Key takeaways
- ✓Write down the route, dates window and what “delivered” means.
- ✓Agree the fee model (day rate or fixed fee) and which expenses the owner pays.
- ✓Confirm the insurance covers a delivery crew and the route.
- ✓The skipper must have final say on safety and departure.
- ✓Do a condition report with photos at pickup and delivery.
Scope and route
- •Departure and destination ports, and a realistic date window.
- •Planned stops for fuel, crew changes or customs.
- •What counts as completed delivery (berthed, handed over, keys returned).
Fees and expenses
- •Day rate or fixed fee — and what happens to a fixed fee if the trip takes longer.
- •Who pays fuel, marina fees, food, flights, transfers and accommodation.
- •Payment schedule: deposit, balance, and how expenses are reimbursed (receipts).
- •Waiting days for weather: paid, half-paid or included.
Insurance and responsibility
- •The yacht’s insurance must cover the delivery, the route and the crew.
- •Clarify the skipper’s liability and any excess or deductible.
- •Crew should have their own travel and medical insurance.
Ask your insurer in writing whether a professional delivery crew and the planned route are covered.
Safety and authority
- •The skipper decides when it is safe to sail — the owner can agree a window, not force a departure.
- •Required safety equipment on board and in date.
- •Minimum crew number and qualifications for the passage.
- •What happens if the boat is found unfit to sail at pickup.
Condition, logs and handover
- •Condition report with photos at pickup and on arrival.
- •Daily position or log updates to the owner.
- •List of faults found and fixed on the way, with costs.
- •Handover of documents, keys and a short delivery report.
If something goes wrong
- •How repairs on the way are approved and paid.
- •Cancellation by either side and what is owed.
- •How disputes are handled and which law applies.
Frequently asked questions
Should a yacht delivery have a written contract?+
Yes. A short written agreement on route, fees, expenses, insurance and the skipper’s authority prevents most disputes.
Who pays for delays caused by weather?+
It depends on the agreement. Many day-rate deliveries pay waiting days; fixed-fee deliveries often include a set number of weather days.
Who decides when the boat leaves?+
The skipper has final authority on safety and departure. The owner can agree a date window, not force a departure in unsafe conditions.
What is a condition report?+
A record — ideally with photos — of the yacht’s condition and equipment at pickup and at delivery, signed by both sides.
Sources
- RYA — Commercial endorsements and safety training
- World Sailing — Offshore Special Regulations
- Yacht delivery insurance guide (Maritime Delivery guide)
- Yacht delivery cost guide (Maritime Delivery guide)
- How to hire a yacht delivery skipper (Maritime Delivery guide)
- How long does a yacht delivery take? (Maritime Delivery guide)
Put it to work