Yacht Delivery Blog

 This morning, the Excess 14 slid gracefully into her new berth at Middle Harbour Marina, marking the successful completion of her delivery from the Gold Coast. The final approach into Sydney Harbour is always a great sight, a fitting end to a coastal voyage. This passage was a comprehensive real-world test of the boat's capabilities. She proved to be a joy in light airs, demonstrated strength and stability in heavy weather, and showed impressive maneuverability during a tricky docking. It’s clear that the Excess 14 is a versatile and robust catamaran, perfectly suited for everything the Australian coast can throw at it. The final tasks onboard are ones of quiet satisfaction: coiling the lines perfectly, writing up the final log entry, and giving the boat a last clean and polish. For Yacht Delivery Solutions, it's a pleasure and a privilege to deliver a vessel of this quality. Handing her over to the brokers at Flagstaff Marine clean, secure, and ready for her new owners is t...

 A successful yacht delivery is more than just moving a boat from Point A to Point B. It’s about professionalism, trust, and a deep respect for the vessel and the owner’s investment. At Yacht Delivery Solutions, these principles form the core of every passage we undertake. Our Expertise We specialize in the delivery of new and brokerage yachts, both sail and power, monohulls and catamarans. Our operational area spans the vast waters of Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Our skippers are not just sailors; they are qualified and highly experienced professionals with thousands of offshore miles and an intimate knowledge of the regions we service. Our Services Yacht Delivery: Safe, efficient, and professional delivery of your vessel to any destination in our region. New Yacht Commissioning: We manage the comprehensive process of preparing a brand-new yacht for sea, testing every system to ensure it is ready for its owner. Owner-Assisted Passages: We prov...

  The Final Leg to Sydney After a few days of waiting for the weather to pass, a perfect window appeared this morning. There's a special atmosphere on a morning like this; a sense of shared purpose as you see other boats also preparing to leave. As we headed out of Port Stephens, it was clear we weren’t the only ones with this idea—a whole convoy of boats was heading south, making the most of the favorable conditions. It's always a good sign when your weather routing matches the local consensus! The run down the coast was fantastic. The boat felt alive in the fresh breeze, stretching her legs after the brief stopover. The journey wasn't without some classic East Coast excitement, however, as we had to navigate a few impressive electrical storms along the way. Watching the light show from the safety and comfort of the saloon, knowing the boat is handling everything with ease, is a unique part of the experience. With the sun setting, Sydney's famous coastline is now in ou...

 As a company, Yacht Delivery Solutions delivers dozens of catamarans of all shapes and sizes every year. It’s fair to say that after seeing so many different designs, it takes something special to truly impress our seasoned skippers. The new Excess 14 managed to do just that. After putting her through her paces on the demanding NSW coast, here are our thoughts. Performance & Handling The standout feature is the helm position. Set aft on each hull, it provides a tactile, responsive feel that is often missing on other catamarans. You feel more connected to the water and the sails, much like on a performance monohull. In the light airs off the north coast, her generous sail plan kept her moving when others would be motoring. And when the southerly hit, she felt stiff, safe, and predictable, giving us the confidence to manage the heavy conditions effectively. Deck Layout & Ergonomics Life onboard is made easy by a smart, simple deck layout. Sail controls are led logically,...

 Docking in the Gale & Waiting for Weather After a wild night at anchor, a berth became available for us at the marina. Of course, the wind was still gusting fiercely, which led to a challenging docking maneuver. With a 20-knot crosswind pushing us off the dock, we had to thread the needle, fitting the boat's 8-metre beam into a 9-metre-wide berth, all with a bit of a crowd watching! It was a tense few moments, but the responsive twin engines allowed for precise control, and we brought her in perfectly. With the lines fast and the engines off, there was a collective sigh of relief. It’s amazing how good a hot, still cup of coffee tastes after being bounced around. After consulting with Micah the broker with Flagstaff Marine, we made the call to pause the delivery here. It's the safest and most cost-effective decision. Before settling in to wait for the weather, we gave the boat a thorough wash-down. It’s a matter of professional pride to look after a vessel in our care, no...

Prudence and Heavy Weather in Port Stephens The forecast for the final leg into Sydney took a turn overnight. The predicted westerly winds shifted, bringing a strong southerly component with gusts forecast over 35 knots—a classic Southerly Buster. On a brand-new boat, the only correct and professional decision is not to fight it. We made the prudent call to seek shelter, altering course for the safe haven of Port Stephens. The conditions on the approach were challenging, motoring directly into over 30 knots of wind. Inside the saloon, the Excess 14 felt incredibly solid and secure, a testament to her build quality. There’s no fancy cooking in conditions like this; life becomes very simple. It’s mugs of hot soup, sandwiches, and quick checks on all the gear. After safely navigating the entrance, we found a protected spot to anchor. Even in here, the wind howled, with a gust of 49 knots recorded. We deployed 60 metres of chain in 4 metres of water, and the boat’s ground tackle held firm,...

Ghosting Along in the Light Airs The wind has been disappointingly light today, but it has given us a fantastic opportunity to test the light-air performance of the Excess 14 . This is often the true test of a modern catamaran’s design, and she passed with flying colors. With the full main and headsail up, we were able to create enough apparent wind to keep the boat moving beautifully and, most importantly, keep the engines off. Even in these easy conditions, good seamanship calls for routine checks. Every few hours, we do a walk around the deck, checking for any chafe on the lines, ensuring the sails are trimmed perfectly, and having a good look over the rig. With the boat sailing so smoothly and sitting so flat, it was a good chance to use the well-laid-out galley to cook up a proper meal. A simple pasta dish for dinner felt like a feast. The only other excitement was the temperature – a classic chilly winter morning offshore. I'm pretty sure I just saw an iceberg drift past... o...

Underway with Whales for Company With our final pre-delivery inspections completed with no surprises, we slipped the lines this morning and pointed the bow of the Excess 14 south. The forecast looks good for the first few days of the trip, giving us a nice runway before some more blustery conditions are expected closer to Sydney. As the Gold Coast skyline faded, we settled into our watch system. For these coastal trips, we generally run a comfortable three-hours-on, three-hours-off routine at night, which allows for plenty of rest. During a watch, you’re not just watching the chart plotter; you're doing a full 360-degree scan of the horizon every ten minutes, monitoring the radar, and keeping a listening watch on the VHF. It’s a peaceful rhythm. The day was made even better by some company—a few humpback whales passing by, their spouts hanging in the calm air. It’s a sight that never gets old and a true highlight of cruising the Australian coast.

  Date: June 6, 2025 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland Subject: First Impressions of the Excess 14 We’re onboard the new Excess 14 at the Gold Coast, and it's easy to see why she was so well-received at the recent boat show. The initial impression is fantastic. This first day for the Yacht Delivery Solutions team is all about getting acquainted with this specific vessel and preparing her for the coastal voyage to Sydney. Even for a relatively short trip like this, every delivery begins with the same thorough process. We're running tests on all the onboard systems, from electronics to engines. The next job is provisioning. It's immediately apparent how much storage this boat has; there are clever lockers and spaces everywhere, making it easy to stow away all our gear and supplies, keeping the living areas clear and uncluttered. With everything loaded, we took a moment to enjoy the first official meal onboard—nothing fancy, just some sandwiches from a local deli eaten in t...