Our July 07 Refit Starts

Adapting to a foreign culture can be challenging. We had begun to suspect that this may be the case when all our requests from the UK for estimates for repairs from boatyards up and down the Costa del Sol were resolutely ignored.

Needing to find a solution we booked a lift out of the water at the boatyard which was right next to the marina we were in. We were told it would take 3-4 weeks as there was a waiting list and limited space and boat owners never got their boats ready on time!

We arrived at the boat 4 weeks later and our first action was to ask when we were due to be lifted out?

“Boat name” said the boat yard manager tersely.
“Silver Fox - we booked alift out a month ago”
“Not on the list” he said, warming to the task. “Who did you speak to?”
“You” I replied, tensing my muscles for the forthcoming tussle.
“Not on the list” he repeated “But I can lift you out tomorrow morning”
“But we need to book workman and we haven’t been able to do that because you couldn’t give us a date.” I replied. “When else can you do it?”
Tomorrow is the only slot, if not tomorrow then I cannot tell you when” he said with glee.
First set to the boatyard!

Knowing when to change strategy is important so after a moments consideration I immediately surrendered and agreed to be lifted out tomorrow. Once lifted out the balance of power changed when I opened up two very obvious holes in the hull where sea cocks needed replacing and left them open.

We did manage to get workmen to do the repairs that were too difficult for me but these took 2 weeks, rather than the two days the yard manager had assumed, because they weren‘t able to start at a moments notice. After the first few days we were clearly in the yard manager’s way at the peak of his summer season. If he could have, he would have lifted us back in the water - ready or not! But he couldn’t because the boat would have immediately sunk.
Set two to the Fox I think!

Watching him busily move boats around us on his crane was like watching someone trying to sort out some giant Rubik cube, there simply wasn’t enough room to do it efficiently
Every day he would tersely ask “Are you finished?”
And every day I would smile sweetly and answer “Mañana God willing”
Game set and match to the Fox!