References

Contact details of reference providers are available on request.

2006

What can I say; I have now used Chris Bone three times to Skipper my 60ft yacht "Katerina" over long distances. This includes two crossings of the Tasman, from Whangria to Sydney, then Sydney to Opua, and then a further crossing from Opua to Tonga.

Our crossings may have been a little different from Chris’ normal yacht deliveries as he had the owners on board, which on two occasions meant our entire family.

Chris is a qualified and experienced skipper, who is very safety conscious, which is why I trusted him implicitly with my family’s well being. He was able to put my wife and our three children at ease, making these crossings a lot more enjoyable.

Chris is a very willing and patient teacher, taking the time to show the kids boat safety, man overboard procedure, knot tying and navigation, which was not what you normally except from a delivery Skipper. An added bonus is that Chris is also good in the galley, not only cooking but cleaning up as well.

Chris’s sailing ability, mechanical, electrical, weather and navigational knowledge is absolutely superior.

I would highly recommend Chris Bone for yacht deliveries and would not hesitate to use him again.

Please feel free to contact me for further information.

2005

Chris Bone delivered our Beneteau 47.7 from the Caribbean to Sydney during the months September to December, 2005. We found Chris to be professional at all times, and adhered to safety precautions for both the crew and boat.

The boat was delivered quickly, before the commencement of the cyclone season, but at no time was the yacht or motor pushed. The boat arrived in excellent condition and there were no breakages or significant equipment failure. Chris kept us updated with weekly position reports and we felt fully informed of his progress.

We were very happy with the delivery and would highly recommend Chris to any one looking for a Professional skipper for a boat delivery.

2005

My name is Michael Caldwell, I employed Chris Bone to deliver my 13.5m Roger Hill Catamaran, Waiari from Sydney to Opua, Bay of Islands in 2005. Chris was very professional from the outset, leaving nothing to chance, making sure of all the preparation needed for an ocean passage. His organisational and communication skills were exemplary. The yacht was delivered in ship shape condition inside and out, and I was more than happy with the whole operation, start to finish.

2004

Chris has been the skipper for my 49 foot sailing charter yacht since February 2003.

He has proved to be a reliable and conscientious skipper and always errs on the side of conservatism and safety. He is very thorough in his preparations and will not leave the dock until the boat and crew are ready. He has good boat handling skills both under power and sail. I have accompanied him on passages up to 10 days in length (Auckland to Fiji), and he has proved easy to get along with, even on longer passages where stress and personal conflict are often a factor.

I can honestly recommend Chris as a delivery skipper for any vessel of similar type to mine.

2003

In May 2003 I contracted Chris Bone to deliver my Camper and Nicholson 58 "Mustang" from Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji.

Initially Chris visited the boat to inspect her for seaworthiness. This inspection was very thorough and in itself was a useful process for me as the boat was recently purchased and had not been offshore for awhile. From this initial inspection a few jobs came to light and a few safety items needed replacement or purchase. Subsequently Chris either completed the jobs himself or assisted contractors to do the work. Chris, on my behalf also selected and purchased some of the safety gear that was required.

Chris presented me with a straightforward contract that was signed for the delivery. The delivery was undertaken in early May using my paid engineer and a crew member that Chris recruited. The delivery went smoothly and the boat’s position was reported to me daily. The clearance in Fiji was attended to as were a few minor mechanical problems that occurred on the trip. During the trip Chris tested the storm sails and the sea anchor.

All Chris’s dealings with me have been very professional, he has looked after Mustang very well and is a very careful and safety conscious skipper. Should I need a professional delivery service again I will have no hesitation in using his services.

2003

I own a 50 foot steel ketch "Merlin’s Magic" which we sailed to Tonga from Canada during 2002 - 2003. I contracted with Chris to co skipper our boat from Tonga to New Zealand in November of 2003. We had a very successful trip, taking 9 days from Neiafu to Whangerai.

This is the only time that we have sailed our boat with anyone other than my wife and teenage son and it was a very rewarding experience.

Chris has a wealth of sailing experience and was an excellent skipper on our trip. He is a very knowledgeable and experienced sailor and was understanding and patient with everyone onboard at all times. He contributed immensely to the passage particularly when the autopilot failed with six hundred miles to go.

I would strongly recommend Chris as a delivery skipper based on our personal experience. If the opportunity arises in the future we would not hesitate to use him again.

2003

Chris Bone was the skipper of our Beneteau 50’ for this past summer, the yacht was chartered a number of times during this period and Chris delivered a safe and enjoyable experience to our charter guests.

His knowledge and experience of the sea is excellent and he handles the yacht very well.

Chris was particularly good at keeping up the maintenance of the yacht and took her through out the survey renewal process without a hitch.