| Rapid growth in the global yacht industry has | | | | gives them valuable sea experience, while the |
| caused many new yacht owners to hire | | | | presence of a professional skipper gives them |
| professional yacht delivery captains to skipper | | | | security and confidence. Many delivery skippers |
| their boats on long or dangerous voyages. Yacht | | | | offer sailing and navigation instruction in such |
| delivery skippers confirm that boat deliveries are | | | | cases. |
| growing with international trends. "If you have the | | | | But lack of experience is not the only reason that |
| money it's relatively easy to buy a new yacht", | | | | boat owners hire delivery captains to move their |
| said one, "but sailing long distances through | | | | boats. Many wealthy boat owners are also very |
| potentially difficult waters or weather conditions | | | | busy people and cannot afford to spend days at |
| requires skills that can take years to learn". | | | | sea away from mobile phones and Internet |
| Recreational boat ownership is currently a $25 | | | | connections. The average sailing yacht will only |
| billion international industry and sales are growing | | | | move about 150 miles a day, so a long trip can |
| annually at 5-10%. While sales growth will likely be | | | | take weeks - time that that busy boat owners |
| lower in 2008 due to economic conditions, many | | | | don't have. Instead they want to be able to hop |
| motor and sailing yachts are pre-ordered and are | | | | on a plane for a sailing holiday in a new cruising |
| already under construction. There are waiting lists | | | | ground and have their boat ready and waiting for |
| of up to three years for luxury yachts in the | | | | them when they land. |
| USA and Europe and so the international fleet of | | | | Popular routes for yacht deliveries include from |
| recreational boats will continue to grow strongly. | | | | the United States to the Caribbean and from the |
| However sail training and sea experience lag far | | | | boatyards of Northern Europe to the sunny |
| behind the growth in boat numbers. Learning how | | | | marinas of the Mediterranean. Yachts are also |
| to handle boats safely, how to navigate and how | | | | delivered to major events such as yacht races or |
| to operate the often-complex equipment found | | | | the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in which hundreds of |
| on a modern boat can take years. The American | | | | yachts sail across the Atlantic Ocean each year. |
| Sailing Association and the British Royal Yachting | | | | And of course, whatever the destination, the |
| Association both operate training and certification | | | | yachts usually have to be brought back as well. |
| schemes. But learning to sail is not as simple as | | | | As boatyards continue to produce record |
| doing a course - and developing experience is | | | | numbers of motor and sailing yachts for |
| critical. | | | | time-starved boat owners who are often |
| Often new boat owners will join a delivery skipper | | | | inexperienced with long voyages, it seems that |
| for the voyage to the boat's new home. This | | | | yacht delivery skippers will be busy for some |
| helps them to get to know their new boat and | | | | time to come. |