A Farewell and Heartfelt Thank You from JD Yachts

After 25 extraordinary years, JD Yachts will be closing its doors.

This has not been an easy decision—but it’s one we’ve made with deep reflection and immense pride in all that we’ve achieved. We set out to build a company grounded in trust, transparency, and a passion for getting people on the water. We believe we’ve done just that.

To our clients—some of whom have been with us from the very beginning—we owe everything. Your unwavering support and trust shaped our journey. Many of you returned to us time and again for your boating needs, and that loyalty became the foundation of our business. We’re honoured to have helped so many families and individuals realise their dreams of yachting across the UK and the Mediterranean.

To our industry colleagues, tradespeople, and the marinas who welcomed and supported our work—you made this possible. The collaborative spirit and shared commitment to excellence within the marine sector gave JD Yachts its wings. We always sought to drive business back into local trades and infrastructures, and we’re proud to have played a part in sustaining that ecosystem.

To our dedicated team—Toby Hawkins and Isabella O’Leary—thank you for your incredible contribution, professionalism, and commitment to our shared mission. You’ve been integral to our journey and success.

A special thank you to our families for your constant support, patience, and belief in us—especially through the demanding times. JD Yachts has always been about more than just boats; it’s been about people, partnerships, and heart.

The current business climate, especially for SMEs in the marine sector, has become increasingly complex and challenging—particularly in relation to post-Brexit trade regulations and the double taxation of vessels between the UK and EU. These conditions have made it nearly impossible to scale sustainably or operate competitively abroad. We believe it’s important to acknowledge how much the industry has changed—and how vital it is to protect what was once a thriving cornerstone of Britain’s maritime heritage.

As we close this chapter, we do so with enormous gratitude for every client, colleague, and friend we’ve met along the way. The memories, the adventures, and the trust you placed in us will stay with us forever.

Thank you for letting JD Yachts be part of your story. We are proud of the legacy we leave behind.

With heartfelt thanks,

Darren & Justin

Off Canvas

 
The whole process starts with the new owner granting permission to the captain to move the boat, and then detailed pre-delivery checks on board, making sure there are spares for the engines and checking all systems work for the journey.  
 
Planning a lengthy delivery up to 1,000 nautical miles requires detailed passage planning on charts, looking for emergency ports, fuel consumptions / range for the day and several calls to marinas and coast guards not forgetting making sure we have available crew on standby for the right weather window. We also make sure that the vessel has all the appropriate legal documents on board in the event of being boarded by customs. It is normal to get stopped twice on a journey such as this, at sea by a big frigate and maybe another once or twice when mooring for fuel in another country.
 
It all seems ideal to someone on shore asking where you are going and how fabulous it sounds, but the responsibility of skippering a vessel that costs anywhere between £100,000 - £1 million pounds is not taken lightly.  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have strict rules and regulations while at sea and the need for detailed hourly logs, constant engine checks, and maintaining an active look out at all times. Notifying the owner of his or her new purchase current location is equally important.
 
Whilst under way, there may well be on going running repairs, keeping the vessel clean and tidy so once on arrival the client is greeted with a clean interior and after a quick hose down outside, a salt free finish on the gel coat.
 
Some clients may prefer to come along on the trip to enjoy the experience, but more importantly get the opportunity to be trained and learn the systems on board so when they arrive at their desired location, they can continue to handle his or her vessel with ease.
 
There are other clients that purchase without seeing the vessel and on arrival at the destination, our Captain will spend time handing over the boat and showing the new owner all that is needed.
 
At JD Yachts we strive for perfection where ever the boat is delivered.

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