| Dublin, Ireland -- Phenomenal growth in the global | | | | the presence of a professional captain gives them |
| yacht industry has caused many new boat owners | | | | security and confidence". Caswell offers instruction to |
| to hire professional yacht delivery captains to skipper | | | | new yacht owners in such cases, as do most |
| their boats on long or dangerous voyages. Yacht | | | | delivery captains. |
| delivery skipper Graham Caswell of the website | | | | But lack of experience is not the only reason that |
| confirms that the boat delivery industry is growing | | | | boat owners hire delivery captains to move their |
| with international trends. "It's relatively easy to buy a | | | | boats. Many wealthy boat owners are also very busy |
| new yacht", he said, "but sailing long distances | | | | people and cannot afford to spend days at sea |
| through potentially difficult waters or weather | | | | away from mobile phones and Internet connections. |
| conditions requires skills that can take years to learn". | | | | The average yacht will only move about 150 miles a |
| Recreational boat ownership is currently a $25 billion | | | | day, so a long trip can take weeks that busy boat |
| international industry and sales are growing annually at | | | | owners don't have. Instead they want to be able to |
| 5-10%. While sales growth will likely be lower in 2008 | | | | hop on a plane for a sailing holiday and have their |
| due to economic conditions, many motor and sailing | | | | boat waiting for them when they land. |
| yachts are pre-ordered and already under | | | | Popular routes for yacht deliveries include from the |
| construction. There are waiting lists of up to three | | | | United States to the Caribbean and back and from |
| years for luxury yachts in the USA and Europe and | | | | the boatyards of Northern Europe to the sunny |
| so the international fleet of recreational boats will | | | | marinas of the Mediterranean. Yachts are also |
| continue to grow strongly. | | | | delivered to major events such as yacht races or the |
| However sail training and sea experience lag far | | | | Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in which hundreds of yachts |
| behind the growth in boat numbers. Learning how to | | | | sail across the Atlantic Ocean each year. And of |
| handle boats safely, how to navigate and how to | | | | course, the boats have to be brought back as well. |
| operate the often-complex equipment found on a | | | | "In rough seas or on cold nights the job of a delivery |
| modern boat can take years. The American Sailing | | | | captain can be difficult", says Caswell. "But it also |
| Association and the British Royal Yachting Association | | | | gives you the opportunity to see things that most |
| operate training and certification schemes in the | | | | people never see. You're always on the move, |
| United States and Great Britain. But learning to sail is | | | | meeting new people and travelling to new places." |
| not as simple as doing a course - developing | | | | As boatyards continue to produce record numbers of |
| experience is critical. | | | | motor and sailing yachts for busy boat owners who |
| "Often new boat owners will join a delivery skipper | | | | are often inexperienced with long voyages, it seems |
| for the voyage to the boat's new home", said | | | | that yacht delivery captains like Caswell will be |
| Caswell. "This helps them to get to know their new | | | | moving for some time to come. |
| boat and gives them valuable sea experience, while | | | | |