The main jobs we had prioritized were getting the windlass working properly, having a working freezer (ice is a wondrous thing!),and finally having a test sail and some coaching in boat handling. It would have been great to have a working generator (we decided we could manage for a month with the big house bank, large solar array, and charging by the engines), and air conditioning when in port, but this was not pivotal.
The test sail day dawned and Todd was up early with the rigger to set up the removable code zero “drifter” sail. This did not go well and the rigger had to go up the mast to untwist the halyard at the mast head..a dubious start and it delayed getting off the dock until the afternoon. Alan motored us over to the fuel dock to get some diesel in the tanks before heading out. It was a lovely summer day in the Med and we were jubilant to be on the water and to finally see how the boat sailed. It was not to be. The main sail jammed 2/3 of the way up on the first haul, and we spent the another 1/2 hour figuring out how to pull it down again. This was yet another aggravation as Todd had requested that the track and cars for the main sail be serviced back when the mast was out of the boat. To top it off, when we finally got it down and motored back to the dock we were serenaded by the port engine alarm going off.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with calls to Volvo and correcting the main sail track issue. (Ultimately a section of track had to be replaced, and Volvo told the mechanic to remove the isolator’s from the engines.)
We set off again the next day and this time had 2 hours of brilliant sailing, using the main and jib, and the code zero (which still wasn’t perfect). All the sails raised and lowered this time, and the engine stayed quiet..a good day out!
The negotiations continued for us being able to take the boat for the last month of our visa and return it to the factory after that so they could complete the many contract items left unfinnished. The sub contractor showed up and replaced a relay on the freezer and gased it up again, probably for the 3rd time I think.There was a document we needed from the factory stating we were authorized to use the boat and we would be paying for the insurance. I think we also needed a title/registration showing proof of VAT or an exception but this never came to pass. The night before Alan departed on his vacance (French for vacation), he suggested we pay the remainder of the money owed. I think his words were “I think it would be best if you now pay the final amount”. At which point, we stated we were uncomfortable with that in lieu of all the outstanding contract items, no survey, and ongoing problems with the work that had been done. There went our hope for a month of sailing ….