It was on our 4th visit to the Port Police to report the collision that he told us our report meant that he would have to impound the boat until it was surveyed.
Visit 1
We’re given a sheet of paper and told “Come back tomorrow with a short, it must be very short, report of the incident.”
Visit 2
We hand over our (short) report. “Come back tomorrow and we will record it.”
Visit 3
“Come tomorrow when someone will speak English.”
Visit 4
Our report has been translated into Greek (probably at a cost per word, hence the requirement for a short report?)
“There is a problem with what you have written. You have written ‘The gelcoat on the hull is damaged.’ Now, I know that this is not serious, that the gelcoat is surface damage. But because you have written the words ‘hull’ and ‘damage’ it sounds serious and I must impound the boat. Even though I know it is not serious.”
“Oh No!” We protest. “Can we change the report?”
“I think so, yes” comes the reprieve, “I think it’s best.”
We agree the new wording “scuff marks” with no mention of hull or damage. We’re given copies and our reference number and we thank him profusely before leaving.
Phew, that was a lucky escape!