After mooring off the Aquatica Marina in Alghero at noon we stopped at the tank station to fill up with Diesel. On the way John already had problems in engaging gears. Once ready to leave the forward gear did not react, only the reverse after a while. We had to tie ourselves up again on the tank station pier and call the mechanic who repaired the saildrive gearbox. When he came on board in the afternoon, after an hour inspection, the problem was not fixable on the spot.
We got towed back to the marina, so he can look at it on Wednesday, as tomorrow he has to go to Olbia for another boat.
Naturally we where both very unsatisfied, but he promised to come on the first thing in the morning.
Wednesday 9.30 the mechanic team came and started take the oil out of the gearbox to remove the external shift lever and replace by another one. They added a spacer for less play and made new tests while to motor was running. No gear engagement ! It turned out that the gearbox needs to be removed again and fixed in the workshop. The yacht has to be lifted again, repaired on land and spareparts to be ordered. The fix takes more than one week !
John needs to have an appartment for that time and I decided to fly back home.
In the evening John invited me for a sundowner on the protecting walls promenade with an an excellent dinner at the Trattoria Lo Romani. Luckily we reserved a table for 08.30 pm, then as we arrived there where people waited for a table.
Our starters: sea brass on a spicy tomato sauce, ravioli filled with potatoes, mint cream cheese and a bottle of local Cannonau.