Category: Yacht delivery

11 Oct 2016
Blog Category, In the News, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Safety Procedures

In response to the CPS’s decision to bring charges against the manager of Cheeki Rafiki, it is understandable that the sailing industry takes a long look again at its policies and procedures and see that all that can be done is being done to minimise risk.

We take the view that sailing is not without risk but lessons can be learnt and anything that can reduce the risk is welcomed. Reliance Yacht Management wishes to reassure clients, captains and crews that we adopt a range of policies and procedures. Each year we undergo an external assessment of our business procedures to maintain our ISO9001 accreditation. In addition we support every captain by providing guidelines and tools to assess and minimise risk. These are reviewed regularly. Each and every Captain we contract with has access to templates to record the yachts condition, inventory and stowage plan and create a risk assessment. We encourage Captains to brief crews on emergency procedures including fire and man over board. We believe the Captain is the best placed to make best decisions. Our captains know that safety of the boat and crew is paramount above all other considerations.

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12 Sep 2016
Blog Category, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Brian Edmonds 1945-2016

It is with a sad heart that I announce the passing of Captain Brian Edmonds.
 
Born in 1945 he had been around boats for most of his life and owned his first craft at the age of 22. He completed his first Atlantic crossing at 27. He had been a delivery skipper for almost 40 years delivering craft to the Mediterranean, N/S Atlantic, America, Caribbean, Canary Islands, and Baltic and in the Indian Ocean.
 
In recent years he also worked for sailing schools and on charter yachts in the UK and Spain. Also at this time he was a bosun maintaining yachts, motor vessels and dive boats which entailed anything from diesel engines to sails, rigging, grp repairs, electrics, and communications systems. Over the last 30 years he was also known on the racing circuit and participated in channel handicap series, local racing as well as international racing in the capacity of crew, mate and captain.
 
His sailing experience was wide ranging from 6 metres up to 34 metres, Catamarans, sloops, ketches and motor vessels. His passages as a delivery Captain have been from a few miles to thousands of miles from Canaries to the West Indies many times. Also returning from North America /Caribbean back to Europe. His longest passage was from Dover to Durban South Africa passing through the Mediterranean, Suez, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.
 
He was a true professional and will be sadly missed
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05 Aug 2016
Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Yacht Tracking

We are the logistics manager for many of the world fleet operators and private yacht owners. Our clients need to know where their yachts are. We need to be able message the boat with updates, charter bookings, changes of destination, receive technical data. For a variety reasons it can be important that clients know the location of their yachts and through us have contact with them. The nature the business means that yachts are out of cell phone range, AIS may not be fitted and satellite phones can accrue high airtime charges. What do we do?

Over the years Reliance Yacht Management has addressed this challenge in several ways, making the use of the latest technology as it develops. It has now become accepted as imperative that there is connectivity wherever they may travel. We need to understand the exact location of our clients’ yachts at all times regardless of location.

Satellite technology is key to yacht tracking. There are a variety of hardware units that work with asset management software so yacht owners and fleet operators can chose the one that suits their budget and their business needs. Some software can track positions every 30 seconds. It is easy to install and accessible from all kinds of devices

Features available through asset tracking software vary by manufacturer, but could include some helpful options. Geo-fences are an example. You can set up a geo-fence and know when an asset has entered or exited the perimeter you set up. A useful feature for bareboat charter companies not wishes yachts to leave their designated cruising area.  You can also improve safety and security by establishing exceptions and receiving alerts that signal suspicious behaviour.

We are able to integrate the online tracking within the clients website or create a secure page within our site for clients to monitor the progress of their yacht on delivery.

We’ve got the solutions that will help keep your yacht safe.

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04 Aug 2016
Sailing Opportunities, Testimonials, Unpaid Positions, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Yacht Delivery with all-Female Crew

We want to say a big thank you to Anna Abramek and her all female crew for the safe delivery of our client’s Bavaria 34 from Gillingham, Kent to Sonderborg, Denmark.

Nick Irving of Reliance Yacht Management said “This is the first time we have completed a contract with an all-female crew. We have over half a dozen highly experienced and qualified ladies with whom we contract as yacht delivery Captains but this is the first will all girl crew. It wasn’t planned, it just happened.”

Thanks again to Anna and her crew Carolyn and Sarah. The photo shows a clearly very happy customer.

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20 Apr 2016
Blog Category, Press Release, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

How Did That Boat Get There?

You’ve decided to buy your first boat. That’s great – well done.  Two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water, You are now able to see more of the planet than ever before and much more than walking, or by car, or even flying. There are many reasons why people buy yachts, to cruise, to race, to explore, to relax, to live aboard and a good broker will advise what is best for you. Along with yacht ownership comes certain responsibilities and requisite services such as insurance, finance and moorings. These are obvious and will come as no surprise, and many will already have at least a minimum understanding of them. The one service that is often overlooked, mis-understood and often forgotten about, almost until the sale is made, is the delivery.

Seeing the latest 45ft production catamaran at Annapolis in its pristine boat show condition, one can be forgiven for not giving any thought as to how it got there. Walk around any boat show, marina or boat yard in the world and you will see vessels built in France, South Africa, Poland, China, Brazil and many other places. There is no restriction geographically on the yachts available to purchase because of specialist delivery services.

A yacht may undertake one or more mode of transport on its way to market. The first being is to get the yacht from the factory to it natural environment – water. No problem if the manufacturer is right there on the water and no more than a crane and slings are needed. But more often than not yachts are built away from the coast and need to negotiate the public highway.

With the average size of pleasure yachts increasing every year, this becomes an ever increasing challenge to the trucking companies. Specialised trucks have the ability to manoeuvre under, around and over obstacles. It is a regular sight for some residents in the Vendee, France to see 45 ft Catamarans going past, inches from their bedroom windows on their way to Les Sables d’Olonne.

Commissioning completes the building process and launches the boat. So now the boat is in the water and with access to the sea that connects to the rest of the world. A properly designed, built and commissioned yacht can, in the right hands go anywhere in the world.

Professional and specialist delivery captains sail many thousands of miles every year moving yachts to boat shows, dealers, charter fleets and private owners around the world. Commuting to work can be sailing from France to the Caribbean or Cape Town to Florida. It takes a special kind or captain to do this work. A special mind-set is needed for sailing deliveries that is neither cruising nor racing. Every aspect of the job is to get the yacht to the destination safely, efficiently and in perfect condition. Time taken before departure is spent identifying potential areas that need protection.

Stove tops are covered in foil, cushions are removed and stowed or covered in plastic, mattresses covered and yards of pipe insulation are used to protect vulnerable edges. With interiors stripped and protected it will look nothing like the boat you saw at the boat show. There is a good video that we produced a few years ago that shows the whole process.

 

With 4000nm to go, surfaces are covered and even offcuts from a local carpet store are used to protect the floor. Outside, all cushions are removed and stowed below away from sunlight never to be used on delivery.

So you’ve done your homework, followed up on references, asked your broker for recommendations, read the small print and appointed the delivery company.   Now is a leap of faith. You hand over your money and the keys to the boat. Your baby, your dreams, your future happiness is in the hands of others who you may never meet. And the delivery company takes your money and your boat and sails away with it. Sounds scary – but it shouldn’t be. By choosing an established delivery company and not just a private captain you will have the reassurance that there is always someone there at the end of the phone to answer all you questions. The delivery company may set up a dedicated webpage just for you that enables you to follow the delivery as satellite tracking follows your boat. You receive photos, videos, weather updates, ETAs, reports from the captain and support staff. You will be comforted in the fact that a professional captain and shorebased support team have your interests at heart and the boat is in safe and experienced hands. You can relax and enjoy following the delivery live on line, share the anticipation of its arrival with friends and family and engage with the process of it delivery as you see the row dots increase across the screen to the boat’s destination.

There is a good video made by a crewmember that shows life on board a boat on delivery. The cooking, cleaning, and the constant vigilance to keep the boat in great condition.

And then it arrives.

It can take a good 24-48 hours to give the boat a good deep clean, to put the cushions back, put curtains up, remove all the protection and write up the condition reports. The captain has just sailed your boat hundreds or thousands of miles. He knows it. Take time to de brief and get a better understanding of your boat.

Now enjoy.

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11 Apr 2016
Blog Category, Testimonials, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Lagoon 450 France to Ft lauderdale

To Whom It May Concern:
Hanna Golebiewska was the captain of the crew that sailed our new Lagoon 450
from La Rochelle, France, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida this winter. The boat arrived
safely and in excellent condition.
Although Hanna has the strength of personality to be in command of her crew, she
also possesses kindness and warmth. She arrived in France with one other crew
member from Poland, and met the other crew members for the first time in front of
us, having selected them from their resumes and her online chats with them. She
must be a very good judge of character, because they were all capable, wonderful
people. It was heartwarming to see the bond they had created by the time they
reached the other side of the Atlantic. She had the ability to mold these previous
strangers into an efficient crew.
She is very accommodating and frugal, and does not compromise on safety issues.
She is also extremely clean, keeping surfaces on the boat covered and protected
from wear and tear, and using only what was absolutely necessary. Even when two
tiny stove knobs were damaged accidentally, she made sure to purchase new ones
when she returned to France, and personally delivered them to us on her next
crossing.

We wish her the very best in her future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Captain Brian and Carol

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17 Dec 2015
Blog Category, In the News, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Multihulls Magazine Mentions Reliance Yacht Management

In their latest edition Multihulls Magazine Mentions Reliance Yacht Management

Multihulls magazine picked up the story we first posted on this site

On Satuday 5th December 2015 Delivery Captain Hanna Golebiewska on board the Lagoon 450 catamaran and reported the position of Lalou Roucayrol’s Multi50 trimaran Région Aquitaine-Port-
Médoc that capsize and abandoned almost exactly 5 years before. The skipper and his three crew members were rescued by the cargo ship La Scala. During the rescue the cargo ship ended up crushing one of the trimaran’s floats and the boat was never recovered.

See the the previous post with pictures of the upturned hull taken by our delivery crew.

Multihulls magazine provides a wealth of information valuable to anyone sailing cats or tris.
Visit their website

You can also download the article.

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15 Dec 2015
Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Choosing the right Yacht Delivery Company

Choosing the right Yacht Delivery Company involves much more than scanning a series of price quotes. Your choice will depend on a wide range of factors such as value for money, quality, reliability and service. How you weigh up the importance of these different factors will be based on your business’ priorities and strategy.

A strategic approach to choosing suppliers can also help you to understand how your own potential customers weigh up their purchasing decisions.

This guide illustrates a step-by-step approach you can follow that should help you make the right choices. It will help you decide what you need in a Delivery Company, identify potential suppliers and make the right choice.

THINKING STRATEGICALLY WHEN SELECTING A YACHT DELIVERY COMPANY

The most effective companies are those who offer products or services that match – or exceed – the needs of your business. So when you are looking for suppliers, it’s best to be sure of your business needs and what you want to achieve, rather than simply paying for what suppliers want to sell you.

For example, if you want to keep your customers or charter base managers appraised on the progress of the delivery, suppliers that offer you live satellite tracking will rate higher than those that compete on price alone.

The numbers game

It’s well worth examining how many delivery companies you really need. Contracting with one carefully targeted company could have a number of benefits:

  • it will be easier to control your communications
  • your business will become more important to them
  • you may be able to make deals that give you an extra competitive advantage

For example, if you’ve got a rush job for an important customer, your delivery company will be more likely to go the extra mile.

Equally, while exclusivity may spur some suppliers to offer you a better service, others may simply become complacent and drop their standards.

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A SUPPLIER

Reliability

Remember – if they let you down, you may let your customer down.

Quality

The quality of your supplies needs to be consistent – your customers associate poor quality with you, not your suppliers. Look for a Delivery Company that has written Operating Procedures to ensure a consistent high level of service and have reached a recognised management standard e.g. ISO9001

Value for money

The lowest price is not always the best value for money. If you want reliability and quality from your Delivery Company, you’ll have to decide how much you’re willing to pay for your supplies and the balance you want to strike between cost, reliability, quality and service.

Strong service and clear communication

You need your suppliers to deliver on time, or to be honest and give you plenty of warning if they can’t. The best suppliers will want to talk with you regularly to find out what needs you have and how they can serve you better.

Financial security

It’s always worth making sure your supplier has sufficiently strong cash flow to deliver what you want, when you need it. The Delivery Company should be happy to accept terms that mean you do not pay 100% up front

A partnership approach

A strong relationship will benefit both sides. You want your supplier to acknowledge how important your business is to them, so they make every effort to provide the best service possible. And you’re more likely to create this response by showing your supplier how important they are to your business.

IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS

You can find suppliers through a variety of channels. It’s best to build up a shortlist of possible suppliers through a combination of sources to give you a broader base to choose from. Directories, Google, Trade Associations, Trade Press can all be a good source, but there is nothing better than talking to others that have used their services.

Recommendations

Ask for recommendations. Follow up references from the company’s recent clients. References that are more than a year old have limited value.  You’re more likely to get an honest assessment of a business’ strengths and weaknesses from someone who has used its services. Talk to other dealers that offer the same brands as you. Does the Delivery Company know your products?

DRAWING UP A SHORTLIST OF SUPPLIERS

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what your priorities are and you’ve identified some potential suppliers, you can build a shortlist of sources that meet your needs.

When considering the firms on your shortlist, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Can these suppliers deliver what you want, when you want it?
  • Are they financially secure?
  • How long have they been established?
  • Do you know anyone who has used them and can recommend them?
  • Do they have the experienced and qualified Captains, crew and management?

Do some research and try to slim your list down to no more than three candidates. It’s a waste of time for you and the potential supplier if you approach them when there’s little chance of them fulfilling your requirements.

CHOOSING A SUPPLIER

Once you have a manageable shortlist, you can approach the Delivery Company and ask for a written quotation. It’s best to provide them with a clear brief summarising what you require, how frequently you’ll require it and what level of business you hope to place.

Get a quotation

It’s worth asking the potential Delivery Company to give you a firm price in writing for, say, six months. You can also ask about discounts for long-term or high-volume contracts.

Compare potential suppliers

When you’ve got the quotation, compare the potential suppliers in terms of what matters most to you. For example, their knowledge of Atlantic crossing with catamarans or protection of the interior may be most important, while their location may not matter.

Price is important, but it shouldn’t be the only reason you choose a yacht Delivery Company. Lower prices may reflect poorer quality goods and services which, in the long run, may not be the most cost effective option. Be confident that your supplier can make a sufficient margin at the price quoted for the business to be commercially viable. You want to aim for a long term relationship in which you can both prosper.

Check that the Delivery Company you contract is the one that will be doing the work. Some companies may outsource work to subcontractors, in which case you should also investigate the subcontractor to determine if you are happy with this arrangement.

Wherever possible it is always a good idea to meet a potential supplier face to face and see how their business operates. Emails and telephone calls are fine but nothing beats actually meeting the person from the Company you will be dealing with. Do they attend the same boat shows as you? Understanding how your supplier works will give you a better sense of how it can benefit your business.

And remember that your business’ reputation may be judged on the labour practices of your suppliers. It makes good business sense to consider the ethical dimensions of your supply chain.

Negotiate terms and conditions

Once you’ve settled on the suppliers you’d like to work with, you can move on to negotiating terms and conditions and drawing up a contract.

GETTING THE RIGHT DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Know your needs

Make sure you know what you need. Don’t be tempted by sales pitches that don’t match your requirements.

Spend time on research

Choosing the right suppliers is essential for your business. Don’t try to save time by buying from the first supplier you find that may be suitable. Talk to them, ask questions, do they know their business and can they deliver on quality and service?

Ask around

People or other businesses with first-hand experience of the Delivery Company is essential and can give you useful advice.

Price isn’t everything

Other factors are equally important when choosing a supplier – reliability and quality, for example. If you buy cheaply but persistently let down your customers as a result, they’ll start to look elsewhere.

Agree on service levels before you start

It’s a good idea to agree on service levels before you start trading so you know what to expect from your Delivery Company. What is included and what is not in the service.

Don’t buy from too many suppliers…

It will be easier for you to manage – and probably more cost-effective if were able to keep to one delivery company. If you change the Delivery Company for each boat you limit the efficiency of a good working relationship that can build over the years.

Links

Online delivery quote form

Video Preparations for Atlantic delivery

http://www.relianceyachtmanagement.com/

Contacts

Telephone; +44 1252 378239

Email; nick@reliance-yachts.com

Skype; nickatreliance

LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/relianceyachts

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14 Dec 2015
Blog Category, Testimonials, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Yacht Delivery Bali 4.5 France to Tortola

New Bali 4.5 Catmaran Completes Atlantic Delivery

Congratulations to Yacht Delivery Captain Andy Mallion who has just completed the delivery of a new Bali 4.5. The boat was collected from Canet-en-Roussillon in the South of France with stops in Gibraltar, Canaries and Cape Verde before arriving in the BVI.

This was the first delivery completed for the leading charter company Vacance sur Voile who plan to use our services again for their next new yacht in 2016.

Every delivery we undertake is subject to appraisal by the client. The feedback we received was very positive.

Richard Lacelle of VSV says

Hi Andy, Nick,

Please find attached Handover from Reliance to VSV, approved and signed.

VSV team want to outline Andy’s professionalism as skipper for this shipment.

From his very first moments aboard until the very last ones Andy has proved us being highly dedicated to deliver this new sailboat in as best condition as possible.

We thank you also Nick for your great coordination job and look forward to doing more business with you in a near future.

Very best,

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10 Dec 2015
Blog Category, In the News, Yacht delivery Nick 0 comment

Balance 526 Launched in South Africa

Hull #01 Launched

Over the past week the Balance team have been in Cape Town to commission and test sail the first Balance 526, Ondine, built for Dr. Jeffrey Phillips. Designers Anton Du Toit, Phillip Berman, and Jonathan Paarman were on hand to discuss her and sail with writers from Cruising World, SAIL, and South African Sailing.

Ondine is an absolutely stunning catamaran that met all  expectations and more. During the sea trials the winds seldom exceeded 12 knots, yet we were able to sail at wind speed in true winds of 8 knots or more quite often. Sometimes we exceeded wind speed on a brand new rig and catamaran we were just tuning up.

More at Balance website

 

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