Short answer: delivering your own yacht saves the skipper’s fee, but it usually takes more time than owners expect and adds risk when the passage is long, offshore or out of season. A professional delivery crew makes sense when the route includes open-water legs such as the Bay of Biscay or an ocean crossing, when the yacht must arrive by a fixed date, when you cannot spare several weeks, or when your insurer asks for a qualified skipper. Many owners choose a middle way: they join a professional crew on board and learn their yacht on the passage.
“Should I deliver my own yacht?” is a fair question — especially after buying a boat abroad or when moving to a new home port. There is no single right answer, but there is a right way to decide. Below, both options are compared honestly by people who deliver yachts for a living.
The real cost of doing it yourself
- Your time: a delivery from Denmark to the Mediterranean takes three to four weeks, plus days waiting for weather.
- Crew: offshore legs need at least two or three experienced people — their travel, food and time off work.
- Running costs: fuel, marinas and provisions cost the same whoever is at the helm.
- Insurance: some policies require a minimum crew, a qualified skipper or approval for offshore passages. Check yours before you plan.
- Wear and repairs: a mistake on an unfamiliar route — a fouled propeller, a gear failure in a seaway — can cost more than the skipper’s fee.
Side by side
| Doing it yourself | Professional delivery crew | |
|---|---|---|
| Skipper fee | None | Day rate or fixed price |
| Your time | The whole passage | A briefing and the handover |
| Knowledge of the route | Varies | Routine, often sailed many times |
| Crew | You find and organise it | Included and experienced |
| Weather routing | Your own judgement | Professional, with backup |
| Insurance | May need your insurer’s approval | Usually accepted — still check the policy |
| Waiting for weather | Limited by your holiday | Built into the plan |
| Getting to know the yacht | Yes | Possible if you join the crew |
When doing it yourself makes sense
- The route is coastal, in season, with plenty of safe harbours.
- You know the yacht well and have offshore experience.
- Your schedule is flexible enough to wait for good weather.
- You have a reliable, experienced crew available for the whole trip.
When to hire professionals
- Open water: the Bay of Biscay, the North Sea in autumn or an Atlantic crossing.
- An unfamiliar yacht: a newly bought boat whose systems and quirks you do not know yet — see our guide for owners who bought a yacht abroad.
- A deadline: a charter season, a sale or a boat show.
- Complex motor yachts: engine-room checks around the clock and careful fuel planning.
- The shoulder seasons: autumn and winter passages with shorter weather windows.
The middle way: sail with the crew
You do not have to choose between doing everything yourself and handing over the keys. On our Co-Captain Passage, the owner joins as part of the crew alongside an experienced skipper-instructor, standing watches, handling the boat and learning passage planning — while the professional takes responsibility for the delivery. It is the fastest way to get to know a new yacht safely. See our delivery packages.
What a professional delivery costs and how long it takes
Most deliveries are priced per day or per mile plus expenses. Read how delivery pricing works and typical passage times for popular routes to compare with your own plan.
Questions to ask before you decide
- Have I sailed this kind of route, in this season, before?
- Do I have an experienced crew for every leg — including night watches?
- What does my insurance policy say about offshore passages and crew?
- Can I wait a week in port if the weather is wrong?
- What would a breakdown or injury at sea cost me in time and money?
Talk to a delivery captain
Not sure which option fits your route? Tell us where the yacht is, where it should go and how much you would like to be involved. We will give you an honest recommendation and a clear quote. Get in touch.
Related guides
- How to choose a yacht delivery skipper
- Yacht delivery insurance guide
- New yacht delivery from the shipyard
- Joining your own yacht delivery
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to deliver my own yacht?
You save the skipper’s fee, but fuel, marinas, food and crew travel cost the same, and your own time has a value. On long or offshore routes the difference is often smaller than expected.
Do I need qualifications to deliver my own yacht?
It depends on the flag, the countries on the route and your insurer. Many owners need at least an ICC or a national certificate, and insurers may ask for offshore experience or a minimum crew.
Can I join a professional yacht delivery as the owner?
Often, yes. Many delivery companies, including ours, let owners join as crew and learn the yacht during the passage.
When is a professional delivery crew the better choice?
For open-water legs, ocean crossings, tight deadlines, unfamiliar yachts and passages outside the main sailing season.