Yacht Delivery Glossary: 35 Terms Every Owner Should Know

Short answer: booking a yacht delivery means meeting a lot of maritime terms — in quotes, contracts, insurance documents and passage reports. This glossary explains the 35 terms owners ask us about most, in plain English, with links to the guides where each topic is covered in depth.

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

Term	Meaning
Air draft	The height of the yacht above the waterline, including mast and antennas. Decides which bridges and canals a yacht can pass.
AIS	Automatic Identification System: transmits the yacht’s position, course and identity to other ships and shore stations.
Beam	The maximum width of the yacht. Important for berths, travel lifts and road transport.
Bridgedeck clearance	On a catamaran, the height between the water and the underside of the deck between the hulls.
Captain / skipper	The person in command of the yacht and responsible for crew, vessel and passage.
COLREGs	The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea — the rules of the road at sea.
Commercial endorsement	An addition to a Yachtmaster certificate allowing the holder to skipper small commercial vessels.
Cruising limits	The sea areas in which an insurance policy covers the yacht.
Day rate	A delivery priced per day of crew time, plus expenses.
Delivery crew	The professional skipper and crew who move a yacht from A to B.
Displacement	The weight of the yacht, equal to the weight of the water it displaces.
Draught (draft)	The depth of the yacht below the waterline. Limits harbours, channels and canals.
EPIRB	Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon: sends a distress signal with position to rescue services via satellite.
ETA	Estimated time of arrival.
Fair tide / foul tide	A tidal stream running with (fair) or against (foul) the yacht’s course.
GRIB file	A compact weather forecast file used for planning and routing at sea.
Handover	The formal transfer of the yacht at the destination, with a report on the passage and the yacht’s condition.
Hull speed	The natural maximum speed of a displacement hull, roughly 1.34 × √(waterline length in feet) in knots.
Knot	One nautical mile per hour, about 1.852 km/h.
Letter of authority	A signed letter from the owner authorising the skipper to operate the yacht and deal with authorities.
Logbook	The record of the passage: positions, weather, engine hours, events and decisions.
MMSI	Maritime Mobile Service Identity: the nine-digit number identifying the yacht’s radio and AIS.
Nautical mile (nm)	1,852 metres — one minute of latitude.
Passage plan	The written plan for a delivery: route, waypoints, hazards, ports of refuge, tides, weather and communication.
Per-mile rate	A delivery priced per nautical mile, plus expenses.
Polars	A yacht’s expected speed at each wind angle and wind strength, used for routing.
Pre-delivery survey	The skipper’s inspection of the yacht before departure.
Ship as cargo	Transporting a yacht on a cargo vessel instead of delivering it by sea.
Skipper liability insurance	Insurance covering claims for damage caused by the skipper while in charge of a vessel.
Tidal gate	A place where the tide must be right to pass safely or efficiently, such as a headland or strait.
TSS	Traffic Separation Scheme: one-way shipping lanes in busy waters, crossed at right angles.
VAT status	Whether EU VAT has been paid on a yacht or it is under temporary admission — relevant for moving within and into the EU.
Watch system	The rota that shares steering and lookout among the crew around the clock.
Weather window	A period of suitable forecast weather to complete a passage or leg safely.
Yachtmaster	The RYA/MCA certificate series (Coastal, Offshore, Ocean) widely used by professional skippers.

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