This was a time for chilling out but we still had four or five days of good sailing too. D + V are now seasoned mariners and we know each other so well it was a relaxed and happy ten days.
Friday, 28 May 2010
Dave and Vera
During May we spent time with our friends from Cumbria, Dave and Vera.
This was a time for chilling out but we still had four or five days of good sailing too. D + V are now seasoned mariners and we know each other so well it was a relaxed and happy ten days.
This was a time for chilling out but we still had four or five days of good sailing too. D + V are now seasoned mariners and we know each other so well it was a relaxed and happy ten days.
Friday, 14 May 2010
We Made It - Rounding the Peloponnese – Part 2
The second Cape was really barren. Thought to be the mythical entrance to Hades you can see why. Bare, blasted rock and not much else. Pretty spooky, but for us, more flat seas and we motored most of this and then tucked in at a little remote outpost called Kayio. Poor holding here meant we had to re-anchor as we dragged into deep water. That’s the second time the new Rocna has dragged and both times we pulled tight before having enough scope out in sharply shelving bays. Otherwise it has behaved perfectly.
Off early again the next morning towards the final Cape, the notorious Cape Maleas. But that was for tomorrow. Now we found ourselves almost alone in the most fantastic anchorage on the small island of Nisos Elephanisos.
Gill even found time to watch a bit of television!
Finally, yet another early morning, off by 6.30am and we rounded Cape Maleas. More flat seas as we motor sailed round the point and passed from the Ionian Sea into the Aegean which goes east to Turkey and south to Crete.
You can see the remote hermitage up on the cliff, a really lonely looking place.
But as we were congratulating ourselves on making it round a strong (F7) wind sprang up from nowhere. We had 30 minutes of excitement right under the cliffs as we finally reefed and then continued to motor with the wind coming right on the nose.
A few hours later we arrived in Monemvasia, an amazing place with a rock like a mini Gibraltar, a medieval town with tiny streets hugging the rock and a little harbour where we managed to raft up next to another British boat.
We’ve decided to stay here until Dave and Vera come out next Tuesday as there are strong winds forecast and anyway we fancy a few days to recharge. We’ve now moved to our own spot in the harbour and are getting back to life attached to the land again.
Next it’s fuel, water, washing, money, bits and pieces and chill out.
Off early again the next morning towards the final Cape, the notorious Cape Maleas. But that was for tomorrow. Now we found ourselves almost alone in the most fantastic anchorage on the small island of Nisos Elephanisos.
Cracking Photo of My Two Girls!
Finally, yet another early morning, off by 6.30am and we rounded Cape Maleas. More flat seas as we motor sailed round the point and passed from the Ionian Sea into the Aegean which goes east to Turkey and south to Crete.
You can see the remote hermitage up on the cliff, a really lonely looking place.
But as we were congratulating ourselves on making it round a strong (F7) wind sprang up from nowhere. We had 30 minutes of excitement right under the cliffs as we finally reefed and then continued to motor with the wind coming right on the nose.
A few hours later we arrived in Monemvasia, an amazing place with a rock like a mini Gibraltar, a medieval town with tiny streets hugging the rock and a little harbour where we managed to raft up next to another British boat.
We’ve decided to stay here until Dave and Vera come out next Tuesday as there are strong winds forecast and anyway we fancy a few days to recharge. We’ve now moved to our own spot in the harbour and are getting back to life attached to the land again.
Next it’s fuel, water, washing, money, bits and pieces and chill out.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Naked Sailing
Now it really is starting to warm up naked sailing is becoming de rigeur in the middle of the day. It really does have to be one of the most pleasant sensations. Drifting (or motoring) along with a cool breeze lightly caressing your skin. It should be in there with the rest of the 100 things to do before you die in my opinion.
Fortunately pictures for this entry have been censored!
Fortunately pictures for this entry have been censored!
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Rounding the Peloponnese – Part 1
So finally we left Preveza Marine with the weld hole fixed.
We scooted straight back down to Vlikho Bay for a day of recuperation. Old hands now at Lefkas Canal, Gill got the approach just right and we went down behind a gaggle of Sailing Holidays yachts. Straight off to Elena’s excellent tavern on the eastern side of the bay. Next day was general strike day in Greece. EVERY television was on in Nidri when we went there to pick up a few supplies. Such a shame – Greece has overextended itself and now they all know they will have to pay. Very, very sad rather than the anger we saw in Athens on the screen.
After a day in Vlikho we were off back to Ithaca, home of Ulysses, and a nasty lee shore on a breezy night only 30m from shore. Rodney Rocna held beautifully again and we shared the bay with a couple of other yachts.
From there the Peloponese part started and we were into new territory. First a nice sail cum motorsail to Killini on the mainland. A bit of a stark place with ferries and we struggled to find a good anchorage close to the dredgers. Later we were joined by a French Amel. An early start saw us on a flat sea and wind off the land. Up to 7.2k, really fast for us and a cracking sail to Katakolon.
Another port where we felt we needed to anchor as there were only a couple of tight berths. The Amel came in stern too but had to move to make way for cruise liner so ended p rafted to another boat. Looked a tricky manoeuvre to us.
Katakolon (all the places along here start with a ‘K’) has been built up as a cruise ship port with trips to Olympia. I was keen to go but we went for a drink instead and in the evening dinghied back to get some food. The worst meal we have had in Greece I’m afraid – all reconstituted meat. If that’s what the cruise ships get I’ll stick to Petronella thank you.
The wind got up so we were off by 7.30 again. This time the wind rose to F7 and we had quartering 2.5m waves. Educational, especially putting in reefs. It was a long sail and near the end the auto bilge pump came on and we found water/oil(?) in the bilges from the stern gland. Still not sorted but does not appear to be too much of a problem. Hopefully it will wait until we are hauled out. We ended up limping into Pilos or rather the big bay behind it, Ormos Navarimou where the Brits beat the Turks back in 1827.
We were knackered the next day with the stress of the sailing (we’re not used to this yet although Petronella sailed beautifully) and the new ‘leak’. It was blowing just as strong NW, just right for us, but we were too tired to go on. I rebuilt the manual bilge pump and read a book. Gill dinghied over to Wolf a German who had come to ask us the weather forecast. Food is getting a bit short – onions, tomatoes and spuds.
And so to now. We are motor sailing south east. We are past the first Cape (Ak Akritas) and working our way to the second (Ak Tainaro) know n to the ancient Greeks as the Gateway to Hades. At present though it is pretty flat water and we are making 6+ knots. Then we have the final Cape to negotiate before we are into the Aegean. Cape Maleas has a fearsome reputation so we will see how it goes.
Part 2 to follow.
We scooted straight back down to Vlikho Bay for a day of recuperation. Old hands now at Lefkas Canal, Gill got the approach just right and we went down behind a gaggle of Sailing Holidays yachts. Straight off to Elena’s excellent tavern on the eastern side of the bay. Next day was general strike day in Greece. EVERY television was on in Nidri when we went there to pick up a few supplies. Such a shame – Greece has overextended itself and now they all know they will have to pay. Very, very sad rather than the anger we saw in Athens on the screen.
After a day in Vlikho we were off back to Ithaca, home of Ulysses, and a nasty lee shore on a breezy night only 30m from shore. Rodney Rocna held beautifully again and we shared the bay with a couple of other yachts.
From there the Peloponese part started and we were into new territory. First a nice sail cum motorsail to Killini on the mainland. A bit of a stark place with ferries and we struggled to find a good anchorage close to the dredgers. Later we were joined by a French Amel. An early start saw us on a flat sea and wind off the land. Up to 7.2k, really fast for us and a cracking sail to Katakolon.
Another port where we felt we needed to anchor as there were only a couple of tight berths. The Amel came in stern too but had to move to make way for cruise liner so ended p rafted to another boat. Looked a tricky manoeuvre to us.
Katakolon (all the places along here start with a ‘K’) has been built up as a cruise ship port with trips to Olympia. I was keen to go but we went for a drink instead and in the evening dinghied back to get some food. The worst meal we have had in Greece I’m afraid – all reconstituted meat. If that’s what the cruise ships get I’ll stick to Petronella thank you.
The wind got up so we were off by 7.30 again. This time the wind rose to F7 and we had quartering 2.5m waves. Educational, especially putting in reefs. It was a long sail and near the end the auto bilge pump came on and we found water/oil(?) in the bilges from the stern gland. Still not sorted but does not appear to be too much of a problem. Hopefully it will wait until we are hauled out. We ended up limping into Pilos or rather the big bay behind it, Ormos Navarimou where the Brits beat the Turks back in 1827.
We were knackered the next day with the stress of the sailing (we’re not used to this yet although Petronella sailed beautifully) and the new ‘leak’. It was blowing just as strong NW, just right for us, but we were too tired to go on. I rebuilt the manual bilge pump and read a book. Gill dinghied over to Wolf a German who had come to ask us the weather forecast. Food is getting a bit short – onions, tomatoes and spuds.
And so to now. We are motor sailing south east. We are past the first Cape (Ak Akritas) and working our way to the second (Ak Tainaro) know n to the ancient Greeks as the Gateway to Hades. At present though it is pretty flat water and we are making 6+ knots. Then we have the final Cape to negotiate before we are into the Aegean. Cape Maleas has a fearsome reputation so we will see how it goes.
Part 2 to follow.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Birds At Sea
Today we had a sparrow/finch/warbler land briefly on the guard rail before flying off into the wind. We’re also seeing more and more shearwaters (I think). Quite big birds, they glide over the water for a few seconds, give a couple of flaps and then glide on again. Feels like real ocean stuff out here at present! Very few boats and pretty wild.
But STILL no fish!!
But STILL no fish!!
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Leak Fixed
So, after much Greek debate we have a fixed leak AND 450 euros compensation from Cleopatra. It only arrived after emails, telephone calls, visits and involvement of the insurance company but 20 minutes before launch Gill got a call from Sophia to say it was there to collect. What a result! Fair all round in the end I think but it took some effort to reach agreement. The insurers and the surveyor are very pleased – and so are we!
