A journey with so many uncertainties
25th August 2021. Leaving NZ we could never have dreamed where our journey to finally owning Kiri Maia 2 would take us. We have been to amazing places & met so many wonderful people, that helped us enjoy the wait till Kiri Maia 2, was finally handed over on the 4th of March.
From Greece to Les Sables France
7th September the rough plan upon arriving in Bordeaux France was to hire a car & drive to Les Sables, find an apartment and settle into life in France till Kiri was delivered. Luck was on our side, the manager of a hotel close to the Lagoon dock, had a lovely sunny apartment available to rent for the winter months.
Our first visit to the Lagoon factory didn't go exactly how we would have liked
27 October, In the excitement of booking a factory visit which was organized by our broker in NZ it seems nobody thought to ask if boat 160 (Kiri) was in production.
It was a massive disappointment to find out Kiri Maia2 wouldn't be started for another two weeks. Then adding to our disappointment, there weren't any 450'S in production for us to view only lots of 42's and 46's. On the positive side, the tour of the factory was great, we saw the entire process of building these very large boats from the first cut pieces of fiberglass to being a complete boat ready for soft furnishings & fit-out of the exterior. Incredibly this part of the building process only takes 28 days for a boat to come out of the factory in one-piece hulls & decks put together.
Oliver our guide from Lagoon understanding our massive disappointment, suggested we contact our broker to organize another factory tour when Kiri was actually in production. Oliver also had insider information on Kiri’s production schedule, we were advised to try for the first week of December as Kiri would be near the end of the production line. At this stage Kiri would be in separate pieces giving us the advantage of seeing her internal workings, electrical, plumbing, etc.
Organizing a factory tour is far easier said than done. Firstly Marcel had to email our broker with the week we wanted to go, our broker then emails his contact in Hong Kong who in turn emails the Lagoon factory which then confirms the date. Success our visit was booked for the 3rd of December.
So happy boat 160 “Kiri Maia2” is real.
On the 3rd of December, we finally got to see Kiri, all be it, in four separate pieces. The top deck, the hull, back steps, and helm roof. All in the production line waiting their turn to be put together as a complete boat. It really was fantastic to go from one part of Kiri to the next. It really was a great way to view her as we could see how everything is fitted together. All the cabinetry & engines were installed, the plumbing and wiring had been done and so much more.
Oliver told us it would take about five days to finish putting all the pieces together while moving down the line to a very large pool. The pool is used to run the engines and leak test the boats. After the pool, Kiri will move outside to another factory to be fitted out with soft furnishings curtains etc
Seeing Kiri Maia2 made our decision to stay in France worthwhile.
Click on a photo to enlarge it, then you can scroll through them all.
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Very first photo of us on Kiri Maia2 Very first photo of us on Kiri Maia2
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So many things to learn So many things to learn
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I am leaving it up to Marcel to ask all the technical questions I am leaving it up to Marcel to ask all the technical questions
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Hard at work Installing the kitchen Hard at work Installing the kitchen
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Marcel & Oliver the Lagoon rep Marcel & Oliver the Lagoon rep
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Deck of Kiri its hard to picture all the pieces coming together Deck of Kiri its hard to picture all the pieces coming together
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The hull the engines have been fitted The hull the engines have been fitted
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Looking down into our cabin Looking down into our cabin
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Owner cabin our bed in the making Owner cabin our bed in the making
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Definatly avery essential appliance to have! Definatly avery essential appliance to have!
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All the electronics for navigation All the electronics for navigation
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Yanmar engine 50hp Yanmar engine 50hp
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So much to explain So much to explain
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Back steps x 2 seperate pieces Back steps x 2 seperate pieces
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Most important the Helm staition roof Most important the Helm staition roof
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Yes, the out side shower has been intalled Yes, the out side shower has been intalled
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https://sailingkirimaia.co.nz/index.php/component/k2/item/21-kiri-maia-2-our-journey#sigProIdcacc668c8f