Well we bought a boat – a near new Beneteau Oceanis 41 which is hull number 1 of this series of boat – it has had a fair amount of use as it was used in the brochure, and has been to 4 or 5 boat shows. Getting down to the basics, it is amazing how much is required to start getting a new boat equipped. As this was a demo boat there were a number of things which still needed to be finished before we can set sail. We have spent the last 4 days in a village called La Seyne Sur Mer near Toulon which is a bit industrial, but still lots of boats here. We have to take the boat on a 2 day journey to Palma to have a few final details finished. Even before this we need to add a pallet of safety equipment and then there was the radar which had not been installed. Simon from the Sunbird dealership, is being very supportive, proactive and has helped us move through the list and get some faults corrected. Watching them put up the radar in some very wild winds was nerve wracking but the team of people putting it together were very professional and also helpful with a few other items like getting the Mp3 to run through the sound system.
We are naming her, Mercier, which was Grandfather Merrington’s first yacht and being a French name, seemed to fit. We considered Bandol Rose, but we think there may be a few boats with that name and tradition won the day.
Speaking of Bandol Rosee, the local wines are very tasty and light. If we are running errands around lunch time and just have a mineral water, the waiters are terribly despondent and can’t understand how we can have our lunch without the necessary libation.
We are making progress – can’t wait for the sail to Palma.
Good to know that you are getting everything underway. Mercier looks pretty spacious – could be many many times the size of her namesake!
It is spacious, James can stand up easily.
Gaila, the boat looks huge. I hope everything gets finished and you can begin your trip! enjoy the wine x