SAILBOAT DELIVERIES
CONTACT: Email sailboatdelivery@hotmail.com or call / Whatsapp +1 904 397 8550
Please scroll down for Resume/sailing CV and references from recent deliveries.
I am currently available for sailboat deliveries and sail training. I can assist with any of your needs including: passage planning, refitting, repairs, provisioning, crew, boat and rigging inspection, consulting, etc. I deliver internationally and within the USA, including to and from the United States, Panama, San Blas, and Panama Canal transits. I am also available worldwide for any local or long distance transport, on your own keel, under sail or power, with or without you on board!
Sailing Resume / Profile / References:
| Captain Kirk A. Little
USCG 100 Ton Master Power and Sail
Delivery Captain, Sail Training & Owner Assisted Passages
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US Phone / Whatsapp
+1 (904) 397-8550 |
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| U.S. citizen / passport holder
Sea miles: 100,000+ NM Solo Circumnavigation completed in 2013 |
Solo-Circumnavigation
Sailing Blogsite: www.SailingSalsa.com |
Summary of Qualifications
USCG, 100 Ton Master with sail endorsement
7 Pacific Crossings
20+ Panama Canal Transits
Basic knowledge of Spanish
Yacht Management and experience in operation, maintenance, installation and basic troubleshooting / repair of diesel engines and generators, 12 Volt systems, watermakers, solar power and battery storage systems.
I make every possible effort to ensure my clients are fully satisfied. Please scroll down past my Delivery experience and check out what my clients have to say in their reference letters.
Yacht Deliveries
2018 Beneteau 48, “Okeanos”, November 2023
Colon, Panama to Puerto Rico via Santa Marta, Colombia
1,000 NM, Captain
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1990 Little Harbor 58, “Tyche”, October 2023
Newport RI to Brunswick GA, offshore around Cape Hatteras
1,000 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery
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2004 Island Spirit 40, “Onward”, June 2023
Saint Thomas, USVI to Galveston TX
2,200 NM, Captain
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2007 Catana 50 “Maeva Nui”, November 2022
Panama City, Panama to Honolulu, Hawaii
5,000 NM, Captain
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2022 Beneteau 45 “BateSea”, June 2022
Charleston, SC to Colon, Panama
1,700 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery with sail training
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2020 Leopard 50 “Aqua Fox”, Feb-April 2022
Colon, Panama to French Polynesia
Third time delivery for same repeat client
4,000 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery VIA Panama Canal and Galapagos
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2005 Lagoon 410 S2 “Basileus”, Jan 2022
Vista Mar Marina, Panama to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2,000 NM, Captain
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2008 Beneteau 50 Cyclades “Wicked Good”, Nov-Dec 2021
Colon, Panama to San Diego, CA
Second time delivery for same repeat client
3,100 NM, Captain, VIA Panama Canal, Chiapas, and Ensenada
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2008 Beneteau 50 Cyclades “Wicked Good”, July 2021
Saint Thomas, USVI to Colon, Panama
1,100 NM, Captain, Routed between two tropical lows
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2020 Leopard 50 “Aqua Fox”, June 2021
Samana, Dominican Republic to Colon, Panama
Second time delivery for same repeat client
1,100 NM, Captain, VIA North of DR & Hati then south via Windward Passage
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2020 Fountain Pajot Isla 40 “Moments”, May 2021Saint Thomas, USVI to Deltaville, VA
2,000 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery with sail training
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2020 Leopard 50’ “Aqua Fox”, November 2020
Shelter Bay Marina, Panama to Fort Lauderdale, FL
1,500 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery with sail training
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Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 Catamaran “Serenity”, June 2020
Fort Myers, FL to Sag Harbor, NY
1,500 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery VIA Offshore and ICW
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Jeanneau 519 ‘Dauntless”, May 2020
Saint Thomas, USVI to Annapolis, MD VIA Offshore around Hatteras
1,500 NM, Captain
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Privilege 515 ‘Wishing Whale”, January 2020
Saint Thomas, USVI to Fort Lauderdale, FL
1,100 NM, Captain
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Beneteau Oceanis 38 ‘Lampara”, September 2019
Annapolis, MD to Wickford, RI VIA C&D Canal, Offshore and LI Sound
1,000NM, Captain
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Deerfoot 62-2’ ‘Bucephalus’, May-August 2019
Second time delivery for same repeat client
La Paz Mexico to Vuda Point Fiji (Trans Pacific)
6,000NM , Captain
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Leopard 44 ‘Wa’a le’a’ November 2018
San Diego California to Kauai, Hawaii, Non-stop trans-pacific
2,800NM, Captain and Sail Instructor
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Lagoon 45, “Cool Change”, April-May 2018
Bahamas
Captain, New Owner Sail Training and Assisted Cruising
One Month contracted, extended to 10 weeks by owner
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Jeanneau 43’DS ‘Inquiry’ June 2018
Third time seasonal delivery for same repeat client
Fort Lauderdale Florida to Annapolis Maryland VIA Offshore and ICW
950NM , Captain
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Dearfoot 2-62’ ‘Bucephalus’ February 2018
Colong, Panama to La Paz Mexico Via Panama Canal, Acapulco & Puerto Vallarta
2,520NM, Captain
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Hunter 45 Passage, ‘Oravee’ December 2018
Colon, Panama to Fort Lauderdale Florida VIA Caymans and Key West
1,430NM, Captain and Owner Training
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Jeanneau 43’DS ‘Inquiry’ October 2017
Provincetown MA, Cape Cod to Fort Lauderdale FL VIA Offshore and ICW (avoiding 3 named storms)
1,300NM , Captain
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Jeanneau 43’DS ‘Inquiry’ July 2017
Fort Lauderdale FL to Provincetown MA, Cape Cod VIA NYC and Long Island Sound
1,300NM , Captain
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Fountain Pajot 46 ‘Sazie Elora’ April 2017
Cartagena Colombia, Santiago Cuba, Exumas Bahamas
1,000NM, Relief Captain, New owner sail training
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Catalina Morgan 45 “La Palapla” November 2016
Exumas Bahamas to Tortola BVI.
Returned boat to Bahamas Feb 2017
1,600 NM, Captain
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Lagoon 52 Catamaran, “Invictus” April-May 2016
Colon, Panama to French Polynesia (Trans Pacific)
4,400 NM, Owner assisted delivery
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Tayana 64 “Shema” Dec 2014-Jan 2015
Colon Panama to Honolulu HA, USA
5,200 NM, Captain, Owner assisted delivery / sail training
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Tayana 50 FD-12 “DayDreamer” June 2014
San Blas Panama to Charleston SC, USA
1,800 NM, Captain
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Liberty 49 “Windstar”, May 2014
U.S. Virgins to Brunswick
1,500 NM, Captain
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Tayana 50 FD-12 “DayDreamer” April 2014
La Paz Mexico to Colon Panama
2,700 NM, Captain
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Privilege 45 Catamaran 2010
Phuket Thailand to Langkawi Malaysia
300 NM, Captain and owner assisted delivery
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Oday 40′ “HappyOurs” Sept 2010
Bali Indonesia to Phuket Thailand
2,000 NM, Captain and owner assisted delivery
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Alberg 30 “Salsa” 2008-2012
Panama to Panama
30,000 NM, (Solo Circumnavigation)
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J35 “Maggie” 2007
Newport RI to Annapolis MD
400 NM, Delivery Crew
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Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 Catamaran, 2006
Georgetown Bahamas, to Sag Harbor, NY
1,500 NM, Delivery Crew
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Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 Catamaran, “Serenity”
New York to Georgetown, Bahamas
1,500 NM, Delivery Crew
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50′ Beneteau “Tahoe” June 2006
Key West to Port Jefferson, NY
1,400 NM, Delivery Crew
References
From: Justin Blake & Rebecca Blake
Relationship: Hired Kirk to deliver Beneteau Oceanis 48 ‘Okeanos’ from Panama to Puerto Rico.
December 20, 2023
We are delighted to provide this letter of recommendation for Kirk Little, who served as
the delivery captain for our sailboat, a Beneteau Oceanis 48, during its transit from
Panama to Puerto Rico.
Kirk’s professionalism and outstanding communication skills were evident throughout
the entire delivery process. His attention to detail and willingness to share insights on
the boat’s characteristics proved invaluable, especially considering the vessel is new to
- Kirk’s knowledge greatly contributes to our understanding, enhancing our future
cruising experience.
Kirk and his crew demonstrated the highest level of respect for our boat, showcasing
the kind of diligence and care every boat owner desires. Their commitment to
safeguarding the vessel reflects their expertise and dedication.
We wholeheartedly recommend Kirk Little for any delivery captain services. Should the
need arise, we wouldn’t hesitate to engage his services again. Kirk’s passion for his
work and his exemplary professionalism make him an asset to any maritime endeavor.
Sincerely,
Justin Blake & Rebecca Blake
SV Okeanos – 2016 Beneteau Oceanis 48
From: Joe Kenny
Relationship: Hired Kirk to deliver an Island Spirit Catamaran from USVI to Texas
Kirk came to us highly recommended. We made a snap decision to move our Island Spirit 401 from the USVI to Houston primarily because we did not feel that the boat was being properly maintained.
That caused quite a bit of concern, as sailing a poorly maintained boat 2,500 nautical miles would be a challenge for anyone.
Luckily Kirk was available and provided us with a very complete and understandable list of “must-do’s” prior to departure.
My wife and I were on island for a period of 2 weeks prior to Kirk’s arrival and he assisted us in getting her ready for the trip. What we could not procure locally, he purchased stateside and brought with him. What we could not do ourselves, he leveraged his contacts and got done for us.
As I mentioned, Onward was not well maintained, so there was quite a lot to get done in a short time. Kirk was with us all the way.
When we left her, she was 80% (+\-) there. Kirk did the rest upon arrival, and provided a full inspection for seaworthiness while fixing issues as he found them.
Great communication, clear expectations on both parties, no surprises, and when problems did pop up, he quickly resolved them.
I cannot recommend Kirk’s services highly enough and hope one day to sail with him.
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From: Martin Downs
Relationship: Hired Kirk to deliver 59’ Little Harbor from Newport, RI to Brusnwick, GA
What I’ve been saying about Kirk to anyone who’ll listen is that this man is a sailing wizard. l hired him to help me deliver my new-to-me Little Harbor 59’ sailing yacht from Newport, RI to Brunswick, GA in November 2023. I was aboard for roughly half the voyage, joining Kirk, his wife Cathy, and another crewmember in Morehead City, NC. There was never any question after interviewing him for the job that he’d deliver my boat safely and efficiently. What I saw beyond that was an opportunity to receive a true master class in the management and operation of my vessel if I were to come along for the delivery, and that’s exactly what I got. I learned so much from him that I, a lifelong sailor and a licensed captain myself, came away a much more confident yacht owner and an all-around better mariner. Even before he came aboard the vessel, his attention to detail, care and thoughtfulness in voyage planning was impressive. I was also very impressed with his diligence interviewing and narrowing down a field of candidates for another crew position for the voyage. He presented me with two candidates he felt were the best fit, and indeed the one I opted for was a great fit who made great contributions. Kirk’s pre-departure survey of the vessel was meticulous and covered things that I, after many years of conscientious yacht ownership, would not have thought to inspect. Numerous potential problems were averted and he was able to handily sort out outstanding issues. Personally, I had a delightful time going to sea with him. There was never any friction among us as shipmates and we genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. As an owner aboard, I felt confident in leaning on his expertise where his was greater than mine—and with a sailor of his caliber, that was most of the time—but I nevertheless always felt respected and firmly part of a team, rather than having given up control of my vessel. I will be sailing with Kirk again, there’s no doubt about that. He’s a fabulous resource on and off the water.
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From: Bob and Mary K
Relationship: Hired Kirk and Cathy in Panama to deliver our catamaran to Hawaii
We recently had the pleasure of hiring Kirk and Cathy to deliver our 50-foot Catana catamaran 5,500 miles from Panama to Hawaii, and I cannot recommend them highly enough!
From start to finish, they were professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to ensuring a safe delivery. Their expertise was evident from the moment we began discussing and planning the delivery. They were always available to answer questions and provide guidance, and their attention to detail was impressive.
All of the systems were checked out by Kirk and any fixes or adjustments were made prior to the journey. Throughout the journey, the crew demonstrated a deep respect for the boat, taking great care to ensure that everything was in top condition. They also ensured that we were able to monitor their progress via PredictWind tracking and provided timely status updates through e-mail and phone calls, making the tracking of the journey less stressful.
Overall, I would highly recommend this crew to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled team to deliver a catamaran. They truly went above and beyond to ensure a successful journey, and I would not hesitate to work with them again in the future. Bob and Mary Maeva Nui
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From: Phil and Melodee B.
Relationship: Hired Kirk for Owner Assisted Delivery with offshore sail training on a new Beneteau 45 sloop from Charleston SC to Colon Panama.
Kirk came aboard when Covid and supply chain issues failed us. We found ourselves having to get out of the hurricane zone instead of doing a leisurely sail down the coast. 14 days, 2000 miles, offshore, 12-15 ft seas and Captain Kirk to the rescue. We sailed from Charleston, SC to Panama. One heck of a shakedown sail.
He brought along Mr Tommy Watson as a 4th crew member and said he trusted him 100%. We now also trust Tommy 100%. There are not two better crew members. Of this we are certain.
Sadly we cannot recommend them to anyone though, as then they would not be available when we need them. !
In all seriousness, these guys are amazing and we wouldn’t want to sail with anyone else.
Kirk knows his stuff. Not just sailing. He can fix pretty much anything that arises, he cooks, there were nights he stayed awake when my watch looked to have heavy traffic and never complained. He’s a wealth of information and we have learned so much through him.
We’ve also enjoyed getting to know him and his better half Cathy as friends as Panama is where they call home. Can’t recommend Kirk and sailing salsa enough.
From: Ed and Lora T.
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Relationship: Hired Kirk and Cathy for Owner Assisted Delivery with Sail Training from USVI to the Chesapeake Bay.
We would highly recommend Captain Kirk Little as your next delivery captain. We were fortunate to have the delivery team of Captain Kirk & Cathy, his wife.
They were exceptional. We are new owners to our FP Isla and relatively new to catamaran sailing with virtually no blue water experience. Kirk & Cathy were both great sailing instructors in helping us learn our boat. They also spent time teaching us systems and all things sailing and safe passage making. We became familiar with Navionics, Iridium Go and delved deep into our Garmin onboard equipment. They showed us how to check weather patterns through Predict Wind as they checked weather daily to ensure safe blue water passage. We also learned how to use Chris Parker as a weather routing resource. We actively used radar to watch for squalls and other ships during our overnight watches. Kirk went through our boat in fine detail prior to our voyage to make sure it would be safe for passage. He actively worked to troubleshoot and fix problems while underway sailing. We delved deeply into our water maker, engines, bilges, autopilot and so forth. We also learned much about provisioning as Cathy provisioned for our 2-3 week crossing. We learned how to deep-sea fish from our boat and thankfully, Kirk took over the task of gutting the fish. I appreciated the effort they put forth for a clean environment during passage. At the end of the journey, their cleaning left our boat sparkling.
Ed and Lora T
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From: Andy Stroman
Relationship: Hired Kirk as Captain for Owner Assisted Delivery with Sail Training from Colon, Panama to Fort Lauderdale, FL
I hired Kirk to captain my boat from Panama to Florida. Despite unforeseen mechanical issues with the vessel and continued delays outside of our control, Kirk’s positive attitude got us through the challenges and home safely. Without a doubt, the best part of the challenging voyage was the crew with Kirk leading. As a novice sailor I fully appreciated Kirk patiently teaching me sailing skills for the duration of the passage and continued to advise me thereafter. His knowledge of sailing is extensive from navigating to mechanical. I would not hesitate to hire Kirk to captain my boat or recommend him to any person in need of an experienced captain with a great personality and attitude.
The skills I learned on the Panama passage have stuck with me and given me the confidence to sail with my family. We’re having a great time!
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From: Barry Whaling
Relationship: Hired Kirk for Delivery Captain from St. Thomas, USVI to Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kirk and crew did a great job of delivering Wishing Whale from St Thomas to Florida for us in a timely manner. Kirk clearly explained his process and timeline in addition to any potential delays. He was extremely professional and efficient. In addition his pricing was very reasonable.
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From; James MacLaine
Relationship: Hired Kirk for Delivery Captain from Annapolis, MD to RI
Kirk delivered my new-to-me (second hand!) sail-boat from Annapolis to Rhode Island in the early Fall of 2019. He was recommended to me by another captain in the area and has thoroughly justified the recommendation.
Prior to the trip his planning and explanations were thorough and he was welcoming of questions, no matter how stupid they were! In fact, his communication throughout the entire process was exemplary, always responding to emails/ phone calls / text messages in a speedy manner.
My boat was purchased without some necessary supplies onboard. Kirk was able to source the necessary parts at wholesale prices. The saved money and the hassle of sourcing these essentials at a later date.
The actual trip was managed without incident and I received daily updates on progress from Kirk, including photographs and online GPS tracking. The boat was delivered on schedule and was left in immaculate condition. Kirk was always working to save me money, and even hired a car to drive himself and his crew back south, rather than have me pay for more expensive flights.
But best of all, Kirk wrote a lengthy report of the voyage, including an assessment of the boat’s strengths and weaknesses. He also included recommendations for boat improvements.
I couldn’t be more happy with his service and would be happy to speak in person to anyone considering using his services.
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From; Ryan Cameron
Relationship: Hired Kirk for Delivery Captain and Sailing Instructor from California to Hawaii.
To anyone who might be considering working with Captain Kirk Little. Don’t do it! He is absolutely insane!! Just kidding. Insanely awesome is more like it. I can’t say enough about how pleased I am with his abilities, reliability, flexibility, and personality.
We have a 2014 Leopard 44 and sailed from San Diego to Kauai. Kirk was the delivery captain. Cathy as first mate, my good friend Bob and I were crew. From long before the trip started Kirk and Cathy were not only available to discuss options and details about the trip ,but also were very flexible and understanding when it came to nailing down actual departure schedule.
Kirk and Cathy are both very knowledgeable and skilled at just about every aspect of boat/engines/ systems and applied that knowledge right away in getting our vessel prepped for a safe passage. They showed up right on schedule ready for action. They are very meticulous and not glossing over any important details while always providing a budget saving alternative if necessary. They really work hard and efficiently keeping things moving right along.. I was really impressed.
During the trip, Kirk and Cathy demonstrated excellent skills at interpreting forecasting information and plotting the safest yet most sensible route. They have a good rapport with a very good weather router and come with the proper tech skills and equipment to be constantly informed along the way. And as far as sailing, it was smooth even when it was rough. The whole trip was without any major incident. A few things did come up and they quickly figured out a solution and solved the problem. I might also say , without getting a stressed out or negative attitude. Things were simply handled. They never opted for the short cut that would’ve abused the boat and or us. They cooked great food and we really had a great time being together. They have a great sense of humor and we had a lotta laughs. Before a trip like that, you never know how you will get along with the other people. We were at sea together for 19 days. For me, I ended up wishing they would’ve stayed around a little longer after the trip was over . I feel like I have a couple of really great new friends that I would recommend to anyone without hesitation to handle their boat responsibly and professionally.
If anybody would like any further information, feel free to call or email me 808-822-4774. solartstudios@yahoo.com
Ryan Cameron, Captain of SV Wa’a le’a.
Aloha!
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From: Ron Seeley
Relationship: Hired Kirk for Delivery of Jeanneau 43DS from Ft Lauderdale to Cape Cod.
Kirk delivered my Jeanneau 43 DS from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Provincetown, MA in May of 2017. I first noticed Kirk on his Crewbay profile, and was impressed with the extent to which he appeared to be aware of and considerate of the needs of a boat owner. I found this to be entirely born out in reality. Kirk arrived when he said he would, spent the necessary time familiarizing himself with the boat, successfully made the delivery, and in a timely fashion, and repaired a number of things on the boat along the way. I experienced Kirk as very true to his word, and will trust him completely with my delivery needs in the future.
Sincerely,Ron Seeley, Burlington, VT
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From; Eric Carlson
Relationship: Hired Kirk for family sail-training & offshore passage making.
Kirk is a phenomenal captain and I recommend him unconditionally. Kirk served as our captain for ten days for our family in the Caribbean on our new 46’ Bahia, Fountain Pajot Catamran in April 2017. First and foremost, his attention to safety was paramount, which was critical for our family with two teenage daughters. Secondly, his yachtsman abilities are par none. On our passage between Cartagena Colombia and Santiago Cuba he proved he can single-hand a 46′ catamaran if needed but taught us a ton about all aspects of sailing and safety. Our passage included five nights at sea and we always felt perfectly comfortable. Lastly, Kirk is extremely fun and personable and just a joy to be around, he acts appropriately around children and really is exactly what you’re looking for in a captain. Kirk also doubles as an excellent cook. Really, we couldn’t be happier recommending Kirk.
Eric Carlson and Family.
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From: Tobias Janke
Relationship: Employed Kirk For Owner-assisted Passage
To whom it may concern,
This is to confirm the we hired Mr. Kirk Little during the period of 5th April to 26th May, 2016 for an owner-assisted passage on our S/V “Invictus” from Colon, Panama via Galapagos to Hiva Oa, Marquesas / French Polynesia. Invictus is a Lagoon-52 Catamaran (LoA 15.6m, Beam 8.6m, Draft 1.5m, Gross Tonnage 45.3, Built 2015, 2 x 75hp Yanmar) crewed by myself, my wife Nicole and our two children (3yo and 4yo).
Kirk independently worked out a checklist to survey the boat including mast and rigging as well as general to-do list with all necessary repair/maintenance, spare-parts, safety-equipment, procedures and provisioning-needs. Due to his local knowledge in and around Panama, this proved to be very efficient and fast. Kirk also arranged volunteer line handlers for the canal crossing.
Some examples of the repairs include professional fixing of a hull-deck connection, 500h servicing of both Yanmar-engines and genset, repair of hydraulic digny-davits, blocked diesel-fuel-line etc. All work has been carried out with utmost care and with results that exceeded our expectations.
He works very efficient on a pro-active basis, has high analytical skills, is reliable and punctual and thinks before he acts. His high respect for safety of our family and protection of our assets always gave us a peace of mind on this 4000 nm+ passage.
Kirk is a friendly and respectful person and easy to get along with, his humor and good mood not only enlightened us but our kids as well.
We can highly recommend Kirk to anyone who is considering a professional skipper or crew, in which case we would not mind to be contacted as a reference (e-mail: tobias@cosmocon.com.hk Phone: Available on request).
Tobias Janke / Nicole Mueller
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From: Alex Braun
Relationship: Hired Kirk For Offshore Sailboat Delivery, Tayana 50’ FD-12.
Hi Kirk,
I wanted to say thanks for completing the delivery of Daydreamer from Baja Mexico to Brunswick Georgia via the Panama Canal and sticking with her despite all of the issues that came up. You performed above and beyond our expectations and pushed through where most others would have given up. I know our boat was very demanding in terms of maintenance issues that popped up during the delivery and you did a great job of addressing those problems. I really appreciated the way you stayed in communication and requested our input when it was needed. I would highly recommend you to anyone who asks – if you ever need a reference please don’t hesitate to pass along my contact info.
Regards,
Alex Braun
New York, NY
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From: Paul Gibfried
Relationship: Customer For Sailboat Delivery And Sailing Instructor.
Kirk Little was skipper of my vessel, a Tayana 64 sailboat, both in port and on a delivery of the vessel from Shelter Bay Panama to Oahu, Hawaii in November of 2014 to late January 2015.
I found he was an excellent choice for the task and it worked well for me as he is also an excellent and challenging instructor. The boat was sound, with new ownership issues which Kirk helped address.
We arrived safely in Oahu. The crew ate well, did not get sea sick, and remain friends.
I recommend him highly.
Regards,
Paul Gibfried
Honolulu, Hawaii
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