tcm
...
Just got back from an extended w/e on damn boat in south of france. Good news is that at last the thing has delivered a holiday instead of a bimmin nightmare, just ended
The boat was delivered with a skipper. Hoorah. So agreed to charter (cos we have a skipper) the boat to a others. And seeing as how Massacio (poster hereabouts) had orgainsed a jolly trip around balearix, wd be an idea to have charter there. Charter duly agreed, and masive penalties if I don't tuirn up with boat and skipper and hostess to sort booze and food. No prob. just need hostess to make a crew of two.
But the skipper was french, and wdn't work an extra 10 miles away at antibes. Leaves boat in early June. Git. The manufacturer of new boat explained everything to him, then he left! Bugger. Meanwhile have already agreed re charter. Still have to go to balearix.
Also, have to go to corsica, cos french registerted boat cheaper on french lux tax if visted corsica (renegade region of france) anytime in previous year. Decide to go vioa corsica to balearix, leave boat for charter in early aug, return late aug to bring boat home. But no skipper, and no hostess.
Soo, then down to boat in May with coliholic (poster hereabouts) who is vastly experienced interviewer, and hired swedish skipper with loads of sailyboat ooer kowldge.
2 weeks later (just now) return to boat. Skipper has done F. all, but has hired girly ex-ski chalet chef.
JFM (poster hereabouts) stays on boat day on weds before I arrive and notes skipper doing sod all, and missing a biot rthat needed cleaning near the stairs, and hiring girlie to clean boat.
I arrive thurs, loads of things not done, boat not totally spick and span, so accuse skipper of doing not much. Skipper counters that boat fairly clean, I say girlie did that. Skipper shouts at me, saying how dare I accuse hime of saying he is useless. Back off, cos need skipper for charter in Balearix.
Friday morning, jfm and self watch us lose at footie v brazil. Low mood invokes cdn't care less attitude. Jfm delivers vital and unshredded detail regarding crap skipper not quite cleaning up a bit of spilt coca cola. Within 10 mins of final whistle, I sack skipper #2, b ut not the girlie.
Meanwhile Massacio (poster hereabouts) advises that Balearix jolly is off, but Corsica stil a runner, so he'll be along. Now no reason to go to Majorca, cept for the charter, for which have no skipper, and massive penalty if don't go, and (since skipper #2 done sod all) have no berth in Majorca.
However, Friday after footies with girlie is great success, sort of. Lots of drinks dished out by fab hostess girlie to jfm and his 2 mates who share a boat in UK and are in s of france checking out that Cannes and antibes is beter than Lymington and Cowes. They seem to agree that it is.
Later that day, tho, anchor fails to be pulled up. Resourceful boat salesman arrives at anchorage late evening Friday to help. Jfm jumps ship via tender for plane , boat salesman cleverly uses rear capstan to break out anchor, returns to berth 11pm.
Saturday, new girlie organises nice breakfast! And fab lunch! But no skipper, and busted anchor also busted passarelle. Decide to stay later on boat. Wife a bit hum haw at me staying on boat with girlie half her age, but reorgainses flight to tuesday allowing 2 days of training new girlie, fixing boat, and finding skipper. I promise v good behaviour.
Monday and tuesday duly spent cleaning/fixing boat in 38 degrees heat. I clean deck and topsides, almost passing out. Worried girlie does not attempt seduction of wilting old git (me) but finds water and headache pills.
Monday+ Tuesday, everything gets fixed, and/or promised to get fixed. and lots of peeps arrive to fix things.
Discover that a skipper in balearix who knows the charter clients is available, and knows leopards - the leopard boat that the clients hired last 4 yeras hasd been sold , hence they rented our boat. Hire him via mobile phone, he'll meet us at Palma in July. Boat problems now almost entirely solved. Hurrah! Slightly concerned at leaving boat in hands of new girlie, but confident all will be OK.
Reverse idea to dump boat and buy something else. Especially not a jet boat.
The boat was delivered with a skipper. Hoorah. So agreed to charter (cos we have a skipper) the boat to a others. And seeing as how Massacio (poster hereabouts) had orgainsed a jolly trip around balearix, wd be an idea to have charter there. Charter duly agreed, and masive penalties if I don't tuirn up with boat and skipper and hostess to sort booze and food. No prob. just need hostess to make a crew of two.
But the skipper was french, and wdn't work an extra 10 miles away at antibes. Leaves boat in early June. Git. The manufacturer of new boat explained everything to him, then he left! Bugger. Meanwhile have already agreed re charter. Still have to go to balearix.
Also, have to go to corsica, cos french registerted boat cheaper on french lux tax if visted corsica (renegade region of france) anytime in previous year. Decide to go vioa corsica to balearix, leave boat for charter in early aug, return late aug to bring boat home. But no skipper, and no hostess.
Soo, then down to boat in May with coliholic (poster hereabouts) who is vastly experienced interviewer, and hired swedish skipper with loads of sailyboat ooer kowldge.
2 weeks later (just now) return to boat. Skipper has done F. all, but has hired girly ex-ski chalet chef.
JFM (poster hereabouts) stays on boat day on weds before I arrive and notes skipper doing sod all, and missing a biot rthat needed cleaning near the stairs, and hiring girlie to clean boat.
I arrive thurs, loads of things not done, boat not totally spick and span, so accuse skipper of doing not much. Skipper counters that boat fairly clean, I say girlie did that. Skipper shouts at me, saying how dare I accuse hime of saying he is useless. Back off, cos need skipper for charter in Balearix.
Friday morning, jfm and self watch us lose at footie v brazil. Low mood invokes cdn't care less attitude. Jfm delivers vital and unshredded detail regarding crap skipper not quite cleaning up a bit of spilt coca cola. Within 10 mins of final whistle, I sack skipper #2, b ut not the girlie.
Meanwhile Massacio (poster hereabouts) advises that Balearix jolly is off, but Corsica stil a runner, so he'll be along. Now no reason to go to Majorca, cept for the charter, for which have no skipper, and massive penalty if don't go, and (since skipper #2 done sod all) have no berth in Majorca.
However, Friday after footies with girlie is great success, sort of. Lots of drinks dished out by fab hostess girlie to jfm and his 2 mates who share a boat in UK and are in s of france checking out that Cannes and antibes is beter than Lymington and Cowes. They seem to agree that it is.
Later that day, tho, anchor fails to be pulled up. Resourceful boat salesman arrives at anchorage late evening Friday to help. Jfm jumps ship via tender for plane , boat salesman cleverly uses rear capstan to break out anchor, returns to berth 11pm.
Saturday, new girlie organises nice breakfast! And fab lunch! But no skipper, and busted anchor also busted passarelle. Decide to stay later on boat. Wife a bit hum haw at me staying on boat with girlie half her age, but reorgainses flight to tuesday allowing 2 days of training new girlie, fixing boat, and finding skipper. I promise v good behaviour.
Monday and tuesday duly spent cleaning/fixing boat in 38 degrees heat. I clean deck and topsides, almost passing out. Worried girlie does not attempt seduction of wilting old git (me) but finds water and headache pills.
Monday+ Tuesday, everything gets fixed, and/or promised to get fixed. and lots of peeps arrive to fix things.
Discover that a skipper in balearix who knows the charter clients is available, and knows leopards - the leopard boat that the clients hired last 4 yeras hasd been sold , hence they rented our boat. Hire him via mobile phone, he'll meet us at Palma in July. Boat problems now almost entirely solved. Hurrah! Slightly concerned at leaving boat in hands of new girlie, but confident all will be OK.
Reverse idea to dump boat and buy something else. Especially not a jet boat.
) Why pay, when you can do it yourself?
