About IADS
Mission and Scope
The International Association of Delivery Skippers (IADS) exists as a non profit organization to establish and maintain professional standards for yacht delivery operations. IADS verifies the credentials and experience of delivery skippers, providing yacht owners, insurers, and brokers with independent confirmation of professional competence.
The association operates through rigorous vetting procedures, ongoing monitoring of professional conduct, and enforcement of disciplinary measures when standards are not maintained. IADS membership serves as third-party verification of professional standing within the yacht delivery industry.
What IADS Is Not
Not a Training Body:
IADS does not provide training, certification courses, or educational programs. The association verifies existing qualifications and experience obtained through recognized maritime institutions and professional practice.
Not Open Membership:
Membership is selective and granted solely at the discretion of IADS based on rigorous vetting criteria. The majority of applicants are not accepted. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee membership approval.
Not a Marketing Directory:
IADS maintains a professional registry for verification purposes only. The association does not operate as a marketing platform, referral service, or promotional directory. Member listings serve to confirm verified status, not to solicit business.
Advisory Board
Pete Waa
Pete Waa is an offshore captain and navigator with extensive experience across offshore racing, vessel operations and international sailing campaigns. Pete is also involved in youth and adaptive sailing initiatives through Spartan Racing, using offshore sailing as a platform for leadership development, resilience, and teamwork. His maritime background spans competitive offshore sailing, passagemaking, crew leadership, navigation, across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific, Europe, and Asia. Pete has worked extensively in coaching, mentoring, and building high-performing teams in demanding maritime environments. Pete’s qualifications include NZCG Ocean Yachtmaster (Unlimited), RYA Offshore Commercial endorsement, advanced safety and survival certifications, and international maritime training experience. Within IADS, Pete contributes experience in offshore operations, professional seamanship, crew management, and maritime leadership development.
Joe Davis
Joe Davies was a Senior Master and trainer with Coastguard New Zealand. Joe has accumulated thousands of hours at sea leading rescue operations and mentoring future vessel masters. He brings more than two decades of operational maritime leadership experience across offshore rescue operations, vessel command, training, and professional yacht delivery. His background includes operational command, incident coordination, bridge resource management, emergency response, and the development of maritime training procedures and safety systems. Joe has also worked internationally alongside organisations including the RNLI (UK), DGzRS (Germany), and China Rescue & Salvage, contributing to cross-agency maritime rescue and operational best practice. Alongside his broader maritime career, Joe has been involved in professional yacht and powerboat deliveries internationally, bringing a strong focus on preparation, seamanship, crew management, and operational risk reduction.
Viki Moore
Viki Moore Viki is the Managing Director of Island Cruising. She is a lifelong sailor, qualified RYA Offshore Yachtmaster, former Director of Yachting New Zealand, founder of Women Who Sail New Zealand, Regional Rear Commodore – South Pacific for the Ocean Cruising Club, President of the Little Ship Club of Canterbury, former On Water Operations Manager for SailGP, a Seven Seas Cruising Association Cruising Station Host, and has a wealth of sailing experience under her belt. She has also been recognised for her services to the sailing community and received a Yachting New Zealand Excellence Award in 2016 & 2023 and the Ocean Cruising Club Award in 2021 for extraordinary service to the cruising community at large. Viki purchased Island Cruising in 2021 & Down Under Rally in 2023. The business provides resources for cruisers wanting to prepare for long coastal or offshore voyages. We also run yacht cruising rallies around Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific; namely Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, and further afield to French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Samoa & Niue.
Nico Curbishley
Nico Curbishley has worked across offshore yacht operations, vessel management, refit projects, and international yacht deliveries for more than two decades. His maritime background combines offshore passagemaking with practical operational and technical experience, including yacht refit management, engineering coordination, vessel preparation, and long-range expedition support. Nico has accumulated extensive offshore mileage across the Pacific and internationally on both sailing and motor yachts, including participation in sea trials, complex passages, and vessel commissioning projects. Nico worked in a range of operational maritime roles spanning yacht management, commercial marine services, engineering projects, and offshore command. His experience includes overseeing major refit works, structural modifications, systems projects, maintenance planning, and owner support on long-range cruising yachts.
Governance Philosophy
IADS operates under a governance framework that prioritizes professional accountability and public trust. The association maintains independence from commercial interests and bases all membership decisions on objective assessment of credentials, experience, and professional conduct.
Governance procedures include regular review of vetting standards, investigation of professional conduct issues, and implementation of disciplinary measures when necessary. The association reserves the right to modify standards and procedures to maintain the integrity of the verification process.
NOTICE
Membership is discretionary and may be suspended or revoked at any time based on violation of professional standards, failure to maintain required credentials, professional misconduct, or other grounds determined by IADS to affect member standing. Members have no entitlement to continued membership status.