On August 25, we rented a sailboat from
Sail Aegean for a week. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate my birthday, and we really had an incredible time. We had great wind, visited amazing places, and filled ourselves with lots of positive emotions.
I am writing this post because when we arrived back at the port in Volos, we had a surprise waiting for us. We are talking about the presence of seawater in the gearbox oil. Here are the facts in chronological order:
1. At check-in, Sail Aegean employees pointed out the color of the oil in the gearbox to the captain. This is something that neither we nor other experienced captains we have consulted have ever encountered over the years.
2. It is unclear whether the oil had been freshly changed at check-in and whether the previous crew had experienced the same thing.
3. We had no indication of a malfunction during the voyage. They explained to us that this could be the result of a rope or a fishing line accidentally getting tangled around the propeller. Upon arrival, a diver thoroughly checked this area and found nothing. He did a follow-up check the next day and again found nothing. He explicitly said that after 40+ years of experience, he could judge whether the propeller needed to be removed after the check.
4. That same morning, the oil was changed and the engine was tested for a few minutes. The mechanics found that water was still getting into the oil. The mechanic said they needed to bring a syringe to drain the oil for testing, but since they couldn't find one, they brought some kind of suspicious bucket pump with hoses. While draining the oil to see the difference, I personally offer to help hold the container in which it is to be drained, but the mechanic categorically refuses, calling his colleague, who stands right in front of me and completely blocks my view. I don't want to accuse anyone, but I can't accept this as evidence.
5. After this step, I ask Petros, one of the managers (I don't know his last name), how much the maximum potential damage could be. He announced the amount of 600 euros. A little later, he called us to a meeting in the office with a senior manager, Christos Liapis, to discuss the case. He was rude and spoke with complete certainty, as if he were 100% sure that we were at fault, and said that there were other regulations. When I asked him what the maximum damage could be, he announced the amount of €1,500. We found this completely ridiculous and unprofessional, with everyone saying whatever they wanted.
6. When I personally asked Christos if there was a reservation for the boat after us, he confirmed it and said that they would cancel the reservation for this boat. After the captain spoke with Petros a few days later, it became clear that the boat was in the water with a new crew, meaning they had lied to us that repairs and dry docking were imminent. In other words, it would be difficult to prove any damage since the boat had sailed after us.
7. After their official response a few days later, it became clear that they had charged our captain €1,048.73. This is exactly halfway between €600 and €1,500. This price is not justified before the damage has been proven and the problem has been fixed.
8. It remains unclear who from the company will be responsible for the non-material damage caused to us, as we were sold some very expensive "bad luck". But I believe in karma, and if they really earn extra income this way, I am sure that there will be a balance in nature, and I am sure that it is not about the money but about human relations.