Mediterranean Yacht Delivery: Professional Crew from Les Sables d’Olonne to Tropea
18 December 2015 – Log of a professional delivery to and across the Mediterranean
When it comes to professional yacht delivery, every passage tells a different story. This time we take you aboard one of our Mediterranean deliveries, from Les Sables d’Olonne to Tropea, a route that puts seamanship and the ability to adapt to the changeable weather of the western Mediterranean to the test.
As professional delivery crew, we know that every yacht transfer calls for careful planning, operational flexibility and in-depth knowledge of Mediterranean routes. The experienced Mediterranean skippers we work with have sailed these waters many times, in every kind of weather and operational scenario. This passage report offers an authentic insight into our day-to-day work in professional yacht delivery.
Departure from Les Sables d’Olonne: Planning the Passage to the Mediterranean
Every yacht delivery starts with careful planning. The route from Les Sables d’Olonne to the Mediterranean means crossing the Bay of Biscay, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and sailing along the Spanish coast to southern Italy. For a professional skipper, this kind of delivery is one of the most demanding yet rewarding passages of the year.
Ibiza Stop: Refuelling and Keeping to Schedule
The crew’s favourite spot for a quick stop in Ibiza is El Chiringuito at Es Cavallet, the chic cousin of the usual beach bars, where we suggest our readers try the sangria made with champagne. We watch it slip past to port before entering harbour. Sadly we have a tight schedule to keep, and we come alongside the fuel berth at Marina Botafoch far more soberly. At 17:15, a full tank and a coffee later, we are under way again. Next stop: Carloforte, Sardinia. Course 086°.
On professional yacht deliveries, timing is crucial. Experienced Mediterranean skippers know that every stop must be optimised to meet the delivery schedule agreed with the client. Years of yacht delivery experience teach us when to press on and when to take the time needed for safety and comfort.
We take advantage of the huge and unusual high pressure sitting over the whole central and western Mediterranean to make good progress, albeit under engine.
19 December: Flat Calm on Passage
The night passes quietly; first light comes at 07:00 and the sun rises at 08:07. The sea stays calm and there is no wind at all. Ideal conditions for merchant ships, but for us sailors it means the auxiliary engine takes centre stage.
On Mediterranean deliveries, professional skippers must adapt to any weather. A flat calm calls for careful fuel management and precise planning of technical stops. It is at moments like these that the experience of the delivery crew makes the difference in managing the passage professionally.
A Professional Approach to Mediterranean Yacht Delivery
Every yacht delivery in the Mediterranean brings its own challenges. Changeable weather, the need to keep to precise schedules, complex routes through busy shipping lanes: all this calls for professional skippers with proven experience in Mediterranean waters.
Our years of experience in yacht delivery have taught us that no two passages are alike. Every transfer, from France to Italy or from the Balearics to Sardinia, brings different variables that call for constant adaptation and professional decision-making.
Arrival in Tropea: Delivery Completed
Arrival in Tropea marks the completion of a complex Mediterranean delivery, crossing several maritime jurisdictions and facing changeable conditions. For our clients, whether charter companies or private owners, a timely, professional handover of the yacht is the added value of our yacht delivery service.
This kind of operational experience is what sets apart the professional delivery crew we work with in Mediterranean yacht delivery. Every passage adds to the experience we then bring to our clients through our skippered charter and professional crew placement services.
Captains and Crew ’s Yacht Delivery Experience
This report is just one of the many yacht deliveries completed by our team over the years. Our experience ranges from deliveries of new catamarans from French yards, to seasonal transfers for charter companies, to crew support on Atlantic crossings to the Caribbean.
If you are looking for a professional skipper for your next delivery or need crew placement for charter operations, our operational experience in Mediterranean waters is the foundation of a professional, reliable service.
Need professional delivery crew or experienced skippers in the Mediterranean? Contact Captains and Crew to discuss your operational requirements. Our experience in yacht delivery and professional crew placement is at your service.