Les Sables to the Tropics: The Excess 14 Odyssey
Alexandra
Delivery coordination for the Excess 14 from the Groupe Beneteau facility in Les Sables-d'Olonne requires synchronized customs clearance, a 90-day Schengen cruising plan, and scheduled haul-out windows for final commissioning before the vessel joins the ARC Plus departure in Las Palmas.
Shipyard handover and commissioning schedule
The Excess 14 destined for a family circumnavigation was completed on the production line in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Final commissioning tasks included systems testing, fresh water filling, fuel provisioning and acceptance trials. Crew logistics were organized around a short commissioning window so the vessel could be registered for the 2026 ARC Plus transatlantic rally starting November 8 from Las Palmas.
Customs, visas and documentation
Key administrative milestones to clear before departure:
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- Obtain 90-day Schengen cruising arrangements and confirm courtesy-flag protocol for France and Corsica.
- Complete export declaration at Les Sables-d'Olonne and import documentation for the Canary Islands transit.
- Verify yacht insurance zones (tropical storm exclusions) to ensure hull and liabilities cover the intended Atlantic and Pacific passages.
Voyage legs and timing
| Leg | Start | Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| European cruise | Les Sables-d'Olonne | Western Med | France, Corsica, Monaco, Italy; sightseeing and provisioning |
| Canary staging | Las Palmas | Las Palmas | ARC Plus registration, final provisioning |
| Atlantic crossing | Las Palmas | St. George's, Grenada | Mindelo stopover; ARC Plus arrival Dec 10 |
| Caribbean transit | Grenada | Panama | Windward Islands, Antigua, then Panama Canal approaches |
| Pacific passage | Panama | Polynesia / Australia | San Blas, Galapagos, Polynesia, Queensland |
Vessel setup and systems for extended voyaging
The delivered unit is an owner-version Excess 14 with a three-cabin layout and a midships owner ensuite on the starboard hull—designed to be both livable and capable for long ocean legs. Factory options and dealer-fit upgrades focused on extended autonomy and crew comfort:
Key installed equipment
- SOLAR PANELS and smart inverter for hotel loads and extended autopilot use.
- Factory-fitted air-conditioning for tropical marinas (European and Queensland summer comfort).
- Forward-looking camera for close quarters docking and enhanced situational awareness.
- SOLAS radar reflector and AIS to meet safety and traffic-response expectations on busy shipping routes.
- North Sails supplied screecher on a furler and standard prodder to avoid oversized mooring fees.
Sailing performance and handling
The VPLP hull lines and aft-biased rig provide an efficient power-to-weight sailplan: in light winds the Excess 14 shows progress (sustained speeds around six knots in marginal breeze) while short overlapping headsails keep tacks simple for shorthanded crews. Attention to traveller placement, electric winch assistance and autopilot tacks reduces crew workload during long passages.
Family logistics and lifestyle planning
For a multi-month family cruise, planning extends beyond navigation. Education choices (schooling versus on-board learning), provisioning cycles, and health contingencies were mapped against the rally and seasonal windows. Weather routing and an active "weather eye" strategy (avoiding named-storm zones during peak insurance risk) dictated departure timing and equatorial crossing decisions.
Onboard living and practicality
- Three-cabin layout: two guest cabins in port hull with private ensuites and a midships owner ensuite in starboard hull.
- Flexible amidships space for a walk-in wardrobe, extra berths, or a children's cabin depending on guest needs.
- Large trampoline and open aft cockpit with aft galley—design features that support both family use and social charter-style gatherings.
Charter market and resale dynamics
Owner-version cats like the Excess 14 are increasingly popular on the resale and charter markets because they blend comfort with serious passagemaking capability. For wider boating and charter communities, this model signals demand for multi-role vessels that can serve as private cruisers, occasional charter platforms, or high-spec rentals in premium marinas.
What this means for rentals and charters
Operators and owners can consider the following to increase appeal:
- Offer both owner-style and charter-configured bookings to capture families and groups.
- Highlight autonomy features (solar, inverter, air-con) in listings to attract long-stay or seasonal renters.
- Showcase local itineraries—bays, lagoons and marinas—to capitalize on unique destination experiences.
Highlights: the journey contrasts tight European commissioning windows with long ocean passages, demonstrates the necessity of robust systems for extended autonomy, and underscores the appeal of owner-version catamarans for both private cruising and premium charter markets. GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, understanding what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean, offering freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course; if you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
Start planning your next seaside adventure: the forecast impact of this kind of owner-led grand tour on global tourism is modest but meaningful for niche yachting markets and destination marinas. Begin bookings early to secure the best dates and vessels, and make sure to reserve top-rated boats and captains before the opportunity sails away!
In summary, the Excess 14 family odyssey illustrates a complete cycle: production handover logistics at Les Sables-d'Olonne, short-term European cruising with Schengen considerations, ARC Plus transatlantic timing, Caribbean transit and a Pacific programme that includes San Blas and the Galapagos en route to Polynesia and Australia. The platform choices—VPLP hulls, a large aft cockpit, owner-centric cabin layout and extended-power systems—make this model attractive for private ownership, charter income, or high-end rentals. For anyone planning a yacht charter, boat purchase, or a sun-drenched sailing holiday, consider how these elements affect choice of vessel, captain experience and destination strategy. Whether you seek a day sail on a clearwater gulf or a multi-leg ocean passage to remote islands, transparency in listing specs (make, model, ratings) and the convenience of modern booking platforms streamline decisions on yacht, charter, boat, beach, rent, lake, sailing, captain, sale, Destinations, superyacht, activities, yachting, sea, ocean, boating, gulf, water, sunseeker, marinas, clearwater and fishing options; Book your next voyage today.
