WHY CHOOSE PYD?
There are many yacht delivery services and choosing who should be entrusted with your yacht delivery can be confusing. One of our main strengths is that we are meticulous in our attention to detail. We take time to work with clients in understanding their expectations and on planning their trip.
At pyd our aim is to make every transaction straightforward, our pricing inclusive and to carry out every delivery professionally.
Pricing includes:
- Crew wages
- Surface travel costs
- All flight costs
- Food for the contract period
- Charts, almanacs and pilot books for the entire passage
- Cleaning and vessel condition report on arrival
- 24/7 weather routeing advice
- 24/7 parts and maintenance support to minimise delay
- Replacement crew costs if required
- Passage planning and log records
- Travel days, excluded from budgeted delivery time
Crew
On all passages we supply a minimum of 3 crew and on trans-ocean passages, 4 crew.
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Skipper: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualified. Will have sailed with pyd as a 1st Mate and been approved to work as a skipper by a current pyd skipper.
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1st Mate: RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualified and thoroughly vetted to work as 1st Mate
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Deckhands: Frequently RYA/MCA Yachtmaster qualified and as a minimum RYA/MCA Day Skipper qualified
Pre-delivery
On joining a vessel our crews spend at least 24 hours, even for short passages, checking all the boat's systems and in general preparation before setting out. This includes a detailed checklist covering the function of more than a hundred items of equipment and fittings from pushpit to pulpit and keel to masthead. Anything that is not serviceable and might have an effect on the delivery passage will be reported on and rectified before setting out. At the same time, all vulnerable areas of woodwork and upholstery below decks are encased in heavy-duty plastic sheeting and cladding to avoid any inadvertent damage while at sea in rough conditions. It’s a long and tedious process but it’s very much worth it to ensure that the owner’s prized saloon table and other joinery stay as immaculate as they were at the outset. Similarly, the mast spreaders are wrapped and taped to avoid unsightly alloy rub marks on the main sail that often occur when sailing downwind for extended periods.
On the safety side, we insist that the vessel has a liferaft that is serviced in-date and a suitable flare pack. Longer distance passages will also require a satellite phone for communications and an EPIRB, which we provide if necessary for a modest rental.
During Delivery
How does it work in practice once the formalities are complete and it’s finally time to get underway?
This is where the skippers really prove their mettle, by establishing and maintaining a rate of progress towards the destination that will minimise delay. Whenever possible, of course, this progress will be under sail but it is a fact of life that when the wind dies away or is stubbornly on the nose, the boat’s engine will also come into play. It is not uncommon for owners to join a delivery for an interesting leg of the passage and it can occasionally be a shock to the system to find that the delivery crew will routinely sail twenty four hours a day, with only brief stops as necessary for fuel, provisions or very severe weather. Commercial realities apply at all times and a yacht delivery passage is never a holiday for either the skipper or crew.
Safety is always the first priority and the skipper’s judgement at sea is never questioned. If he (or she) decides that the conditions are too rough to proceed then there’s nothing more to be said and they head for shelter, if possible. On the other hand, the level of experience and sailing expertise of pyd skippers allows them to make good progress in conditions of wind and wave that would keep most leisure sailors firmly in their bunks on dry land. The company’s policy is to sail conservatively and not over-stress sails, rigs or engines but it is also a fact that most owners under-estimate the design capabilities of their yachts and what they can do in safety when well -reefed down and handled with confidence and care. It takes a great deal to stop a determined delivery skipper.
On completion of all deliveries the Skipper provides a detailed assessment of the vessel and its systems so that owners have a full picture of their boat's condition and are able to immediately put in hand any repairs or modifications that may be necessary.
We never forget how important your boat is to you and ensure that you are kept informed as much as possible of progress during the passage. We organise every aspect of the trip and there is no need for a formal handover from the owner or his representative.
New Boat Deliveries
New boat deliveries are recommended by many of the leading boat builders and we have developed an unrivalled understanding of the special requirements in this field. Our experience means that we can help liaise with the owner, yard and broker to ensure that new boat sales and deliveries proceed as smoothly as possible.
In particular we can organise and provide necessary safety items and provide recommendations on the specification and installation of equipment. We can undertake handover with, or on behalf of the owner, checking condition and inventory at a time when the boat may seem new and unfamiliar.
In 2010, we delivered brand new yachts from Hallberg-Rassy, Oyster, Najad, Hanse, X-Yachts, Swan, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon, - a pedigree which we believe speaks for itself. Indeed, we are frequently entrusted with the delivery of manufacturers' exhibition yachts to the World's boat shows.
VAT and Importation
We can help with arrangements for VAT mitigation and other clearances. Our experience in this area regularly leads to substantial savings on importation into the EU - particularly on high value vessels.
If you feel we may be able to help with any aspect of your boating plans please do get in touch - you will find us responsive, knowledgeable and helpful, but above all professional.
