As the planned boat rental was not available on 1st of October (start of the off-summer prices), we were allowed to have it on the same price on 30th of September. Appreciated!
We met an experienced and very friendly employee of Xaloc which let us leave on the morning. He informed us on 2 "squawks" on the boat: auto anchor winch is not available, only by hand + bilge pump is required a lot of the time.
Having 1 meter waves and an incoming depression zone with rain, we decided to turn back after only 1h30 at sea. Weather was worse than forecasted.
The employee told us we were unfortunate on the weather and advised us to change the rental day. This day change was not an issue at all. Next planned sailing day on Saturday 2nd of October. Lovely day, beautiful weather, perfect day!
We went out to Formentera and anchored. When deciding to leave the engine stalled on us. Several starting attempts, including priming, left us with a depleted battery. Thereafter the day turned a bit sour. Initially we were happy to hear Service Center was incoming to offer a hand, and luckily we were anchored on a beautiful spot enjoying the sunshine. However, it took them 4 hours to get to us! Half of the day passed and only used the boat for an hour!
When they finally came and helped out with charged batteries, the Service Center encountered same starting problems: the engine kept on stalling. By using a "quick fix" they re-engaged the engine and told us to make haste for the Ibiza harbour in one Go! Not shutting down the engine at any time and preferentially not neutralising or reversing the engine neither. Starter/ignition system at fault, together with the abnormal large requirement of bilge pump. (to note: no horn and no auto anchor neither)
As we were picking up the anchor by hand, the guys from the service center already quickly moved away! Just as we made the first meter through the water, the engine stalled again... leaving us dead engine and alone again. We quickly dropped anchor by hand again and told them to come back. The return for the guys of the service center again took an hour! End of a joyful day for sure!
Long story short: we were able to salvage ourselves back to Ibiza after one of the mechanics joining us half the part of the way back, then he needed to join the rib boat with his colleague again, leaving us alone from Formentera coasting out again.
Engine did not make full power, we were instructed to keep RPM's reasonably low and not reversing. Bilge pump was required the whole part of the routing.
Afterwards Xaloc fully returned our deposit as we are not the ones to blame of course, they did charge us the gas for both days and gave us a -20% reduction on next occasion.
As we are travellers abroad to all different countries, we are not looking towards a visit Ibiza very soon. So for us the reduction voucher is useless. I would have appreciated a larger commercial gesture for the limited time we were able to use the boat.
Still to remark: spending 4 hours on the boat in the sun, dead-engined, we were lucky Xaloc provides a cooling box with a lot of additional water. Towels are also included in the booking.
Still to remark: as I texted them, they still look a good charter company to me; we were both unlucky towards weather conditions and current boat status
Best regards, Sebastien read more
