- An extensive 12-week refit project in Calero Marinas’ Shipyard in Marina Lanzarote has received top praise from the vessel’s owner.
- The shipyard was awarded the tender after competing with yards in the UK and the Netherlands.
24m expedition yacht Astra, originally a Swedish Sea Rescue Service vessel, has just completed an extensive refit in Marina Lanzarote to prepare her for an upcoming circumnavigation.
The vessel’s owner had been looking for a winter destination to prepare the boat and settled on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands as an ideal location for its attractive climate in winter. After studiously researching no less than 26 Canarian ports, a berth was reserved in Puerto Calero due to the marina’s reputation for being sheltered and quiet. Upon arriving from Gibraltar last November, he was then pleasantly surprised to find that he recognised the destination from a visit during a previous holiday.
The search was then on for a yard to perform a list of some 100 jobs needed to reconfigure the vessel for a circumnavigation. A refit tender was sent out to yards in the UK and the Netherlands, but Marina Lanzarote Shipyard became a clear contender given the option to start earlier than planned and make the most of the island’s warm and dry winters. The owner conducted preparatory trials, testing for the quality of craftmanship and the lay of the land, before deciding to go ahead and hoist the boat in Calero Marinas’ Arrecife yard.
The refit has involved designing and installing RIB support structures, auxiliary fuel tanks, and masts for satellite telecommunications. Extensive paintwork was carried out together with a new teak deck, and a cold-storage room built and installed. The engine and hydraulic systems and electronics and navigation systems have also been serviced.
Beyond the evident array of services and facilities suitable for maintaining larger yachts, owner Iain Macneil described what drove his decision to conduct the refit in Lanzarote:
“First and foremost is the honesty of the people: no-one is trying to manage you or tell you what you want to hear; they’re very honest with you. The craftsmanship, the workmanship, the passion from those who are employed, and the support services here far exceeded what the expectations were. It really has been first-class and reflected in a superb job on Astra.”
The yard team, led by Sergio “Queco” Morales was delighted to have been awarded the job:
“We’ve really enjoyed getting our teeth stuck into a decent project and being able to show what the yard is capable of; there are some fantastic skills here and many, many years of experience working with a huge range of vessels. As sailors ourselves, it’s been a real pleasure working with such a committed owner and we wish him the very best for his voyage.”
To learn more about Expedition Vessel Astra’s history, visit the website: https://www.mv-astra.com/