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Practical guidance on yacht management, new build projects, refit planning, regulatory compliance and the marine industry from the Foreland Marine team.
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How to Buy Your First Superyacht: A Practical Guide for New Owners
Everything first-time buyers need to know about purchasing a superyacht, from setting a realistic budget and choosing between new build and pre-owned, to selecting the right team and avoiding common mistakes.
J Class Yacht Management: What Makes It Different
Managing a J Class yacht is unlike any other vessel in the superyacht fleet. From rig loads that rival America's Cup boats to heritage obligations and a racing calendar that spans the Atlantic, here is what owners and captains need to know.
Performance Sailing Yacht Refit: Rig, Keel, and Appendage Programmes
A guide to refit programmes for performance sailing yachts, covering rig replacement, keel and appendage upgrades, structural modifications, and how to manage a project that balances competitive performance with cruising comfort.
Sailing vs Motor Yacht Management: Key Differences for Owners
Crew, maintenance cycles, insurance and running costs differ materially between sailing and motor superyachts. What actually changes and what owners should plan for.
Sailing Yacht Rig Maintenance: Inspection and Replacement Guide
Standing rigging life is 10 to 12 years on rod, less on Dyneema. A guide to inspection cycles, mast surveys and full carbon rig replacement programmes.
Sailing Yacht Race Season Prep: A Working Captain's Checklist
Sail inventory, crew prep, safety, bottom job, systems checks. A working checklist for getting a performance sailing yacht ready to start the season.
Sailing Yacht Keel Inspection: What Owners Need to Know
Lead keel inspection, keel bolts, rudder bearings, lifting keel systems and hydrodynamic modifications. The maintenance that prevents major failures.
Yacht Hydraulic Systems: Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Upgrades
Deck hydraulics, keel rams, furling drives, winch systems and PLC control. How to maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade hydraulic systems on a sailing yacht.
Choosing a Sailing Yacht Management Company: Specialism Matters
Most yacht managers do not understand sailing yachts. The rig, sails and racing systems demand a manager with genuine sailing engineering experience.
Yacht Running Costs: The 10% Rule and Why It Usually Misleads
The 10% rule says budget 10 percent of purchase price each year. For most yachts it understates the real number. What actually drives annual running costs.
Yacht Weather Routing for Offshore Racing: Navigator's Guide
How to use polars, high-resolution weather models and shore-based routing during an offshore race. What navigators need from a professional weather router.
Choosing a Shipyard for Your Yacht Refit: A Practical Guide
How to evaluate refit shipyards, what to expect from the tendering process, common pitfalls to avoid, and the role of an owner's representative in yard selection and relationship management.
A Guide to ISM Compliance for Yachts Under 500GT
What the ISM Code requires, why yachts under 500GT increasingly need to comply, how to build a practical safety management system, and how to maintain compliance year-round.
What is a Yacht Owner's Representative and Why Independence Matters
A comprehensive guide to the role of a yacht owner's representative: what the role covers, why independence is non-negotiable, what it costs, when to appoint one, and the questions every owner should ask. Covers SYBAss and YORR accreditation.
Why Independent Yacht Management Matters
Not all yacht management companies operate the same way. We explain what independent yacht management means, why conflicts of interest are common in the industry, and what owners should look for when choosing a management partner.
Carbon Composite Construction: What Owners Need to Know
Carbon composite is the material of choice for performance sailing yachts, but the construction process demands rigorous engineering and oversight. We cover prepreg vs infusion, quality control, cost-weight tradeoffs, and why independent technical representation matters during a composite build.
Performance Refit: Upgrading an Ageing Racing Yacht
When racing results plateau, a planned performance refit restores competitiveness. Appendages, rig and sail programmes, weight reduction, regatta deadlines.
Owner's Representation During Yard Selection: Getting It Right from Day One
Yard selection is the single most consequential decision in a new build project. We explain what criteria matter, how an owner's representative evaluates yards independently, red flags to watch for, and how the wrong choice can derail a project before it begins.
The Role of an Owner's Representative in a New Build Project
What does an owner's representative actually do during a new build superyacht project? We break down the responsibilities, from contract negotiation and yard selection through to sea trials and delivery, and explain why independent representation protects your investment.
A Practical Guide to ISM Compliance for Yacht Owners
ISM Code compliance is a legal requirement for commercially operated yachts over 500 GT, but the process can be opaque and overwhelming. This guide covers Document of Compliance, Safety Management Systems, designated persons ashore, and how to prepare for flag state audits.
Refit Project Management: What to Expect from Planning to Sea Trials
A well-managed refit protects your budget, your timeline and your vessel. We walk through the key phases of a superyacht refit: scope definition, yard tendering, contract negotiation, project oversight, quality assurance and sea trials.
Flag State Registration: How to Choose the Right Flag for Your Yacht
A practical guide to flag state registration for superyacht owners. Covers the major flag states, their regulatory requirements, tax implications, and how your choice of flag affects insurance, crew, and operations.
Superyacht Refit Cost: Real Numbers for 24 to 60 Metre Yachts
Refit budgets typically run from routine maintenance work into full structural rebuilds running into millions. A breakdown by yacht size, scope and yard.
Superyacht Crew Salaries 2026: What to Budget by Position and Yacht Size
A comprehensive guide to superyacht crew salaries in 2026, covering captains, officers, engineers, deckhands, stewardesses, and chefs. Salary ranges by yacht size, experience level, and what else to budget beyond base pay.
How to Choose an Independent Yacht Management Company
Not all yacht management companies are equal. Learn what to look for when selecting an independent management partner, from technical capability and flag state expertise to transparency, reporting and alignment with your interests as an owner.
MCA Large Yacht Code (LY3): What Owners Must Comply With
LY3 sets construction, safety and operational standards for commercial yachts 24 metres and above on a Red Ensign flag. The key requirements in plain English.
Classic Sailing Yacht Refit: What to Expect
A complete guide to refitting a classic sailing superyacht. Specification, yard selection, the five phases, realistic budget ranges, and how to choose an independent project manager.
How to Choose a Yacht Owner's Representative
A SYBAss-accredited guide to choosing an independent yacht owner's representative for a superyacht new build or refit. What the role does, what to ask, what to pay.
Yacht New Build Contract: What to Negotiate
The ten clauses in a superyacht new build contract that decide whether a project runs well or badly. What to negotiate before signing, by an SYBAss-accredited firm.
SYBAss Accreditation: What It Means for Owners
SYBAss accreditation is the strongest external mark of competence in superyacht owner's representation. What it covers, who has it, and why it matters to owners.
Owner's Representative vs Yacht Manager: How They Differ
The owner's representative and the yacht manager are different roles with different jobs. How to tell them apart, when you need each, and why you should not combine them.
Solent Superyacht Refit Yards: A 2026 Comparison
An independent comparison of UK Solent and South Coast superyacht refit yards in 2026, with lift capacities, dock dimensions, specialist trades, and how to choose between them.
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