Trapper 501 was delivered from Pembroke Dock in Wales to Troon this March. See link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D02bQ0T1qTc
Delivery was very professionally carried out and I got a very good all inclusive price that was less than road transport, plus you have the advantage that an experienced sailor has just sailed your boat on a decent passage and can give you many tips and pointers about your own boat before you have to take over! Would def recommend
 
Hi
I would be interested to learn more about your planned trip. I am 53 hold a Yachtmaster Power/Sail with a commercial indorsement and have over 30 years experience. I am well acquainted with older boats having had and maintained a large Hillyard for many years.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards
Mark
 
You should also get an estimate for having the boat put on a truck. If you do end up paying a delivery skipper you will have his or her fee, harbour dues for stops on the way, diesel.... It all mounts up and for that sort of distance up an unforgiving coast an overland delivery can be more cost effective. We often see a lot of E and N in the winds in April and you could easily find yourself stuck in, say, Peterhead for several days.
 
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