A yacht delivery involves a valuable asset, a crew, the weather and often several countries. Before any yacht leaves the dock, owner and delivery company should agree in writing on how the job will be done. This guide explains the points a delivery agreement should cover, so you know what to look for when comparing quotes. It is general information, not legal advice.

1. The parties and the yacht

• The owner, or the person authorised by the owner, and the delivery company, with full company details.
• The yacht: name, flag, registration number, make and model, length and engine.
• Confirmation that the person signing is the owner or has written authority from the owner — this is also needed at borders and in marinas.

2. The route and the timing

• The departure and arrival ports, and any planned stops.
• A departure window rather than a fixed date, because the skipper must be free to wait for safe weather.
• How the yacht is handed over at both ends — keys, documents and a condition report.

3. The price: fixed fee or daily rate

Deliveries are usually priced as a fixed fee for the route or as a daily rate per crew member. The agreement should state clearly which applies, and exactly what is included and what is extra:

• Skipper and crew fees.
• Crew travel to and from the yacht.
• Food and provisions on board.
• Fuel, marina and lock fees, canal and cruising taxes.
• Agents and clearance costs.

Read our guide to what a yacht delivery costs for typical price levels and what drives them.

4. Weather delays and standby days

Every honest delivery quote includes some allowance for weather. The contract should say how many weather days are included in the price, and what happens if the crew has to wait longer — for example, a reduced daily standby rate. It should also be clear that the decision to sail or wait belongs to the skipper.

5. The skipper’s authority

The skipper must have full authority over the yacht and crew during the delivery, including the right to change the route, to seek shelter, to refuse to sail an unseaworthy yacht and to end the delivery if the yacht cannot be made safe. This protects the yacht, the crew and the owner. If the owner joins the trip, he or she sails as crew under the skipper’s command — see our guide to joining your own delivery.

6. The owner’s obligations

• A seaworthy yacht with the required safety equipment, in good working order.
• Valid registration, ownership documents, VAT documents and radio licence on board.
• Insurance covering the yacht and third-party liability for the route, the dates and the delivery crew.

Our preparation checklist lists what owners typically need to arrange.

7. Insurance and liability

The owner’s yacht insurance normally covers the hull and third-party liability during the delivery, and the insurer should be told about it in advance. A professional delivery company should also carry its own insurance for its skippers and its work. The contract should state who is responsible for what, and any limits of liability. Read our yacht delivery insurance guide.

8. Inspection and repairs

The agreement should allow for a pre-departure inspection and say what happens if problems are found: how the owner is informed, the amount the skipper may spend on urgent repairs without asking first, and how those costs are paid.

9. Payment and cancellation

• A deposit on booking and the timing of the remaining payments.
• How expenses are documented and settled — usually with receipts.
• What happens if the owner cancels or postpones, or if the delivery has to stop because the yacht is not seaworthy.

10. Communication and handover

A good agreement also covers how the owner is kept informed — daily position reports or online tracking — and what the handover includes: a condition report, the logbook and a list of any faults found on the way. Our handover checklist shows what we hand over.

Clear agreements with Nordic Crew Worldwide

Every delivery we take on is confirmed in a written agreement that covers the route, the price and what it includes, weather days, insurance, repairs and handover. Nordic Crew Worldwide S.L. is registered in Spain, and all deliveries are covered by our own professional skipper insurance. Request a quote and we will send you a clear proposal.

Related guides

• How to choose a delivery skipper
• Deliver it yourself or hire a crew?
• How long a delivery takes

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• RYA — Delivery skippers and crew
• Simpson Marine — A buyer’s guide to yacht contracts
• World Sailing — Offshore Special Regulations

Many owners like to be on board when their yacht is delivered, especially after buying a new or second-hand yacht. Others prefer to hand over the keys and meet the yacht at her new home port. Both are fine. This guide explains what it means to join a delivery as the owner, what the benefits are, and what to think about before you sign on.

Why owners join a delivery

• Learn the yacht: a delivery is often the first real passage on a new yacht. Sailing her day and night, in different conditions, teaches you more than months of short day trips.
• Learn from professionals: you see how an experienced skipper plans a passage, reads the weather, runs the watches and handles problems — knowledge you take with you on your own trips.
• Find the faults early: issues that only show up after several days at sea are found while a professional crew is on board, and can be fixed under warranty or before the season starts.
• A better handover: you already know how the systems work when the yacht arrives. See our handover checklist.
• The experience: for many owners, an offshore passage on their own yacht is simply a great trip.

The skipper is in command

When the owner joins a professional delivery, the skipper is responsible for the yacht and the crew, and has the final say on routing, weather, watches and safety. This is essential: the skipper is accountable for the delivery and must be able to make decisions — including to wait for better weather or change the route — without negotiating them. We discuss this openly before departure. In practice, most owners find it a relief to let someone else carry the responsibility for a while.

What the owner does on board

An owner on board is a full member of the crew. That usually means standing watches with one of our crew members, helping with sail handling, cooking and keeping the yacht tidy, and following the safety routines — lifejacket and harness at night and in bad weather, clipping on when leaving the cockpit, and so on. Owners with offshore experience can take a larger role; those with less experience are paired with a crew member. Read more about crew size and watch systems.

Things to agree before departure

• Crew list and insurance: the owner must be on the crew list, and the yacht’s insurance and our skipper insurance must cover the owner as crew. Check your own personal accident and health cover as well. See our delivery insurance guide.
• Experience and fitness: a delivery can mean several days and nights at sea, sometimes in rough weather. Be honest about your experience and any health issues or seasickness.
• Dates and flexibility: the departure date depends on the weather, so leave some flexibility in your plans, or join for a leg with easy flights at both ends.
• Cabins and provisions: we agree on berths, food and how costs on board are shared.
• Which legs to join: many owners join a short, easy leg or the final leg into the home port, rather than a long offshore passage such as the Bay of Biscay.

Does it change the price?

Usually not much. The delivery is still planned and crewed by our professional team, so the main costs stay the same. On some yachts, an experienced owner can replace one crew member on certain legs, which can reduce the cost slightly — but safety and watch rotation always come first. See our guide to what a yacht delivery costs for the main price factors.

Join your delivery with Nordic Crew Worldwide

Owners are always welcome on board our deliveries. Our Scandinavian captains enjoy sharing what they know, and we plan the trip so that you get the most out of it — whether you join for the whole passage or for a single leg. All deliveries are covered by our own professional skipper insurance. Tell us about your yacht and when you would like to sail. If you are still deciding, read our comparison of delivering the yacht yourself or hiring a crew.

Related guides

• How to choose a delivery skipper
• Preparing your yacht for delivery
• Buying a yacht abroad

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• RYA — Royal Yachting Association
• World Sailing — Offshore Special Regulations
• Watchkeeping

Most owners think of yacht deliveries as a spring and autumn job. In practice, many yachts move in the winter months: to reach a yard for a refit, to be in place for the first charters, to follow a new owner after a sale or to cross the Atlantic with the trade winds. This guide explains when a winter delivery is a good idea, which routes work, and how a professional crew plans one.

Why deliver a yacht in winter?

• Ready for the season: a yacht moved in winter arrives in time for spring maintenance and is ready to use as soon as the season starts.
• Yard and refit schedules: many yards have their best availability, and their best prices, between November and March.
• After a sale: yachts are often bought in autumn, and the new owner wants her in the home port before spring.
• Quiet marinas: berths are easier to find and often cheaper along the way.
• Trade-wind season: the classic Atlantic crossing from the Canaries to the Caribbean runs from late November to January.

Which routes work in winter?

Within the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is the most common winter delivery area. Weather systems pass through more often than in summer and the mistral, tramontane, bora and levante can blow hard, but most passages are short enough to fit between two systems. With a flexible start date, deliveries along the Spanish, French and Italian coasts and out to the islands are routine. See our overview of Mediterranean routes.

To and from the Canaries and across the Atlantic

From Gibraltar or Portugal, the route south to the Canary Islands is often pleasant in late autumn, and from late November the trade winds carry yachts from the Canaries to the Caribbean. See our guide to delivering a yacht from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.

Northern Europe and the Bay of Biscay

The North Sea, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay see frequent Atlantic gales from October to April. A winter crossing of Biscay is possible, but it may mean waiting days or weeks for a safe window, so it suits owners with a flexible timeline. In the Baltic and Scandinavia, ice, frozen harbours and very short days make deliveries from December to March difficult, and many marinas close their facilities.

How we plan a winter delivery

• Flexible start date: we agree a departure window rather than a fixed day, and leave when a reliable weather window opens. Our weather routing guide explains how we choose it.
• Shorter legs: we plan the route with more stops and a safe harbour for every leg, so the crew can wait out a gale in port rather than at sea.
• Experienced crew: long, cold nights are tiring, so we often add a crew member and plan a watch system that keeps everyone rested. See our guide to crew size and watch systems.
• Yacht preparation: heating, good lighting, charged batteries, fresh fuel filters, and a check for diesel bug in fuel that has stood since the summer. Our preparation checklist covers the details.
• Safety equipment: immersion suits or drysuits for cold water, lifejackets with lights and personal AIS beacons, and jacklines rigged before departure. Read our offshore safety checklist.
• Fuel and marina hours: many fuel docks and marina offices have shorter hours in winter, so we confirm them before each leg.

Check the insurance before a winter delivery

Many yacht insurance policies have seasonal navigation limits or a laid-up period in winter, especially in Northern Europe. If the yacht is to move during that period, the owner must ask the insurer to extend the cover for the delivery. We check this with you before every winter trip — see our delivery insurance guide.

Winter yacht delivery with Nordic Crew Worldwide

Our Scandinavian captains have grown up sailing in cold, demanding waters and deliver yachts all year round. From our base in Málaga we cover the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast and Northern Europe, plan every winter delivery around safe weather windows and stopovers, and keep you updated from the dock to the handover. All deliveries are covered by our own professional skipper insurance. Plan your winter delivery with us.

Related guides

• The best season for each route
• How long a delivery takes
• Deliver it yourself or hire a crew?

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• RYA — Royal Yachting Association
• Met Office — Coast and sea forecasts
• Trade winds

“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

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

1. Have I sailed this kind of route, in this season, before?
2. Do I have an experienced crew for every leg — including night watches?
3. What does my insurance policy say about offshore passages and crew?
4. Can I wait a week in port if the weather is wrong?
5. 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

Sources

• International Certificate of Competence (ICC)
• Yachting Monthly — Yacht deliveries: how to get your yacht from A to B

“How long will it take?” is one of the first questions owners ask, because the answer decides crew costs, marina bookings and when the yacht can be used again. Here is how we estimate it — and how long a yacht delivery really takes on Europe’s most popular routes.

The simple formula

Time at sea = distance ÷ average speed. The important word is average. A yacht that cruises at 7 knots rarely averages 7 knots over a long passage: headwinds, waves, tidal streams and slowing down for safety all reduce it. We usually plan a sailing yacht at about 5–6.5 knots, and a displacement motor yacht at about a knot below its economical cruising speed. Then we add time for:

• waiting for a safe weather window;
• fuel, water and provisioning stops;
• crew rest after long legs;
• customs clearance, canals and locks;
• a buffer for small repairs.

Typical daily distances

Passage times for popular routes

Distances are approximate and depend on the exact ports and route. For the long routes, read our guides from Scandinavia to the Med, the Med to the Caribbean and back to Europe via the Azores.

What makes a delivery take longer

• Weather windows: waiting for the right window before Biscay, the Gulf of Lion or an ocean crossing can add days. See how we choose weather windows.
• Season: winter brings more gales and shorter days; see the best months for each route.
• Fuel range: motor yachts need planned fuel stops, and a headwind increases consumption.
• Canals, locks and clearance: the Kiel Canal, the French canals and customs ports all keep their own hours.
• The yacht’s condition: problems found before or during the passage need fixing; our preparation checklist helps avoid them.
• Crew size: a larger crew can sail nonstop safely, while a crew of two needs more rest stops. Read about crew size and watch systems.

Nonstop or day hops?

Coastal day hops are comfortable but slow: a yacht that stops every night covers perhaps 40–70 miles a day. Professional deliveries usually sail nonstop on suitable legs, with a watch system that keeps the yacht moving around the clock. That is the main reason a delivery crew moves a yacht much faster than an owner cruising the same coast.

Time and cost go together

Most deliveries are priced per day or per mile, plus expenses, so time and cost go hand in hand. A realistic schedule with buffer days for weather prevents rushed decisions at sea — and avoids surprises on the final invoice. See how delivery pricing works.

Get a time and cost estimate

Tell us where your yacht is, where it needs to go and when it must arrive. We will send a realistic schedule with buffer days and a clear, itemised quote. Ask for an estimate.

Related guides

• Yacht delivery in Europe
• Canary Islands yacht delivery guide
• Motor yacht fuel and range planning

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Nautical mile
• Hull speed
• World Cruising Club — Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)

Owners still move yachts across the Channel and the North Sea every week — after a purchase in the UK, for a move to a Mediterranean berth or to return home after a season in Britain. Brexit did not stop any of this, but it added steps that cost time and money when they are missed. This guide covers the customs, VAT and paperwork side of a delivery after Brexit, plus the routes and timing we use. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.

What changed after Brexit

• Customs: every crossing between the UK and the EU is a customs border. The yacht and crew must report on departure and arrival.
• VAT: UK VAT and EU VAT are now separate systems. A yacht can be VAT-paid in one and not in the other.
• Immigration: UK crew are non-EU citizens in the Schengen area, limited to 90 days in any 180, and EU crew are visitors in the UK.
• Ports: the yacht must arrive at a port where customs and immigration can clear it, not just any marina.

Leaving the UK: notifying Border Force

The UK asks skippers of pleasure craft to tell UK Border Force about international voyages with a pleasure craft report, normally submitted online before departure, with details of the yacht, the crew and the planned route. The rules for arriving in the UK are stricter than for leaving, and they have changed several times since 2021, so we check the current guidance on GOV.UK before every delivery and keep a copy of the report on board.

Arriving in the EU: clearing in

On arrival in the EU, the yacht must clear in at a port of entry. In practice this means:

• sailing directly to a port with customs and border police, flying the yellow Q flag where required;
• presenting the passports of everyone on board, the registration document, insurance and proof of VAT status;
• registering non-EU crew — since late 2025 the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travellers at Schengen external borders, and an ETIAS travel authorisation is planned to follow;
• declaring anything dutiable, such as large quantities of alcohol or tobacco.

Procedures differ by country and sometimes by port. Cherbourg, Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, IJmuiden and the larger Spanish and Portuguese ports handle yachts regularly, while some small marinas cannot clear a yacht at all. We confirm the clearance port before departure.

VAT: the question that decides everything

Owners who bought a yacht in the UK should also read our guide to bringing a yacht home after a purchase abroad. If the yacht’s VAT history is unclear, ask a VAT specialist before the crew sets sail — a delivery cannot fix a VAT problem at the border.

Paperwork checklist for a UK–EU delivery

• Registration — for example the UK Ship Register (Part 1 or the Small Ships Register) or an EU flag — and, if the owner is not on board, a signed letter of authority for the skipper.
• Proof of VAT status — the original invoice, a customs entry or a VAT-paid certificate.
• Insurance covering both UK and EU waters and a professional crew; see what to check in our guide to delivery insurance.
• Ship radio licence and the crew’s radio operator certificates.
• Crew list and passports, plus the skipper’s and crew’s qualifications.
• Fuel receipts — some EU countries have questioned UK marked (red) diesel in a pleasure craft’s tank, so carry receipts and check the current rules.
• CE documentation for yachts built after 1998, especially if the yacht will be sold or imported in the EU.

Popular routes from the UK to Europe

• Solent → Cherbourg or Le Havre: the classic crossing to France, timed with the Channel tides.
• Dover or Ramsgate → Calais, Dunkirk or Ostend: the shortest hop, across some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
• East coast → the Netherlands: from Harwich or Lowestoft across the southern North Sea to IJmuiden or Scheveningen, often on the way to the Baltic through the Kiel Canal.
• Plymouth or Falmouth → Brittany and Biscay: the start of the long route south to Spain, Portugal and the Mediterranean.

For the sailing side, read our guides to the Channel and North Sea passage and to crossing Biscay.

How Brexit affects time and cost

Clearance adds hours, sometimes a day, to a UK–EU delivery: the yacht must go to the right port, within office hours, and wait for the officials. If the crew includes UK citizens, the 90/180-day rule also limits how long they can stay in the Schengen area on a long delivery. We plan both into the schedule. Read how delivery pricing works for the cost side.

Delivering your yacht between the UK and the EU

Nordic Crew Worldwide is a Scandinavian-run delivery company with EU crews from the commercial maritime fleet. We deliver yachts from the UK to France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain and the Mediterranean — and back again. We check the current customs and border rules for every delivery and handle the paperwork with you. Request a free quote or see what our delivery services include.

Related guides

• Yacht delivery in Europe
• Bought a yacht abroad? How to get it home
• Yacht delivery handover checklist
• UK to Mediterranean yacht delivery

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• GOV.UK — Sailing a pleasure craft to and from the UK
• European Commission — Taxation and Customs Union
• European Union — Entry/Exit System (EES)
• EUR-Lex — Union Customs Code, Regulation (EU) No 952/2013

Most disputes after a delivery come from missing information: was that scratch there before? Who used the spare impeller? Why is the fuel tank empty? A structured handover answers all of these. This is the checklist we use.

Handover at departure

Both parties sign or confirm by email. See also our preparation checklist and the offshore safety equipment checklist.

During the delivery

• The logbook records positions, weather, engine hours, fuel taken on and every important decision
• The owner receives position updates at the agreed interval
• Defects and repairs are reported as they happen, with photos and receipts
• Decisions on significant repairs or extra costs are agreed with the owner first

Handover at arrival

The defect list is valuable

A delivery is an intense test: days of continuous use at sea. The crew’s defect list gives you an honest picture of the yacht’s condition — useful before a charter season, a sale or a long cruise. After buying a yacht abroad, it is often the most useful document you receive. Read bought a yacht abroad?.

Charter-ready handovers

For charter yachts, the arrival handover can include cleaning, an inventory check against the charter list and system tests, so the base can prepare for guests quickly. Read about charter yacht repositioning.

Expenses and the final invoice

A transparent delivery matches the final invoice to the quote: crew fee, travel and the expenses on the receipts. Any extra costs, such as weather days or repairs, should already have been agreed. See how yacht delivery pricing works.

Our handover standard

Every Nordic Crew delivery includes a documented departure check, regular updates and a proper arrival handover with report and defect list. Our captains come from the commercial fleet, where handovers between watches and crews are routine. See our services, read how to choose a delivery skipper, or request a free quote.

Related guides

• How to prepare your yacht for delivery
• Yacht delivery glossary
• How to choose a yacht delivery skipper
• Sailing on board as the owner

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Yachting Monthly — Yacht deliveries: how to get your yacht from A to B
• Logbook (nautical)

The used-yacht market is international. A Scandinavian buyer finds the right boat in Spain; a German buyer finds one in Croatia; a Dutch buyer finds one in the UK. The purchase is only half the job — the boat still has to come home. This guide explains how.

Step 1: survey and sea trial

A pre-purchase survey by an independent marine surveyor checks the hull, rigging, engine, systems and safety equipment. A sea trial shows how the yacht behaves under power and sail. For the delivery, the survey has a second value: it tells you what must be fixed before the boat is ready for an offshore passage. Many insurers also require a recent survey for older yachts.

• Ask the surveyor to comment specifically on fitness for the planned delivery route.
• Have the engine checked separately by a mechanic, including oil analysis if possible.
• Check standing rigging age — many insurers and riggers recommend replacement after around ten years.

Step 2: paperwork

VAT and customs rules are complex and change, especially when the yacht moves into or out of the EU or the UK. Take professional advice before you buy. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Step 3: insurance from day one

Insurance must start the moment the yacht becomes yours, and it must cover the delivery: the full route, the season and a professional delivery crew. Ask your insurer about cruising limits and crew requirements, and get written confirmation. Read our yacht delivery insurance guide.

Step 4: sea delivery or transport?

For most yachts above trailer size, a sea delivery with a professional crew is the most practical and economical option. It also works as a long shakedown: the crew reports every fault they find, so you receive the boat with a clear list of what works and what needs attention. Road transport suits smaller boats and inland destinations; shipping suits ocean crossings and motor yachts with limited range. Compare the options in sailboat transport in Europe and yacht delivery vs. boat transport.

Step 5: timing

A yacht bought in autumn in the Mediterranean may be better wintered there and delivered north in late spring than rushed across the Bay of Biscay in November. Check the yacht delivery calendar for the best months on your route.

Prepare the newly bought yacht

A boat that has been on sale for months has often been standing still. Before departure:

• Service the engine and change fuel filters; inspect the fuel tank for water and sediment
• Check the safety equipment — life raft service dates, EPIRB registration in your name, flares, lifejackets
• Test the steering, bilge pumps, navigation lights and electronics
• Check sails and running rigging

Use our preparation checklist and the offshore safety equipment checklist.

Join the delivery and learn your new boat

Many new owners join the delivery to learn the yacht from an experienced captain. Our Co-Captain Passage is built for this: you sail with our skipper, learn the boat’s systems and handling, and arrive home confident. See our services.

Popular routes after buying abroad

• Spain or France → Scandinavia or Germany: see Scandinavia Mediterranean
• UK → the Netherlands, Germany or Denmark: see North Sea and Channel
• Croatia or Greece → Western Mediterranean: see Mediterranean delivery routes
• Caribbean → Europe: see Caribbean to Europe

Get your new yacht home

Tell us where the yacht is, where it is going and when you need it. We will propose a plan and an itemised quote. Request a free quote or read how pricing works.

Related guides

• Sailboat Transport in Europe: Sea Delivery, Road or Ship?
• Yacht Delivery Insurance: What Owners Need to Check Before Departure
• How to prepare your yacht for delivery
• UK to Europe yacht delivery after Brexit
• Bringing a yacht home from Turkey

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• European Commission — Taxation and Customs Union
• RYA — Buying and selling a boat
• Marine surveyor — pre-purchase surveys

Bookmark it, share it with your co-owners, or link to it from your club or marina website. If a term is missing, let us know and we will add it.

A–Z of yacht delivery terms

Terms you will see in a delivery quote

A delivery quote usually combines a day rate or per-mile rate for the crew with expenses: fuel, marina fees, crew travel, food and sometimes canal or port fees. It should state how weather days are charged and what happens if repairs are needed underway. Read how much yacht delivery costs.

Terms you will see in the passage plan

The passage plan lists the route, tidal gates, TSS crossings, ports of refuge and the weather window. Our guides explain the most important passages: the Kiel Canal, the North Sea and English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and the Strait of Gibraltar. For the forecasts behind it, see weather routing.

Terms about people and qualifications

A professional skipper usually holds a Yachtmaster certificate with commercial endorsement, or a merchant navy certificate, and carries skipper liability insurance. Read how to choose a yacht delivery skipper and our insurance guide.

Terms about the yacht

Air draft, draught and beam decide which bridges, canals, berths and transport options are possible. Hull speed and polars decide passage times and fuel use. See the catamaran delivery guide and motor yacht range planning.

Have a question about your delivery?

Our captains are happy to explain anything in a quote or plan. Get in touch, see our services or browse all yacht delivery guides.

Related guides

• How much does yacht delivery cost?
• How to Choose a Yacht Delivery Skipper: Qualifications, Questions & Red Flags
• Yacht delivery calendar

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Glossary of nautical terms (A–L)
• Glossary of nautical terms (M–Z)
• IMO — COLREGs
• Nautical mile

Owners often ask: “When is the best time to move my yacht?” The answer depends on the route. This calendar is our planning guide — the same one our captains use when they propose dates to clients. Feel free to share it or link to it.

The calendar

= good season · = possible with careful weather planning · = avoid

Route	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Baltic & Scandinavia
North Sea & English Channel
Bay of Biscay
Portugal & Gibraltar
Western Mediterranean
Aegean & eastern Med
Med → Canaries
Canaries → Caribbean
Caribbean → Europe (via Azores)

This is a general guide. Every delivery is planned on the actual forecast — a good window can appear in a “” month, and a bad one in a “” month.

Why the seasons look like this

Northern Europe: summer only

Autumn and winter bring a steady stream of Atlantic lows across the North Sea, the Channel and the Baltic, with gales, cold and short days. The northern Baltic can freeze. From May to September the weather is calmer and the days are long. See our Baltic guide and North Sea and Channel guide.

The Bay of Biscay: summer, with a good window

Biscay is best from May to September, when lows are weaker and further north. Outside that period, deliveries are possible only with a reliable two- to three-day window. Read crossing the Bay of Biscay. Along the Iberian coast, check the latest orca reports — interactions have been concentrated in spring and summer.

The Mediterranean: most of the year

The Med can be crossed in every month, but winter brings frequent gales — the Mistral, Tramontana and Bora are strongest then — and summer brings the Meltemi in the Aegean, strongest in July and August. Spring and autumn are often ideal. Read our Mediterranean winds guide.

The Atlantic: driven by the hurricane season

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November. Westbound crossings from the Canaries usually leave from late November, when the season ends and the trade winds settle. Eastbound crossings back to Europe usually leave in May or June, before the hurricane season builds and after the worst North Atlantic lows have moved north. See Mediterranean to Caribbean and Caribbean to Europe.

Typical year for a yacht moving between Scandinavia and the Caribbean

1. June–August: Scandinavia → Mediterranean via the Kiel Canal, the Channel and Biscay.
2. September–October: Mediterranean → Gibraltar → Canaries.
3. November–January: Canaries → Caribbean.
4. May–June: Caribbean → Azores → Europe.

Book early for the busy months

The best windows are also the busiest: crews and berths are booked early for the autumn Atlantic season and the spring return. Contact us as early as possible with your preferred dates — see how pricing works and request a free quote.

Related guides

• Weather routing for yacht deliveries
• Yacht delivery in Europe
• Mediterranean to Caribbean yacht delivery
• Yacht delivery in winter

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• NOAA National Hurricane Center — Atlantic hurricane season
• Atlantic hurricane season — dates
• Etesian (Meltemi) winds
• World Cruising Club — ARC transatlantic rally