BENEDETTO AUSTONI, CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOONER TIRANDILA
The captain prefers the Arenys de Mar shipyard to those in the Balearic Islands, where he has had “a few unpleasant experiences”
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Benedetto Austoni has no doubts. He prefers to sail 24 hours from Formentera – where he is based – to Arenys de Mar to repair his boat, rather than taking it to a shipyard on the Balearic Islands, where he has had “a few unpleasant experiences”. At Varador 2000 “I found great technical support, competitive prices and received a friendly and personalised treatment” explains the captain of Tirandila.
The Tirandila is a very special schooner. Built completely of wood by a boat constructor in Bodrum (Turkey), it sails for six months a year chartering clients in the Balearic Islands. In the Mediterranean there are only two other boats like it. Seventy tonnes of wood that need to be carefully looked after to be able to sail in optimal conditions. “These days many shipyards neglect carpentry work – says Austoni. At Varador 2000, however, I met two great professionals, Quim and Hernán, who know their jobs very well and every time they finish working on the Tirandila, she is as good as new”.
The last time he was in Arenys de Mar (for more or less forty days), the team at Varador 2000 undertook a full revision of the vessel to get it ready for its chartering season, which will last until the end of October. The revision included a number of carpentry fixes, anti fouling, some work on the engine and painting the hull. During this time, its crew was able to carry out small maintenance work on the deck and around the boat. “Its flexibility is another good reason for choosing Varador 2000 – says Austoni. The shipyard allows the crew to carry out small maintenance work that does not necessarily require a team of experts. In the Balearic Islands and in Italy this is unheard of – he adds – all work must be carried out by the shipyard, which is quite ridiculous”.
The Tirandila, which originally was used to transport small cargo across the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, is a very functional vessel. It has an overall length of 20 metres and a 6.15 beam. Two large cabins and two triple cabins (it can accommodate ten people), four bathrooms, air conditioning, solarium, awnings, TV, Wi-Fi and swimming ladder, are just some of its features. It can be chartered for days or weeks (depending on the Client’s needs) with a crew of three that occupy an independent cabin.
Having visited Varador 2000 three times for various refits, Captain Austoni has had the opportunity to spend time in Arenys de Mar and Barcelona. ”It is a very nice area; we have really enjoyed staying there”, he said. Austoni intends to return to Varador 2000 sooner rather than later, he thinks that “the chartering business is picking up again after the crisis, even if I still see scope for improvement”.
