Skip to main content

Gold Coast Stopover on the Granocean W60



A Change of Plans and Preparing for the Gold Coast Stopover on the Granocean W60

By A Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions


The dynamic nature of weather forecasting has once again prompted a change in our immediate plans for the Granocean W60 delivery. It now appears the anticipated southerly winds will extend further up the coast than initially forecast, necessitating a diversion from our original course to Sydney. This presents a common challenge for a yacht delivery skipper: finding a suitable port with the capacity to accommodate a vessel of this size at short notice.

Unfortunately, the only marina conveniently located along our original route that could accommodate a catamaran of the Granocean W60's dimensions is simply too far south for this particular weather window. Therefore, after careful consideration and consultation, our new plan is to divert to the Gold Coast. This isn't entirely a bad thing, as the owners have decided to take advantage of this opportunity to have some work done on the boat at Boatworks up the Coomera River. This renowned facility is well-equipped to handle a vessel of the Granocean's caliber.

Our aim is to get into our berth before dark tonight, if conditions allow. The very next day, tomorrow at noon, the Granocean W60 is scheduled for a haul-out. This is an excellent opportunity to perform a thorough check of the hulls and apply some antifouling, along with any other maintenance tasks we can arrange at short notice. Proactive maintenance like this, even mid-delivery, is crucial for preserving the longevity and performance of the vessel, and a standard part of Yacht Delivery Solutions' commitment to comprehensive yacht delivery services.

With the extended bad weather forecast to persist for at least a week, if not longer, I've now secured a flight home. I'm booked to arrive in Auckland at 17:20 on Thursday. This temporary pause in the delivery allows us to avoid exposing the Granocean W60 to unnecessarily harsh conditions. I will return to complete the final leg to Sydney when the weather window looks favorable again, ensuring the final stage of this catamaran delivery is as safe and smooth as possible.


Yacht Delivery Solutions provides flexible and experienced yacht delivery skipper services, adept at adapting plans to changing weather conditions and coordinating maintenance stops for vessels like the Granocean W60.


From the complex waters of Southeast Asia to destinations like New Zealand and Australia, we handle every detail of your catamaran delivery with professionalism and owner communication. Contact us to discuss your vessel's unique transport needs.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In Hong Kong commissioning "Pikorua"

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024 Location: Hong Kong The Intricacies of Commissioning in Hong Kong Greetings from a bustling Hong Kong ! It's Saturday, November 23rd. The Yacht Delivery Solutions team has been immersed for over two weeks in the detailed process of commissioning "Pikorua," a stunning new 2024 Granocean W60 destined for Sydney. Our temporary home is a barge in the Kwun Tong typhoon shelter, a far cry from a typical marina – no shore power, no water hookups, and the constant rhythm of nearby construction. Even simple trips ashore require hailing a local sampan to avoid the barnacle-encrusted seawalls. Commissioning: More Than Just Checks Commissioning a brand-new yacht, especially one of this complexity, goes far beyond simple pre-departure checks. It's a meticulous process managed by Yacht Delivery Solutions, involving activating, testing, and calibrating every system onboard – from engines and generators to navigation electronics, plumbing, and sa...

Tuesday 3rd day 4

The mystery of slightly higher fuel consumption and a subtle vibration has unfortunately been solved. The fouled prop The picture shows the starboard propeller and rudder – entangled with the remnants of a Chinese fishing net that decided to hitch a ride. Around lunchtime today, sea conditions moderated just enough for us to safely stop the vessel. Using an underwater camera on a 3-meter pole from the swim platform (duckboard), we were able to inspect the running gear. The footage confirmed our suspicions: we are trailing fishing net debris. No real surprise given the waters we passed through initially. However, the sea state (1-2m swell) is still not safe enough to attempt diving under a 30+ tonne yacht that's constantly moving. Clearing the propeller will have to wait for calmer conditions. In the meantime, the YDS crew has adapted: we are now running primarily on the port engine at 1800 RPM (consuming 30 lph), with the starboard engine just in gear at low RPM (600) to lubricate ...

Saturday 30th Nav - Departure day!

Finally! Departure day arrived. After the  Yacht Delivery Solutions  crew ran through all the final pre-departure checks – engines, nav gear, steering, the works – making sure everything was spot-on for the trip, we tossed the lines off just after 10 AM this morning, Saturday, November 30th. Getting out of the Kwun Tong anchorage required a bit of careful maneuvering, but Pikorua handled beautifully, showing how nimble this  Granocean 60  can be even in tight spots. As soon as we left the shelter, we were greeted by the usual Hong Kong harbour chaos! It took some careful timing and a sharp lookout to weave our way through the traffic – plenty of big container ships and fast ferries zipping about. Thankfully, the view from the helm station is great, which was a huge help. Pikorua took the wakes from passing boats in her stride, feeling really stable right from the get-go, which was reassuring. Once clear of the main shipping channels, the next game was dodging the loc...