Gary's Deliveries

Arrival in Denarau – A Seamless Welcome for the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Date: Friday, June 20th, 2025 We made excellent time during the final hours of our passage, and I'm thrilled to report that we safely arrived in Denarau, Fiji , yesterday, Friday. Our estimated arrival was spot on! The approach to Denarau was straightforward, and the process of checking in was, as always, a pleasure. Fijian Customs and Immigration officials are consistently welcoming and efficient, making for a very smooth and positive experience after a long offshore passage. This seamless clearance process is something our yacht delivery skipper teams appreciate greatly, as it means a quick transition from sea to shore for the crew and the owner. The Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 looked pristine as she pulled into her berth, a testament to her robust build and the care taken throughout the journey. This catamaran delivery from Auckland to Fiji has been a ...

  Moderating Seas and Anticipation Builds for Fiji on the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions It's now 19:00 on Monday night, and we're pleased to report that conditions are slowly but steadily settling down. The forecast indicates that both the wind and sea state will continue to drop a little through the night, promising a calmer approach to our destination. This moderation is a welcome relief after several days of intense and dynamic weather. The Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 has continued to perform in her stride through everything the Pacific has thrown at us. This catamaran has proven itself to be an incredibly capable and comfortable offshore cruiser, giving us full confidence as we approach the final leg of this yacht delivery. The ability of the vessel to handle significant seas while still providing a relatively stable platform for the crew has been a defining feature of this passage. As the weather improves, a palpable sense of ...

  Continuing the Dynamic Passage – Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47's Resilience By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Date: Tuesday, June 17th, 2025 Today, the dynamic conditions persisted, though not quite with the same intensity as last night's peak. We continued to experience 20-30 knots of wind and substantial seas, often exceeding 4 meters. Fortunately, these waves remained predominantly from aft of the beam . You can see the angle of the hull. While this still meant a lively ride, throwing us around a bit, it prevented the jarring impacts of head-on seas that can be so punishing on any vessel. The Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 continued to handle these conditions with impressive resilience. Her robust construction and stable catamaran platform meant that even as large waves built and occasionally broke into the cockpit, the boat remained composed, shedding water quickly through its efficient drainage system. These are the moments that truly test a vessel's desig...

 A Low's Eye View and a Wild Night on the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Date: Monday, June 16th, 2025 Today brought one of the most remarkable and intense experiences of this yacht delivery so far. During the daytime hours, we found ourselves in an eerily calm pocket of weather. With only about 5 knots of wind and bright sunshine, it felt idyllic. However, looking around, it was strikingly clear that we were in the very 'eye' of a low-pressure system. A distinct ring of dark grey and black clouds encircled us, a dramatic meteorological phenomenon that underscored our unique position. It was a visual spectacle – clear blue skies directly above, surrounded by an ominous atmospheric cauldron. Then, as the day progressed into night, the system hit. Within the astonishing span of just ten minutes, the winds surged to over 30 knots, and that intensity held throughout the entire night. At one point during my night watch, we recorded...

Riding the Swell – The Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 Takes on the Pacific Waves By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Today has offered a powerful demonstration of the Pacific's might and the exceptional seakeeping abilities of the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 . We've been experiencing increasingly significant swell originating from the south. While wave heights have at times reached an impressive 5 meters, our good fortune is that they are coming from behind us, providing a long, rolling motion rather than the jarring impact of head seas. The Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 , being a well-designed catamaran , handles these large following seas with remarkable grace. Instead of hobby-horsing, she simply lifts and surfs down the face of the waves, allowing us to maintain excellent speeds. It's exhilarating to feel the boat accelerate to 14 knots on the speedo as she rides a particularly large swell! The occasional wave might break and spill into the aft cockpit, providing an...

Settling into Routine and Pacific Rhythms on the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Following yesterday's successful mainsail recovery, we've now truly settled into the comfortable rhythm of offshore life aboard the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47. The last 24 hours have been characterized by consistent winds from an optimal angle and a moderate sea state, allowing the catamaran to stretch her legs and maintain excellent speeds towards Fiji. Our watch schedule is running like clockwork, ensuring continuous vigilance and well-rested crew. Days are spent checking systems, monitoring weather updates, and simply enjoying the vastness of the Pacific. The spacious design of the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 contributes significantly to crew comfort, even on extended passages. Its stable platform minimizes fatigue, allowing us to remain alert and focused during our watches, which is paramount for safety on any yacht delivery. Looking at the broader mete...

Mast Ascents and Restored Power on the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions As anticipated, the conditions moderated significantly overnight, bringing welcome relief from the stronger winds and larger seas. This calm was precisely what we needed to address yesterday's mainsail situation. While it's always frustrating to have a sail come down unexpectedly, the real test of a professional yacht delivery skipper lies in the swift and safe recovery. This morning, with the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 resting calmly on a gently rolling sea, Natasha had the pleasure of a "bird's eye view" from the top of the mast. Equipped with a bosun's chair and all necessary safety gear, she expertly ascended to retrieve the halyard that had become detached from the sail. This maneuver requires not only physical agility but also a calm demeanor and trust in the boat's systems and the person on deck. Once the halyard was securely reattach...

Day 1: Departing Auckland – Finding Our Rhythm on the Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 By Gary, Delivery Skipper at Yacht Delivery Solutions Date: Thursday, June 12th, 2025 Yesterday, Thursday, June 12th, marked the official commencement of our latest yacht delivery journey: taking a beautiful Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 from Auckland to Fiji. Our departure was meticulously planned, beginning with clearing Customs in Westhaven. Following this essential procedure, we made a strategic stop at the fuel dock for a final top-up, securing an additional 66 liters. For any long-distance catamaran delivery , you can truly never have too much fuel; it's a vital reserve that offers peace of mind and operational flexibility, especially in the vast Pacific. Our initial course took us north, navigating the scenic channels between the Barrier Islands before making a slight turn to port past the Mokes', guiding us out into the wide blue expanse of the Pacific. As forecasted, the seas gradually built th...