Testimonials
With over 100,000 miles logged and hundreds of power and sail boat delivery trips spanning from one day to two and a half months, Captain Richard Bard and Smooth Passage Yacht Delivery have a strong track record of success and, just as important, satisfied clients. Here are some of their candid assessments of our abilities and performance:
54’ TAYANA CUTTER, PACIFIC CROSSING, JAPAN TO PUGET SOUND
Captain Richard Bard delivered our new Tayana 54 across the Pacific from Taiwan to Japan, and on to the Northwest. His priorities are safety of crew and boat. He is at home at sea with great instincts regarding weather and routing. His extensive experience in crossings will ensure your yacht will be well cared for and delivered as promised; We would highly recommend Richard for your yacht delivery needs. After sailing with him for a portion of the delivery we consider him a friend.
Don Linrothe and Pamela Gingras, Seattle WA
66’ SUNSEEKER, SAN FRANCISCO TO VANCOUVER, BC
“I had the pleasure of working with Captain Richard Bard on a delivery for a client’s 66’ twin-engine Sunseeker from San Francisco to Vancouver. Richard was able to work with our variable schedule and get the boat north through some adverse weather without any damage to the boat and staying constantly in touch with us so we knew exactly what was happening at all times. Safety of the crew and boat were paramount with Richard and the entire process was extremely smooth. I would highly recommend Richard for any delivery you may be considering.”
Kolby Vaughan, Yacht Sales Consultant M&P Yacht Centre, Vancouver, BC
58’ NAVIGATOR, VICTORIA TO PORTLAND
Twice I have hired Capt. Richard Bard to transport my boat, a 58' Navigator power boat. He delivered my boat to its moorings without mishaps or damage, not even a scratch and as those who know me would attest to, I am quite discerning, especially about my boat. I also hired him to help me improve my piloting skills when I moved up from a 40 footer to the Navigator. While I was at the helm he proved to be the most patient and well versed deck hand I could have had, skillfully supporting my gaining comfort, understanding and adaptability to my new boat. I have found Richard to be honest, trustworthy, a skilled Captain and a genuinely nice guy to boot.
David Carter, Portland, Oregon
69’ BLUEWATER, MIAMI TO PUERTO AVENTURAS MEXICO
"Captain Richard Bard was the delivery skipper of my newly purchased 'BONNIE', a 69-foot Bluewater 680 Custom Series motoryacht. Prior to delivery he assisted me in the drydocking and partial refurbishment of this yacht. He advised me as to the additional repairs required and worked hard for long hours in executing some of the repairs himself. During this period, it became clear to me that he is a very practical and experienced Master mariner who dedicates himself totally to any task which he undertakes. He assisted me in finalizing the drydock/repair work at the shipyard, and he commanded this yacht during the delivery voyage from Miami, Florida to Key West and on to its final destination, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, which was the main purpose of his engagement. He protected my interests in advising as to the safe weather conditions for the prosecution of this voyage, which he conducted in a safe, cost effective and professional manner. I thoroughly recommend Captain Richard Bard to any yacht Owner."
—Angelo Mouzouropoulos, Belize City, Belize
40’ NAUTITECH, MARTINIQUE TO PANAMA CANAL
I recently had the pleasure of working with Richard Bard as the delivery captain of my sailing catamaran, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. His extensive experience was evident in every aspect of our journey. Living on board with my the captain along with my girlfriend and a deckhand, I found him to be not only easygoing and approachable but also exceptionally skilled at managing his crew. He displayed a remarkable level of self-motivation and dedication to hard work, ensuring the delivery was as smooth as possible.
His level-headedness stood out; no matter what the sea threw at us, he remained calm and in control, instilling confidence in everyone on board. Richard always maintained a sense of humor, making the time spent on the open water more enjoyable and memorable. If you’re seeking a captain who is personable, professional, skilled, experienced, resilient, funny, and efficient — look no further.
Kris Olhovsky
36’ CATALINA, EUREKA, CA TO OAK HARBOR, WA
"If you're considering hiring a professional to deliver your vessel, I highly recommend Capt. Richard Bard. I hired Capt. Bard to deliver my Catalina 36 sloop from Eureka CA to Oak Harbor WA. His quiet professionalism gave me a feeling of confidence from beginning to end of the trip. He provided me with invaluable training and experience along the way. He cared for my boat as though it were his own, took care of minor repairs and maintenance along the way, and delivered it on schedule with no damage. On top of that, he was personable and interesting to spend time with. I would definitely hire him again."
--Bruce Gordon Coupeville, Washington
53’ HALLBERG-RASSY, VICTORIA BC TO ASTORIA
I had the pleasure of interacting with Captain Bard as he delivered our Hallberg-Rassy 53 from Victoria, BC to Astoria, Oregon. Even on the phone and through email while planning for the trip it was obvious that he was a capable and experienced captain. That he was thoughtful and well organized, articulate and with a good wit were suspected ahead of time but confirmed during the voyage. He was confident but not arrogant. He shared his knowledge freely, teaching and explaining well. He was great company and even brought along his sidekick, Jeff “The Dude” who was an equally worldly, well-informed, witty conversationalist. In spite of wind on the nose with confused seas and a small amount of mal-de-mer we had a wonderful time thanks in no small part to the talents of Captain Bard. I would do a trip with him anytime, and I recommend him highly.
—Timothy Dahlgren
S/V Avalon
57-FOOT NORDHAVN, BRITISH COLUMBIA TO SAN DIEGO
My boat is a Nordhavn 57. I had only used it around the San Juan and Gulf Islands and was not familiar with the US pacific coast. I contacted Captain Richard Bard, to cruise with me from Port Sidney BC to San Diego California. We left on Oct. 1 and arrived in San Diego on schedule Oct. 15.
I found Richard to be pleasant and easy going. He has extensive boat experience and was very helpful when we had engine problems. He is knowledgeable of the US coast and a very safe Captain, and has good technical skills with the on-board navigation equipment. He will certainly be an asset to whatever voyage he signs up for. If you have guestions ask Richard for my email or cell phone #.
Captain Alec Girard
P.S. he also writes interesting books.
58’ SKOOKUM POWER, JACKSONVILLE TO VICTORIA BC
"Captain Richard Bard helped me commission and prepare my recently purchased Skookum 53-foot long range trawler yacht for a delivery voyage from Florida to Canada. Richard interviewed and selected the other members of the delivery crew. Our route was from Jacksonville, Florida to Victoria, BC, Canada via the Panama Canal. Our voyage was safely completed during the winter of 2011. His understanding of the vessel's various systems and his maintenance and repair abilities were excellent. I found Richard to be an enthusiastic, creative, and knowledgeable leader. His weather planning, safe practices and navigation skills helped us have an incident free voyage. Throughout our 80 day voyage Richard shared much of his experience and safe practices with our four man crew and we are all better seamen as a result of the time we spent with him. Richard is quite congenial and was a real pleasure to work and travel with in spite of him being a very competitive cribbage player. Richard has a very good moral compass and conducts his personal life in a most respectable manner. I have absolutely no reservations or hesitation in recommending Captain Richard Bard as a definite asset to have aboard in a long range off shore delivery. If you require any additional information, please have Richard provide my contact information to you."
—Ron Williams, Campbell River, Canada
43’ OCEAN ALEXANDER SEATTLE TO SAN FRANCISCO
"I had an opportunity to help Richard relocate a friend's boat (a 43' Ocean Alexander) from Seattle to San Francisco. I have boated most of my life on the Puget Sound but this was a new experience of boating off-shore for me. I found Richard to be extremely knowledgeable of the waters, navigation, and ports between Seattle and San Francisco. he took good care of the boat, his crew, and was very thorough with his planning of the trip. We arrived in the Bay area on time and the boat was in good shape."
—Mike Haistings, former Commodore, Puget Sound Yacht Club