It has been somewhat of an emotional roller coaster here in paradise.

This Island Raiatea is a paradise - the weather is mainly sunny sometimes too hot but mostly a reasonable heat and usually not too humid. There is an excellent diving school, surf crashing up the reef leaving a calm lagoon within, little motus (islands on the outer reef) that one can kayak to. There are bicycles to explore the island with 98 miles of periphery road, shops, pearl farms. There are fabulous sunsets with silhouetted palm trees through which to take dramatic photographs. The flowers on the island even those that just grow beside the road are colourful and very pretty. The Polynesian people are all friendly and everyone waves and greets everyone else standing, walking, cycling or driving - everyone seems happy. Paradise really.

But wheel on Volvo ………… and all that changes into the proverbial roller coaster. When the engine first failed it was Saturday morning and thanks to friends we arrived powerless into the little port of Apooiti where we moored up alongside an outside wall berth but thank the stars we have alongside electricity and shore water. So far so good. We quickly found the fault and summonsed the local Volvo agent: then the roller coaster started, in brief it was like this:

Its Ascension day holiday Monday - ugh - 3 days of doing nothing but waiting to be seen by cogniscent mechanic.

Mechanic will come - first thing Tuesday - OK good!

Mechanic does a 'no show' - ugh - telephone call reveals he has not even been told by his boss in Papeete, who made our agent the first promise -

I might be able to come Thursday or more likely Friday - awful.

Mechanic turns up unannounced on Wednesday - luckily we were on Carango at the time. He looks at problem- confirms my diagnosis - will quote soon to repair or replace - hopeful - no date given by mechanic.

Helpful Aussie moored up nearby - call my mate in Aus - they will do it - hopeful

Tried Volvo Australia - web site enquiry form - hopeful.

Just for good measure tried the NZ Volvo agent too - hopeful.

No quote from Volvo Papeete yet. Our agent pushes on our behalf - can’t get an answer from them at all - now 5 days passed - frustration.

Aus comes back - try our branch in Noumea = they cover your area - only postal address given in recommendation - frustration. Get an e-mail and find the Volvo Noumea only do sports fishing boats - Volvo Aus should have known that - very dozey Aussies - try again please.

NZ Volvo agent comes back - we can get you a new engine - should be available 1.5 weeks - Wow that’s good. He will write full specification and quote - hopeful.

6 days on still no contact from Volvo Papeete - wait a minute he is at the boat again - “Sorry we can’t do a rebuild not enough resources here. UGH!

Agent unfortunately and unknown to us tells Volvo Papeete that we have found a new engine in NZ - they then drop the case completely, probably with much relief this is a tough problem. We are still hopefully awaiting their quote for new engine - unaware they have downed tools thanks to the over zealous agent.

Lots of lovely and very kind messages flood in from fellow ARC yachtsmen - now cruising on westwards - such a fun bunch of people - all say they are missing us and our humour. Many offers of help but we can’t possibly ask them to stop too. We are parted from our friends - very sad.

Swedish friend from World ARC rally knows top Volvo guy in Volvo - gingery e-mail sent from him.

We confirm to Volvo NZ that we will buy his new engine - just want final quote much passage of information.

Someone in nearby boatyard where I am mooning about tells me - you an fit a new Yamaha to Amel been done before Yamaha mad keen to sell at low price 110 HP engines so get a quote. Yamaha agent in Papeete contacted for quote hopeful.

NZ Volvo agent rings up “I’ve got terrible news I was told by my staff that the engine was available for you BUT it isn’t its booked the next due in is in 10 weeks time shall I try for that one for you?” ugh - help i’m going mad.

Ring agent in Papeete - where is the quote - “Oh I told them you had a new engine coming from New Zealand" - OMG I am going to go mad.

Swede from Volvo HQ rings up - the new version of the Volvo doesn’t fit your boat without the addition of a new servo device to turn an electronic gear-change command to a manual wire operated gearbox. We can do this but would have to develop a new system - CRISIS.

Swede suggests a  new “Long Block” partially assembled engine from central warehouse Belgium.

We are now 9 days down and no order placed for anything. Its hot and now humid - poor George who came out here for some adventurous sailing champing at the bit not surprisingly - he enlists for a diving course [dive centre is right on the jetty next to Carango]. 

Vicky takes to ringing home - lots!

Volvo Aussie guy still working away to help us but now recommends a new agetm who it transpires on enquiry went bust some years ago.

My French is getting better but propensity to use the ‘M’ word is alarming…… Must try more ‘Genial’ - merçi.

Miraculously the man who said “can’t do it” before pitches up beside Carango and says “if you get a Long Block engine rebuild I can install that". - hopeful but - why the hell did’t you mention “long block” when we first met you? French ‘M’.

Volvo Sweden confirm 4 long blocks in stock Belgian warehouse - sounds good - looking up a bit.

Volvo Sweden get a grip of Volvo Papeete who visit Carango and take engine numbers and details [already supplied some days ago] but at least after Volvo Sweden become involved the are doing something.

“Yes" says Volvo Papeete we can do that and will place the order for the long block tomorrow - if you come now and pay - so I pay up on the spot.

2 days pass - order confirmed as for the wrong part by Volvo Sweden - order amended by Volvo Papeete - somewhat losing the will to live.

George passes his 6 dive PADI diving course - good news.

Serena tells Vicky that favourite Alpaca has died.

Correct order acknowledged - and dispatch maybe that day - Friday [before bank holiday Monday].  That’s a risk and judging by progress so far it is certain that the shipment will not make the Friday dispatch.

Weekend - no news at all.

Monday - unbelievable the shipment made the Friday slot and the long block is in Los Angeles - came via Cincinnati - amazing!!!!!

Delivery forecast by DHL 6th June - a whole week more lost - feeling a bit down - lots of news from the ARC fleet about how the next destinations are not too good and hurry up and join us again. We know they are just trying to be kind - we find out from one that Niue is wonderful - Polynesian friendliness and New Zealand civilisation.

Aussie Volvo still struggling and ask for engine serial number - unbelievable!

31st May we hear that Long bock will be delivered by DHL on 1st June to Papeete - we are 120 miles by sea from there - but it is something.

Maybe we will be underway in a week or 10 days- I go with George and we do a dive with the dive school = nearly 40 years since I was an Army diver - we enjoyed that. 

We now feel as we turn into the month June that light is somewhere near the end of this tunnel. Volvo Australia will possibly come up with an idea when we are 2 days out! Let’s hope we thrash them in next weeks rugby tests.