Lesson learnt!

Our unpleasant experience with Sailmaker Charles Viviani (“CV”), Wavesails NZ Ltd, Opua, Bay of Islands New Zealand

Facts:
3 December 2013: Written confirmation and acceptance by Charles Viviani, Wavesails NZ Ltd, of our order for 3 new sails, a cockpit enclosure cover, a mainsail boom cover and trampoline repairs for SV Samuri (a 44’ catamaran)
• Agreed sum for his services & finished product: NZ$19,000.00
• Services & products to be completed by the end of January 2014
• Deposit: NZ$9,500.00

Mid-January 2014: We received the repaired trampoline from CV but it was of such poor quality it caused safety concerns

We agreed to a time extension until the beginning of April 2014 to complete the other agreed services and supply the agreed products

11 April 2014: CV cancelled the contract for manufacturing of the cockpit enclosure and one sail due to other work commitments. This was two weeks after the agreed extended delivery date

CV postponed 7 times a day of delivery for 2 sails during the period of 11 – 30 April 2014

30 April 2014: Received only two sails and one boom cover

Sails were not delivered to the boat, nor installed or checked as was agreed to

An independent review of the sails confirmed:
• Material was used in the wrong way. Both sails were designed as a radial sail instead of a cross cut sail design. The maximum stretch capacity is therefore reduced to only about 20%.
• None of the panels has been sealed to keep the fabric from fraying.
• The new genua sail results in an 80 cm short luff length on the hoist. This reduces the sail area by 8%.
• The mainsail was produced so it is 10 cm too high on the luff and 15 cm too short on the foot of the sail.
• The cut of the main sail is questionable. It shows horizontal and diagonal creasing.
• No sign writing of the name and sail number was done and no woollies attached which all was agreed to by CV.
• 3 new battens for the main sail are half the thickness they should be and are therefore too weak.
• The top batten of the mainsail was at an angle that would not support the roach profile and there was a 30 cm unsupported sail area in the top leech and had to be re-cuted.
• The overhead leach line was never going to work as it was fitted and had to be modified.
• The batten pockets needed resewing at the leach end.
• All reef and corner webbing were sub-standard as well as the patching sizes and weight.

In summary:

1. 2 sails for NZ$11,000.00 will have a lifespan of about one year instead of the expected 8 – 10 years

2. Other work to the value of NZ$7,300.00 was cancelled on short notice by CV without providing any alternatives

Happy sailing!

Christian Nigg, SV Samuri, Swiss Flag