THE YACHT DELIVERY TEAM (The Catamaran Specialists)

2011-09-13T17:09:00.029+01:00

We also have "crew members" who do not snooze on the job!

PLEASE PAGE DOWN to read all the info on this blog i.e. CV's, Logbooks, etc.

2009-12-24T01:24:00.003Z

TEAM PARTNERS/INTERNATIONAL CAPTAINS

JAN (aka JOHN) CLUISTRA (approx. 305,000 nm's)
AND

JOHN KOTZE'(approx. 230,000 nm's)

We, The Yacht Delivery Team realised the need for highly qualified and experienced delivery captains and thus formed a partnership to be able to deliver client's boats, both monohull and catamarans, which we specialise in, from any international destination. Being boat owners, we fully appreciate the value of your boat and thus it is always in safe hands, giving you peace of mind that it will reach it's destination in good condition and clean. Should Jan or John be out delivering boats, we have many other qualified and experienced long distance captains available.

When the owner accompanies the captain on the delivery of his boat, they are given free one-on-one sailing tuition "hands on" on the day-to-day running and sailing of the boat, which ensures that they will have an excellent working knowledge at the end of the delivery. Jan is a fully qualified South African Sailing Trainer/Examiner (Yachtmaster Ocean plus Motor Vessel Captain up to 100 tonnes) and John specialises in celestial navigation and is a mechanical engineer.

We carry out sea trials prior to departure so you can have peace of mind knowing that all the equipment has been put to the test.

We have many happy clients who you are welcome to contact (we can give you all their details) to hear about their exciting "Trans-Atlantic Experiences" (Cape Town SA - Miami) and other world-wide trips with our captains.

"LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE BREATHS WE TAKE,

BUT BY THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY"

COME SAIL AND MAY ALL YOUR MOMENTS BE BREATH TAKING....

CONTRACT HELD WITH TUI MARINE - THE MOORINGS, SUNSAIL AND FOOTLOOSE

2009-12-23T15:56:00.003Z

2011 - October-December

Tui Marine i.e. The Moorings, Sunsail & Footloose

30 odd "brand new" The Moorings and Sunsail boats from the Annapolis boat show in USA, where we help to demo them to the various sailing magazines and then both John K and myself (the two partners of The Yacht Delivery Team) co-ordinate and also personally deliver the boats along with the rest of our team of skippers, 1st mates and crew to their respective bases throughout the Caribbean.

2010 - October-December - 2011 January - March

Tui Marine, The Moorings and Sunsail boats - delivering 30 odd "brand new" The Moorings and Sunsail boats from the factory drop off point in South Carolina, USA to the various bases in the Caribbean & through the Panama Canal up to Lower California/Mexico, La Paz with our full team of skippers, first mates and crew.

2009-12-22T12:59:00.023Z

INTERNATIONAL YACHT CAPTAIN JAN
(AKA JOHN) CLUISTRA - SAS INSTRUCTOR/EXAMINER

WHEN AVAILABLE:
All year round.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Total of approx. 305,000 nautical miles sailing experience
SA Sailing Yachtmaster Ocean, South Africa.
100 tonne Motor Vessel Captain/Skipper
PADI Dive master
SA Sailing Off-shore Sailing Examiner and Instructor
Ham License Operator
First Aid & fire fighting
POSITIONS HELD:
World sailing council member (ISAF) for 4 years
Commodore False Bay Yacht Club, Simon's Town, SA
Executive member of The Sailing Federation
Honouree life membership for services to sailing
National chairman of safety at sea for 4 years
Board Member of Simon's Town Marina Company for 4 years
Chairman of the development committee that built 220 marina’s at the False Bay Yacht Club
Regional chairman and council member of The Cruising Association
CHARACTER:
Having served on the executive of the sailing federation as well as ISAF, I have dealt with members as a Club Commodore and served on the board of the marina company. I have developed good communication skills as well as the ability to work with all levels of people. I was well liked and successful in getting the job done on time.
PROFILE:
The boats I have worked with range from 38ft to 65ft, mono and multi-hulls, sail and power, therefore having captained both power as well as sailing vessels I have developed good all-round sailing experience. As a boat owner I also know and respect the value of the vessels that I work on. We are also well known and fully trusted with all the brand new boats from the factories and the "Moorings" group. John K and myself have a reputation for delivering boats in 100% condition, to anywhere in the world.
EXPERIENCE (TOTAL OF APPROX. 305,000 NM'S):
2011
Tui Marine i.e. The Moorings, Sunsail & Footloose - balance of the 27 "brand new" The Moorings and Sunsail boats from the boat shows in the USA, where we help to demo them to the various sailing magazines and then co-ordinate and deliver the show boats along with our team of skippers and 1st mates/crew to their respective bases throughout the Caribbean and up through Panama Canal to Lower California/Mexico..
Tui Marine, The Moorings - New 50ft show boat to and from the Miami Boat Show
"Nati Cat" Admiral 38ft (own catamaran) cruising the Caribbean from Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago up and all around Tobago Keys.
Sept/Oct: "Coronoto" Private Leopard 46 Catamaran - The Moorings Grenada to Just Catamarans, Miami, Fl

Oct: Thirty odd "brand new" The Moorings and Sunsail boats at the Annapolis boat show - we held demo them to the yachting magazines and then co-ordinate and deliver them together with our respective skippers/first mates and crew to their respective bases.
2010
"Banderal" new Admiral 40ft cat - Cape Town to Sicily with owner
"Nauti Cat" new Admiral 38ft (own catamaran) - Cape Town to Grenada via Brazil and Suriname
Oct-December 2010 - Tui Marine, The Moorings, Sunsail, Footloose, co-ordinating and delivering 27 odd brand new The Moorings, Sunsail boats from the factory delivery point in South Carolina, USA to various bases in the Caribbean & through the Panama Canal up to Lower California/Mexico with our full team of skippers/first mates and crew.
2009
"Semper Fi" new Leopard 46 with owners - Mykonos, CT, SA - Trinidad
Tui Marine - "New" Sunsail 384 Leopard - CT, SA to Miami
For the rest of the year I have been overseeing the completion of my own new Admiral 38 catamaran, "Nauti Cat" by Admiral Yachts, Cape Town, South Africa.
2008
Tui Marine, The Moorings New 37ft Leopard Power Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA for Tui Director
"Hula Girl" New Admiral 40ft Sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA
"Vision" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Salvador
"Zeepaard" own 45ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Luderitz, Namibia.
2007
Tui Marine - The Moorings New 47ft Power Cat, Cape Town, SA to La Paz, Mexico 9500nm via Panama Canal
Tui Marine, The Moorings "Nautic Blue" New Leopard 47ft Power Cat, Cape Town, SA to Bahamas
"Liliana" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami boat show
2006
"Banana Split" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA
"Highland Odyssey" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Caribbean
"Flamingo" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA
"Gobnait" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA
2005
Tui Marine, The Moorings New 47 sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to British Virgin Islands (BVI)
Tui Marine, The Moorings New 47 sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to BVI
"Tee Time" New Admiral 38ft Sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Caribbean
2004:
"Zeepaard" 45ft Sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Salvador, Brazil, Rio then back to Cape town
"Di Di Mau" New Admiral 38ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA to Miami, USA
2002/3:
"Green-on-Blue" New 42ft sailing Cat, Cape Town, SA -Caribbean-Pacific-Australia
2000:
Sheraton Cape to Rio race on "Zeepaard", personal 45ft cat with SA navy team
Day chartering for a 1 year period on my personal 45ft Bruce Roberts and 45ft cat.

Most of the catamaran deliveries entailed taking delivery of the new boat, setting it up for the owner, then helping them to get used to the boat and taking them across the Atlantic, SA to USA, hence "The Trans-Atlantic" experience for the clients .......
REFERENCES:
Please page down to see references from our clients plus I can provide contact numbers for Tui Marine, The Moorings, Sunsail .......................................................

INTERNATIONAL YACHT CAPTAIN JOHN KOTZE - Marine Engineer

2009-12-22T06:31:00.016Z

QUALIFICATIONS / TICKETS HELD:
Cruising Association of SA Yacht Master Offshore, CASA Coastal Skipper, PADI Dive Master

WHEN AVAILABLE:
All Year Round

EXPERIENCE - TOTAL NM'S Approx. 230,000
2002 - Charter Base Manager, FLORIDA KEYS
2003 – 2004/ General Marine Technician, FORT LAUDERDALE (larryachts@AOL.com)
Waters Sailed – North and South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific, Caribbean, Mexican Gulf, North Sea and Baltic Sea

*** BRAND NEW FACTORY BOATS

2011: October - February 2012 - Work in progress

TUI MARINE (The Moorings, Sunsail & Footloose group)

Personally sailing and co-managing our team of skippers to deliver 17 boats, mono`s, sail and power cats from the Annapolis Boat Show and Charleston South Carolina, USA to the various bases in the Caribbean.

Beneteau Oceanis 43 mono - Tortola to La Paz (Sea of Cortez) 3,449 nm's

Beneteau 50 mono - Fort Lauderdale to Tortola 1,215 nm's

Irwin 52 mono - Puerto Rico to Albany NY, 1657 nm's

Lagoon 42 cat - Tortola to Fort Lauderdale, 1,o42 nm's

2010:
NewAdmiral 40ft cat - Cape Town, South Africa to Grenada , 5,821nm's
New Leopard 47ft power cat - Abacos Bahama's - Florida

Oct-Jan 2011 2010 - Tui Marine (TheMoorings, Sunsail & Footloose group)

Personally delivering and co-running a team of skippers to deliver 27 odd brand new The Moorings & Sunsail boats from the factory delivery point in South Carolina, USA to various bases around the Caribbean and Mexico plus taking the brand new show boats up to the Miami boat show for Tui Marine USA (The Moorings, Sunsail & Footloose)

2009:
New Admiral 40ft cat "s/v Punta Azul" with owners, Cape Town SA - Trinidad, 5537nm's
Baltic 56 mono, 3061 nm's, Stockholm to Palma (Majorca)
Leopard 46 cat, 5893 nm's, Turkey - Tortola BVI
Leopard 384 cat, 1127 nm's, Fort Lauderdale - Tortola, BVI
2008:
Admiral 50ft cat, 2381nm's, Cape Town, SA - Madagascar
New Admiral 40ft cat, 7235 nm's, Cape Town, SA - Fort Lauderdale
New Admiral 40ft cat, 7165 nm's, Cape Town SA - Fort Lauderdale
New Admiral 40ft cat, 7165 nm's, Cape Town - Fort Lauderdale

2007:

New Admiral 40ft cat, 7812 nm's, Cape Town, SA to Annapolis

New Admiral 40ft, 923 nm's, Annapolis - Fort Lauderdale
New Admiral 50ft cat, 7100nm's, Cape Town, SA - Fort Lauderdale
2006:
ADMIRAL 50 CAT, 3576NM, SALVADOR BRAZIL, UP AMAZON RIVER TO(SANTA REM), ORINOCO RIVER, TRINIDAD
ADMIRAL 40FT, 7812NM, CT - ANNAPOLIS
ADMIRAL 50 CAT, 6605NM, GRANADA - RIO DE JANEIRO, GOUPH ISLAND (ROARING 40'S), CT
2005:
LEOPARD 40, 6040NM, CT-BVI TORTOLA
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 1858NM, FORT LAUDERDALE - ANNAPOLIS RET
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 964NM, ANNAPOLIS - FORT LAUDERDALE
LEOPARD 43 CAT, 6909NM, CT-MIAMI
2004:
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 1993NM, FORT LAUDERDALE-ANNAPOLIS RET***
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 1008NM, ANNAPOLIS-FORT LAUDERDALE ***
34 GEMINI, 255NM, FORT LAUDERDALE-PUNTA GORDA
BENETEAU 460, 1112NM, FORT LAUDERDALE- HOUSTON TEXAS
MONOHULLS/CATS 38 – 50 FT, 2800NM, FLORIDA KEYS AND BAHAMAS, DAY SAILS, CHARTERS, DELIVERIES
ISLAND SPIRIT 40 CAT, 1170NM, FORT LAUDERDALE- TORTOLA ***
2003:
BENETEAU 460, 3685NM, LA PAZ MEXICO-FORT LAUDERDALE
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 3369 NM, GRENADA-ANNAPOLIS FORT LAUDERDALE
2003-2004:
MONO'S/CATS 38 – 51FT, 3086NM, FLORIDA KEYS AND BAHAMAS, DAY SAILS, SINGLE/H DELIVERIES ***
2001:
ST FRANCIS 44 CAT, 13672NM, FLORIDA-MEDITERRANEAN-CAPE TOWN
2000:
WOODS 35FT CAT, 1095NM, HOUSTON FORT LAUDERDALE
40FT KETCH, 340NM, FORT LAUDERDALE- FORT MEYERS
BENETEAU 332, 1368NM, CHARLESTON-TORTOLA ***
PRIVILEGE 43, 1262NM, FORT LAUDERDALE-CONNECTICUT
PROUT SNOWGOOSE, 891NM, FORT LAUDERDALE-CHESAPEAK
44 BENETEAU OCEANS, 3775NM, ANTIGUA-GIBRALTAR
40 WOODS CAT, 4967NM, RIO DE JANEIRO-FORT LAUDERDALE
1999:
DUFOUR 45, 173NM, FORT LAUDERDALE- NASSAU
PRIVILAGE 39, 2113NM, GRENADA- FORT LAUDERDALE
PRIVILAGE 39, 1820NM, FORT LAUDERDALE-GRENADA
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 1105NM, ST MARTIN-FORT LAUDERDALE ***
ADMIRAL 38 CAT, 5992NM, CAPE TOWN-ST MARTIN ****
40FT WOODS CAT, 295NM, TABLE BAY CHARTERS
1998:
40FT WOODS CAT, 819NM, DURBAN- CAPE TOWN
DEAN 440 CAT, 983NM, RICHARDS BAY- SALDANHA BAY
ST FRANCIS 44 CAT, 901NM, RICHARDS BAY-CAPE TOWN
WOODS CUSTOM 40 CAT, 2571NM, MAHE- SEYCHELLES-DURBAN
ST FRANCIS 44 CAT, 2313NM, MAHE- SEYCHELLES- RICHARDS BAY
OTHER POSITIONS:
1998: NAVIGATOR, WOODS CUSTOM CAT, 3840NM, CAPE TOWN-SEYCHELLES
1997, CREW, COMPASS 47,420NM, DURBAN-PORT ELIZABETH
1997, CREW, 35 SIMONIS, 560NM, KNYSNA- DURBAN
1997, CREW, 43 KELSALL CAT, 226NM, DURBAN DAY SAILS
1997, CREW, MOODY 395, 530NM, DURBAN, EAST LONDON,DURBAN
30.06 to 31.07.97
L34 OCEAN SAILING ACADEMY 691 5 WEEK CAPTAINS COURSE EAST COAST DURBAN, RICHARDS BAY AND PORT ST.JOHNS
1988 to 1996:
VARIOUS MONO'S CREW - PLEASURE SAILING +/- 2000 TURKEY,DURBAN

Captain Jan Cluistra - South African & International Instructor/Examiner

2009-12-21T21:06:00.002Z

Report of Delivery of s/v Cornoto - Sept 2011

2009-12-21T12:33:00.004Z

-------- Original Message -------

Subject: Thanks for your report on Coronoto

Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:36:22 -0400

From: Perk Perkins Perk@ORVIS.com

To: jan cluistra

CC: Michel Benarrosh michelbena@gmail.com

Dear Jan

Thank you for your delivery report on s/v Coronoto, my 46ft Leopard catamaran

and also the safe conveyance of her from Grenada to Just Catamarans,

Fl., USA. Michel gave me a glowing report on your skills and

professionalism so I am honored to have had the Catamaran in such

qualified hands.

This all makes me want to pursue your delivery of the boat to Belize

(with me aboard) with greater zeal depending upon your sailing

commitments in November. I would really like to benefit from your

seamanship by joining you on this leg from Ft Lauderdale south therefore if you could Let me know what might be possible.

Kind Regards

Perk Perkins

Letter of Recommendation S/V "Galetae" - JAN CLUISTRA

2009-12-20T16:16:00.001Z

DAVA J. NEWMAN. PH.D.
PROFESSOR OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
& ENGINEERING SYSTEMS DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY & POLICY PROGRAM HARVARD-MIT HEALTH, SCIENCES, & TECHNOLOGY MAC VICAR FACULTY FELLOW
ELECTRONIC MAIL: dcnewman@mit.edu

ROOM 33-307
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617)258-8799
(617)253-4196 (FAX)

Boston, February 27, 2004
To whom it may concern:
It is with great pleasure that we write this letter of recommendation for Mr. John Cluistra. We first met John almost three years ago in the island of Ua Pu in the Marquesas archipelago (French Polynesia) during our circumnavigation. John was skippering a catamaran that he was sailing from South Africa towards Australia. We traveled parallel courses throughout the South Pacific. Later on we met in Tahiti where we had long discussions on navigation, heavy weather tactics, and many technology issues regarding on board systems and boat construction. We found John's knowledge on these subjects to be of great depth not only for having studied the literature but it was obvious that his knowledge came from first hand experience and having spent endless hours on the ocean.
We met John again in South Africa at the False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) where he was formerly the commodore. After sailing the coast of South Africa for more than three months we found that John's legacy to the FBYC and his reputation, both as a racing and cruising skipper is monumental throughout the dangerous coast of that great country. He is regarded by his peers as one of the most able captains in all of South Africa.
We would also like to highlight John's commitment to education and outreach to youth. He spearheaded a program to teach disadvantaged South African youth to learn to sail, and more importantly, to empower them with confidence and opportunities for life. We are both educators and John introduced us to children and teachers in the Western Cape where we were able to give seminars and arrange a video conference between South African students and an astronaut in the US to discuss exploration via space and sea. John's tireless work to support children, education, and sailing in South Africa are truly admirable.
While at the FBYC we had to perform major structural repairs to the chain plates of Galatea, our 47' cutter rigged sailboat. John came up with the best structural and economic solution to the problem, found the right people to perform the work and supervised the implementation, all of which was finished on time and well within budget.
The most significant asset of John is not his nautical and technical knowledge, but his positive personality and integrity as a human being. John possesses a wonderful sense of humor and is one of the most polite people we have ever met.

We have decades of sailing experience, have sailed all over the world and have met many captains in our lives. We can say with utmost certainty that John Cluistra is one of the finest skippers that we have ever met and we would entrust him to deliver Galatea as well as any sailing vessel to any waters on this planet.
Please feel free to contact us at any time if you need additional information. Sincerely,

Cap. Guillermo L. Trotti Prof. Dava J. Newman
trottig@aol.com dnewman@mit.edu
781-631-7750 (USA) 617-258-8799
Scanned from signed original, Cape Town November 2008

Letter of Recommendation S/V "Blue Dog Cat" - JAN CLUISTRA

2009-12-20T16:12:00.001Z

Michael Kinghorn
4201 N. Ocean Blvd. C-607
Boca Raton, Florida, 33431
561-367-0570
February 11,2006
To Whom It May Concern:
In my career as a high school principal I have been privileged to work with a lot of good and capable people. John Cluistra is as conscientious and knowledgeable as anyone I have known.
He was the delivery captain in my passage from Cape Town, South Africa to Boca Raton, Florida. This was an ocean journey of approximately 8,000 nautical miles through the South Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic. Throughout those 43 days (and nights) John was altogether confident and competent in all the tasks of a captain.
Whatever was amiss on the boat, John had a solution from a broken main halyard to loose plumbing fixtures. He was so conscientious; in fact, he seemed to take responsibility for the wind. If it wasn't blowing from the direction or speed needed, John seemed to even take responsibility for that. He searched weather patterns and currents to put us in the right position throughout the trip. As a result we passed through storms, doldrums and winds on our bow without missing our projected E.T.A. for any of our projected landfalls.
In addition to his own competence he is an excellent mentor. He had previously provided the instruction and leadership to make our first mate, Grant Gerard, an excellent delivery captain in his own right. Throughout the journey he eased me and my wife, Jane, into our own high level of confidence and sailing competence. This was done with gentle understanding of our concerns and inexperience.
Finally he is an interesting and affable person who provided good company. I have the highest regard for John Cluistra as a delivery captain and a person and give him my unqualified recommendation in every regard.
Sincerely,
Michael Kinghorn
Scanned from signed original, Cape Town, November 2008

Letter of recommendation S/V "Green-On-Blue" - JOHN CLUISTRA

2009-12-20T08:45:00.000Z

Blu

Green-on-Blue Atlantic 42 Catamaran

Homeport: Vernon, Texas, USA Owner-Skipper: Kelly Wright

February 24, 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

I have sailed alone with John Cluistra from False Bay, South Africa to Brazil, then to the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal, and across the South Pacific to Australia, and know him to be a consummate seaman who abilities as a delivery skipper are unequalled by anyone I am familiar with.

In the course of these voyages we encountered uncomfortable and troubling sailing conditions and several serious equipment failures (loss of steering, electrical system and autopilot problems), and John handled all of these bothersome events with a calm competence that is his hallmark. Also, on another boat John and I and a third person experienced sinking to deck level (it was a catamaran or would have otherwise sunk completely), requiring rescue by the South African Navy, and John remained calm and focused throughout.

John is very knowledgeable in all facets of sailing, and can install and repair almost any piece of equipment. His practically limitless practical knowledge about boats and their equipment comes largely from his experience in building, I believe, seven large cruising boats, and his own extensive cruising and racing history. He has been an important figure in the South African sailing community for years, including holding the positions of yacht club commodore and other offices, and chairmanship of the racing and safety at sea committees of the South African national sailing organization on whose board he was regularly elected. John also has the innate feel for the sea and wind and direction that all really good sailors must possess. He is likewise a conservative sailor who limits risk-taking as much as possible.

Besides possessing all the technical skills, John’s character is beyond reproach. He is not a smoker, hardly ever takes a drink (and certainly never while underway), has never used drugs, and his word is as good as gold. He is also a great guy to have aboard as he has a good sense of humor and is very polite and considerate towards others.

John’s only failing is that he is not much of a cook.

All in all, I know of no one whom I could recommend as highly for any position as I do John. Certainly he has to be one of the top skippers anywhere.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish me to verify any of the above.

Sincerely,

Kelly Wright

kwright@chipshot.net

Letter of recommendation S/V "Didi Mau" - JAN CLUISTRA

2009-12-20T04:18:00.001Z

*George & Christine Brown*

PO Box 7989

Incline Village

Nevada 89452

Registered in Nevada, USA- Registration:
DL3533Y
*United States of America*

June 7, 2004

Subject: Letter of Recommendation

To Whom It May Concern,

It gives us great pleasure and privilege to write a letter of
recommendation for John Cluistra. This letter cannot possibly cover all
the personal and professional qualities John possesses, but only
attempts to briefly highlight the points we consider most important.

We have just completed a passage with John (our delivery captain) that
took seven weeks and covered over 7000 nautical miles. We were fortunate
to be "crew" for this very capable captain on our 38' catamaran, built
in Cape Town, South Africa.

The trip included all the normal challenges of such a long passage, as
well as some unanticipated mechanical, navigational, and weather
situations. John was magnificent. He was always aware of what was
happening and intuitively knew what would come next. He kept ahead of
the boat, did a quick study of any possible problems, if time permitted
he asked for crew input, and then took appropriate corrective measures
before they became dangerous. He demonstrated this over and over again
during the course of the passage. John is a "sailor's sailor" in every
aspect of the profession: Mechanical breakdown (being a new boat there
were many); sailing in severe weather; excellent navigational skills;
prudently managing the boat's systems; diplomatically dealing with
immigrations and custom officials in five different countries as well as
handling the US Coast Guard. In ever aspect, John was superb.

We started this adventure as inexperienced sailors, so of course, we had
some trepidation over the magnitude of this passage. John's leadership
quickly quelled any reservations we had and instead he instilled self
confidence in our sailing ability.

Even during the most stressful times, his manner had a calming affect on
the crew. Without fanfare, he worked the most hours, did the hardest
jobs, and anticipated our boat problems. If we made mistakes in
accomplishing a task, he concentrated on praising what was done right
and gave positive critique on how to improve. He was a very patient teacher.

Thanks to John, we came away from this trip with renewed confidence. We
are ready to make this boat our home and sail anywhere.

Sincerely,

Bill and Chris Brown

Referal letter - John Kotze

2009-12-19T13:53:00.000Z

From: btrikas@inetdispatch.com
To: johnkotze@hotmail.com
Subject: Boat Delivery - Sorry for the delay in getting this to you!
Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:42:54 -0400

John

Please feel free to use me as a reference in the future. I’m very pleased with your services as a delivery captain

I’m especially happy that you took the time on your own initiative to go a week early to the boat and confirm sea worthiness. This was critical as this was a new boat for me and I only had the surveyor to rely on. Your perseverance in identifying and lining up people to resolve the issues found clearly made the difference in successfully delivering the boat

Thanks a Million!

Bill

Letter of Recommendation S/V "Eclectic" - John Kotzé

2009-12-18T06:44:00.000Z

Wayne T. Stone

87 Brook Hill Drive

Seekonk, MA 02771

July 30, 2008

To whom it may concern:

This letter is intended as a reference for Captain John Kotze. John took my Admiral 40 catamaran with me and two other crew members from Cape Town, South Africa to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in just less than two months. Along the way we had three to four day layovers in; St. Helena Island, Fortaleza Brazil and St. Lucia.

John proved to be extremely professional and competent in his preparation and problem solving. It would be readily apparent to anyone that Capt. John has a great deal of experience and his philosophy is predicated on safety and problem prevention.

People ask why I would take a Captain when I myself have a USCG Masters rating: a trip of this nature is not to be taken lightly and John provided guidance and preparation at a very high level. He prevented as many problems as he could while anticipating all probable issues and planning for them. He made the journey a learning situation: namely how to be a professional Captain and he taught an old sea dog some very useful tricks of the trade, and was very accommodating doing it.

I would recommend him to anyone planning a sailing adventure.

Please feel free to contact me (if I am not out sailing) at 508-336-5066 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 508-336-5066 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or at waynet@comcast.net and I would be pleased to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Captain Wayne T. Stone

S/V Eclectic

Referal letter - John Kotze

2009-12-18T01:46:00.001Z

Subject: Thanks
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 12:42:55 -0500
From: b@bruceparadis.com
To: johnkotze@hotmail.com
CC: curtf@hickorytech.net

John,

I’ve been back home a few weeks and just viewed the movies of our voyage from Cape Town, South Africa to Fortaleza, Brazil. It brought back great memories of a rare lifetime experience. We had never attempted a sail beyond the boundaries of Lake Superior or the Caribbean. The 4000 mile trans Atlantic voyage was a whole new level for us. As we learned our new boat’s operations and contended with the uncertainties of a long voyage, your steady, experienced seamanship guided us flawlessly. The daily routines that you organized, helped to spread the work evenly and encouraged the amiable passage of time. I would highly recommend you as a world class skipper.

I wish you the very best in Florida, and if I can be of assistance, please ask.

Thank you,

Bruce Paradis

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NEW OWNERS SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT LIST (smaller items can be purchased back home)

2008-12-29T11:37:00.016Z

There is a lot to think about when your new boat is being built and about to be launched. Below are some items that you might want to consider based on questions that I get asked by many new owners:

SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Additional items required over and above what is supplied by the boat factories and it definitely pays to start looking early at your options to save on costs.

DINGHY/TENDER:
Always carry flares on your dinghy just in-case the motor cuts and you find yourself out at sea. Oars are easy on a solid dinghy, but on an inflateable or RIB it is tricky to row in the right direction and very slow. At night have a light on your dinghy which is best fixed onto the top of your outboard with magnets. This way people can see you! Put a cord on the cut off switch on the motor so just in case you fall overboard the outboard will stop. Never forget that a fast dinghy is very dangerous, especially at night when visability is poor and lights are reflecting on the water. Hard dinghies are very unforgiving to the gelcoat on your boat whereas the inflatables (good makes can be found in the Caribbean) are good for the boat but can be damaged in rough areas.

LIFE RAFTS:
Do you need a 6 or 8 man life raft, hard or soft box, single or double floor for cold climate sailing where you intend to keep the boat. Which make? can raft be serviced internationally? Give yourself enough time to look at shipping a life raft purchased overseas to the factory as it cannot be sent by air without disarming it, i.e. taking out the gas canister, flares. This is where it is perhaps easier to purchase a life raft in the country that the boat is being built in, especially if the manufacturer has overseas branches to service and repair it. This will save on the hassle and cost of sea or air-freight. Make sure a container is packed for ladies who cannot use overboard for toilet requirements.

EPIRP:
Firstly you need a VHF licence to have it programmed. Some different options are manual or automatic deploy (water activated), built-in GPS location for greater accuracy and quicker finding time.

GPS:
Look at an extra hand-held GPS as back-up. How big must it be and what features are needed, does it need to interface with a laptop?

SPOT:

Also an excellent low cost personal tracking device.

CHARTS:
Electronic and paper charts for the area that you intend to sail in (what do you need for the delivery route?)

LAPTOP:
A must have these days! Features to look for should include WI-FI, reasonable storage for photo’s and charts (250+ gigs). Spill proof key board is great to have. A 12 volt plug would save having to use inverter or generator set to charge it. If you are wanting to SKYPE friends/family, a built-in web cam would also be helpful, a DVD writer for back-up and copying. The graphics and speed do not need to be high unless you intend to Game or watch DVD's. A tough laptop that can withstand the bumps is also recommended (built-in shock absorbers!)

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS:
Essential for safety as well as a family or business communication tool.

VHF & MOBILE CELL PHONES:
Short range communication can be handled by VHF or mobile phone with a local phone card or roaming facility, but only if within range of land and a beacon.

SSB & SATELLITE PHONES:
for long range options.
SSB PRO’S: is that all listeners will hear a distress call, you are able to listen to many safety and weather nets , you can receive weather fax through your laptop and modem, you can attach a modem for cheap e-mails in plain text format (no pictures or attachments!)
SSB CON’S: high initial out-lay, then it becomes a low running cost. You need a level of expertise to get the most out of it, dependant upon quality of reception.

SATELLITE PHONE PRO’S: It is easy to use, has good reception therefore instant worldwide communication, can receive e-mails and weather grip files through modem and laptop, is portable enough to take home. Short msg emails can be sent via the sat phone re confirmation of weather, etc.
SATELLITE PHONE CON’S: Not really many at all !! It is no longer that expensive to purchase the phone and has now become relatively cheap with Inmarsat to set up on a "pay as you go" system instead of having to buy large bundles of airtime that often expired without use as they were only available for a 12 month period.

TENDER/DINGY: Either inflatable, RIB or hard dingy.
Inflatable pro’s: light to handle, stable, does not damage boat when you bump it, floats when rolled or full of water , can stow in small space - con’s, easily damaged, hard to row, needs to be pumped up often.
RIB pro’s: faster , solid floor, better ride and floats when full of water - con’s is heavier to lift and carry up beach.
Solid dingy pro’s: very hard wearing, usually light (especially if Aluminium) and rides well - con’s: does not float unless has built-in buoyancy, usually narrower and less stable. Can also cause a lot of damage to your boats gelcoat/paintwork if not fitted with good fender systems!

ALTERATIVE POWER:
A must have for the modern power hungry boat to save on fuel costs to run an on-board generator or engine hours on motors.

SOLAR PANELS: I personally like solar power if the area your boat will be in enough sun for most of the day (try to not let the mainsail shadow them) . Although initial out-lay is quite high, it is quiet, clean power that saves you having to run your engines/generator and burn fuel. The more panels that you can afford, the better.

WIND GENERATORS (you will have to find a quiet one that does not vibrate!) A combination of solar and wind power will cover most of your requirements. The more isolated the cruising ground, the greater the advantage of alternate power sources.

Basically, it is wise to genrate power with all the systems available as sooner or later you will need it!

I hope that this information helps you with choices for your new boat. If you need more information please do not hesitate to contact me.

JOHN CLUISTRA

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED TOOL KIT

2008-12-27T09:44:00.003Z

Captain John Kotzé recommends the following that may be obtained in the port of launch or departure.

• Screwdrivers, Philips and Slotted Long and Short handled
• Metric Wrench Set and Sockets
• Water Pump Pliers
• Adjustable Crescent Wrench
• Bolt Cutters (optional)
• Vice Grips
• Multimeter
• Side Cutters
• Standard and Needle Nose Pliers
• Hammer with Spare Handle (for V belt adjustment) and a Mallet
• Chisels
• Allen Keys (Metric)
• Flat and Round Files
• Wire Brush
• Hacksaw
• Wire Stripper and Crimpers
• Drill and Drill Bits
• Bungee Cords and Old car tyre inner tube
• Spare Rope
• Tape- Duct, Teflon and Electrical
• Sail Repair Kit
• Spare Hose Clamps and Wiring
• Electrical Connectors
• Wooden Plugs (Dowels/Bungs)
• Zip (electrical) Ties
• Spare Block (Snatch)
• V belts, Impellers, Fuses
• Oil Filter Wrench
• Oil Filters
• Spare Racor Filters
• WD 40
• Oil 80W90 Lube Oil 1 Litre
• Funnel
• Bucket
• Engine Oil 15W40

EXPECTED DEPARTURE DATES AFTER LAUNCH AND SEA TRIALS BEFORE DEPARTURE

2008-12-26T10:13:00.002Z

Once you have been advised of the launch date of your boat by the manufacturer, please allow at least 3 weeks after such launch to let the factory put her through sea trials, do any small repairs/changes then after that one can only start on the provisioning of fuel, food and tools (see list below) and other items, crew selection, visa's and ship's paperwork, more sea trials (it is good to live on-board in harbour as it is a good way to pick up on any small things that can be fixed by the manufacturer before sailing) rather than hanging up-side down in a small space in a storm or hiring some unknown repair man in a foreign port, much easier to thoroughly test the boat in the manufacturers port! With used boats, it is also a very good idea to have the skipper do extensive sea trials on your new boat before it sets sail to your chosen destination as often things only show up at sea when underway!

With skippers such as Jan and John on board, most things can be fixed at sea, which is a huge relief for the new owner, HOWEVER, we must mention that should you decide to accompany our skippers on the delivery that they get the owners ACTIVELY INVOLVED in sailing, un-blocking of pumps/heads, oil/filter changes, repairs of sails, etc., so that you are able to handle most things on your own once the boat is handed over!

COUNTRIES COVERED (SUBJECT TO SEASONAL WEATHER AND PIRACY PLUS IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET TO & FROM THE LOCATIONS BY AIR/COMMERCIAL SHIP))

2008-01-01T11:55:00.008Z

DELIVERIES FROM AND TO:

Northern Europe

Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden

Mediterranean & Black Sea

Albania, Algeria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine

Western Europe & North Atlantic Islands

Azores, Bermuda, Canary Islands, Cape Verdes, Channel Islands, Faroe Islands, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Madeira, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

West Africa & South Atlantic Islands

Ascension Island, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahama's, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Sint Maarten, St Barts, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Statia, Trinidad & Tobago, Tobago Keys, Turks & Caicos, Union Island, US Virgin Islands

Central & North America

Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St Pierre & Miquelon, USA

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

North Pacific Islands

Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas, Palau (Belau)

South Pacific Islands

American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, Galapagos, Juan Fernandez Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Somoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna

South East Asia & East Asia

Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor (Timor Leste), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Phillippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

North Indian Ocean & Red Sea (Some not recommended due to piracy)

Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia

South Indian Ocean

Chagos, Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Reunion Island, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania

Antarctica & Sub-Antarctic Islands (Not easy to get into due to short seasons!)

Antarctica, Bouvetoya, Falkland Islands, French Sub-antartic Territory, Heard, McDonald & Macquarie Islands, Marion & Prince Edward Islands, New Zealand's Sub-antartic Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, Sub-antartic & Southern Ocean Islands