Yes, we managed to get splashed before the end of September. It has been hard, but we did it. We even took the time to crash a (cheap) Champagne bottle on the bow, and we had a small inauguration party with the dockyard friends. L’Alliance is still empty, and she floats almost one foot above her supposed floating line. She looks beautiful, anyway.
After a basic set up, we went for a sea trial… As promised, her hull is seaworthy and her bow cuts the waves like a hatchet. The engine at its cruising speed was moving us at about 6 knots. But after half an hour testing, we noticed an excessive vibration, a strange noise and… WtFk! A broken bolt head shot out of the bell housing! Furthermore, the injection pump was leaking diesel through one of its main body gaskets. Ok, after a bit of investigation we now know that the bolt head was just a left over sitting at the bottom of the bellhousing, which must have fallen in at some stage during the rebuild…but what a mess!
Pressed for time and with a job lined up starting on the next day, we had no choice: L’Alliance had to go back to the dry dock… we have to deal with more problem-solving before setting sails to Barcelona. By the way, we already payed for one year docking fee in the marina (port Ginesta!)!!! Arrhhgghh…
