A dream came true

“Our boat, MV Champagne is in many ways a dream came true”

After renting a boat during our first years of business we took the time to listen to the thoughts and ideas of our guests onboard and what it was they found important when they were on a tour. The most important aspect, beside the safety, is the comfort. A comfortable boat is more important than the destination itself. We kept this in mind all through out the process of building MV Champagne.

We looked for a long time for a boat that would suit our needs, in the end we decided instead of buying a boat, we should build a boat that would suit guests of all ages and create the comfort we were looking for.
In the summer of 2010 a friend called me and said:
Lotta: I have found a traditional Thai fishing boat that would be perfect for your tours

My friend who is an expert when it comes to boat building said: This is a good boat; he assured me this is the boat you are looking for!
I was not sure if I could agree that the boat I had in front of me was the right boat for La Moet and our guests. He again assured me, and said: we can rebuild her just the way you would like.
Trusting him I decided to take her, that decision became the beginning of a 12 week journey where we all learned alot when it comes to boat building.

This was June 16th 2010 and we had to be ready to take guest on-board by the 1st of November.
We had to design and build a boat from a vision without any drawings, in just 3 months, EVERYONE that has some kind of sense of Thailand and building boats said:
“You are on mission impossible” – I did not or could not listen to that , La Moet needed a boat.
Without a boat, we would no be able to continue. Nothing could stop me, we needed a boat and  she had to be ready in time. in 12 weeks time.
“Never give up or give in”

Dealing with workers from all over Asia that are not able to speak English so well is a challenge, for my friend that overlooked the building project he had never build a boat for a woman before, that was a big challenge for him.
As we all know women like to change their mind…..

Basically for a woman to enter in to a “men’s world” with no experience of shipyards or the understanding of how to build a boat was a challenge not only for me, also for everyone around me.

All I had was a vision, for my friend to help and guide me was not easy, I had to face different cultures and he had to face a women. The builders were not used to seeing a women at the shipyard, I can say, we had our clashes, today all that is history, we learned a lot and gained a lot of knowledge and experience that is very useful today.
Patience was one thing I learned and the other was:
“There is always another way of doing things” more known in Thailand as “same same but different”.

During the building project she went under the name “the boat”, one day my friend said, Lotta in few days we have to give her a name, I did not have to think twice before I answered:
She is La Moet’s boat;  The name La Moet comes from the Champagne, Moet Chandon, her name has to be Champagne, “Phuket Champagne”.

I do not regret building our own boat, it was a fantastic journey even if it was “bumpy” at times, to create the design, decided the layout, measure every millimeter of the boat, to get her exactly as we wanted, choice the colors. I have to say looking back:  it was as turbulent as it was amazing, I have had one of the most fantastic and stressful times ever but it was also one of the most interesting times in my life.

Today we can be proud  – The many hours of hard work have definitely been worth it – The result a 20 meter long boat that has all the amenities you could wish for.

Thanks to everyone for your time and expertise we can all be proud.