PRE-DELIVERY

FROM SIGNING TO SAILING

PART 3: COMMISSIONING YOUR NEW YACHT IN ASIA

After agonising over all the choices, from brand to size, from colours to engines and everything in between, followed by what seems an interminable wait, your new yacht has finally arrived in Asia. So when can you get your hands on it? In the last section of this three-part article about Simpson Marine’s pre-delivery service we explain the final important steps necessary before handover and many hours of enjoyable sailing. Yachts deliver all the comforts of home, and then some while on the water, and they are necessarily complex machines. Our 30 years of experience have led to the development of the Simpson Marine Quality Assurance Programme – in place at all of our service centres – to ensure nothing gets missed. All our delivery and recommissioning is done by in house staff and is not subcontracted to outside shipyards. This is our guarantee to customers: their yachts will be safe, sound and in the flawless condition they expect.

The programme recognises that different yachts require different procedures. Vessels are divided into three categories, based primarily on size, to reflect those differing needs.

The programme recognises that different yachts require different procedures. Vessels are divided into three categories, based primarily on size, to reflect those differing needs. In this article the steps for commissioning sail and power yachts up to 100’ will be covered.

ARRIVAL Your new yacht has been delivered on the deck of a special heavy load transport vessel, and before anything is touched a marine surveyor and a representative from Simpson Marine each give the vessel a complete inspection to check for damage in transit. With that completed, the yacht’s systems are powered up before it is lifted into the water. The slings are left attached and our technicians board the now floating vessel.

ON BOARD The engines and other systems on the boat are powered up again, and final checks are made to ensure everything is working as it should. The slings are then removed and she is underway for the first time.

Our technicians remain on board and a standby vessel tails the yacht in case assistance is needed as it sails to our commissioning dock. Once there she receives a thorough cleaning to remove any dirt from the long journey from the shipyard.

HARDWARE Sailboat masts and arches for power yachts are unwrapped, inspected and photographed before the halyards, wiring, radar and wind instruments are fitted. The mast is stepped onto the yacht and any rigging is attached and adjusted. Any additional hardware is installed at this point, before factory authorised agents check all systems in preparation for sea trials.

Many owners choose to come on board at this point and get the first taste of life on their new yacht as she is put through her paces.

Danny Kou, Service Technician is securing the yacht

Lagoon 560 S2

Your new yacht has been delivered on the deck of a special heavy load transport vessel, and before anything is touched a marine surveyor and a representative from Simpson Marine each give the vessel a complete inspection to check for damage in transit.

Once the sea trials are successfully completed it’s time for the truly rewarding part: the handover. Often this involves a ceremony: breaking a bottle of Champagne across the bow or serving a roasted pig are traditional favourites. Then all that remains is for the new owner to focus on what really matters: enjoying their new yacht.