About Hornblower

Despite the apparent affinity with sailing through the Hornblower novels, then the TV series starring Gregory Peck, the brand “Hornblower” comes from a more literal connection. Hornblower Yachting Ltd’s founder, Tim Ball, spent 16 years in the classical music industry playing the French horn across most of London’s symphony orchestras, the west end and in commercial recording, before changing careers for one at sea.

Since 2019, Hornblower Yachting Ltd has expanded to a team of 15 skippers, completed well over 500 successful deliveries across the globe, and has offered own-boat tuition to well over 400 boat owners, from one-day boat handling to multiple weeks of comprehensive boat operating and navigating. We have fine-tuned a comprehensive yacht delivery process for trade and private boat owners, offering solutions for boat logistics. Our clients range from international yacht brokers to private boat owners, and we deliver sailing boats, catamarans and power-driven vessels up to 200 gross tonnes anywhere around the world. Our in-house-designed Skipper and Crew app allows for a clear and concise running of each delivery, following a set process – registering passage plans and safety checklists and working to a well-defined safety management system.

A dedicated team of hand-picked skippers are committed to the company values of service, communication and quality, and they are all experienced, patient and passionate instructors who embrace the opportunity to share their love of boats while giving confidence to new and old owners alike.