Well, I’ve had my wrist slapped by a few of you for not updating the blog since the beginning of March and I’m truly sorry. For one, I didn’t realise how many actually take the time to read it, and two, we’ve been working very hard on Summertime and haven’t had a lot of free time, so that leaves me with a quandary with what to write. So here goes a quick catch up…..
Weekend of the end of March we did and Americas cup style race series in Laser SB3’s. Small, open transom sailing dinghies w
ith 3 crew. There was Mark, myself and the owner of Jungle (the J24 we sail in the winter race series). Four teams, everyone racing against everyone else for an overall winner, who then raced the guy who actually owns and races, and wins everything in an SB3. A great weekend with lots of races and after 12 races there was only one point separating three teams. As sail off, put us out of the finals and the winners weren’t the owners but one of the 4 teams. They had a young lad on the crew and the prize was a day’s tuition down in Vassiliki with an Olympic sailing coach – a brilliant prize. A great weekend, which took me about 3 days to recover from. A few more pictures here.
Easter Saturday is celebrated by the ‘lighting of the candles’. Following a service at the Churches, a large candle or candelabra that has been lit from a flame from Jerusalem (similar process to the Olympic flame) is bought out from the Church and everyone lights their own candle and carries it home. If you get home with it still lit, you make the sign of the cross on your doorway for good luck in the coming year. We got ours home and made the sign on the ceiling of the back cabin as we obviously don’t have a wooden doorway. Here’s hoping for good luck in the year to come. It was also Tony’s Easter hog roast then the race over to Paleros from Nidri. This year we sailed on a Moody 47. The owner – Les – hadn’t raced the boat before and was happy to let Mark play and tweak anything he wanted and we had a brilliant sail over to the mainland, third across the line and 4th on handicap, pretty good for a big heavy boat. We finished the night off with a celebration in the Indian restaurant.
As I was saying we've been really busy with Summertime, trying to get as much done before it gets too hot for Mark to work. The weather all of a sudden has got hot, no heating up g
radually, it was 30 in the shade in the cockpit yesterday afternoon.We had visitors out the first 2 weeks of May, Andy and Tracey came first and they staying in a house owned by a friend here, our most memorable day was at Meteora where the Monks built monasteries on top of rock towers – why they would want to do such a thing is beyond me- however it is quite spectacular. The drive across the back bone of Greece is also quite stunning now, instead of small winding roads across an enormous mountain range; the new road goes straight through the mountains and straight across the valleys. Mega millions has been spent and we were one of the very few cars on it!! The weather for the week was mixed but Andy and Tracey had a good time. Pictures of Meteora here.
The next week we went sailing with Nigel and Cath (Summertime owners). They flew into Corfu and caught the ferry to Igounomista – just over an hour from here – and landed at 1.30 in the morning!! Nigel had hurt his back and was drugged to the eyeballs and remained that way for the next 3 days. However we did go sailing and got down as far as to Zante. We moored on the Quay and settled for the night. Next morning whilst Mark and I went in search of fresh bread and supplies the local Mafia turned up demanding 115 euro for the overnight stop, along with our Cruising Permit (which Lefkas Port Police had told us a year ago we didn't need), a one off fee for arriving in Zante and goodness know what else. Nigel was having none of this and wanted an explanation of all the bits of paper with varying amounts of euros on, and refusing to pay anything until he understood it. Anyway our local Mafia guy threw a fit and told Nigel he was off to get the Port Police and would be back. We arrive back shortly after and hear of all the excitement and await the arrival of the Port Police. Mafia guy arrives back on his own, asks for Mark to get on his scooter and go his office, without Nigel, and after much argy bargy and 'discussions' over his back hander (which amounted to over 50 euros) Mark eventually paid only what he had receipts for. A great lesson in Greek business, only pay for what they will give you a receipt for - God bless paperwork!!
Since getting back Mark has been doing some work on Summertime and we’ve been getting our boat ready for Michael and Eve arriving on the 3rd. Lots of jobs to do, poor boat hasn't had any attention for nearly a year. She's like the builders house, always the last in line to get any TLC.
Weekend of the end of March we did and Americas cup style race series in Laser SB3’s. Small, open transom sailing dinghies w
ith 3 crew. There was Mark, myself and the owner of Jungle (the J24 we sail in the winter race series). Four teams, everyone racing against everyone else for an overall winner, who then raced the guy who actually owns and races, and wins everything in an SB3. A great weekend with lots of races and after 12 races there was only one point separating three teams. As sail off, put us out of the finals and the winners weren’t the owners but one of the 4 teams. They had a young lad on the crew and the prize was a day’s tuition down in Vassiliki with an Olympic sailing coach – a brilliant prize. A great weekend, which took me about 3 days to recover from. A few more pictures here.Easter Saturday is celebrated by the ‘lighting of the candles’. Following a service at the Churches, a large candle or candelabra that has been lit from a flame from Jerusalem (similar process to the Olympic flame) is bought out from the Church and everyone lights their own candle and carries it home. If you get home with it still lit, you make the sign of the cross on your doorway for good luck in the coming year. We got ours home and made the sign on the ceiling of the back cabin as we obviously don’t have a wooden doorway. Here’s hoping for good luck in the year to come. It was also Tony’s Easter hog roast then the race over to Paleros from Nidri. This year we sailed on a Moody 47. The owner – Les – hadn’t raced the boat before and was happy to let Mark play and tweak anything he wanted and we had a brilliant sail over to the mainland, third across the line and 4th on handicap, pretty good for a big heavy boat. We finished the night off with a celebration in the Indian restaurant.
As I was saying we've been really busy with Summertime, trying to get as much done before it gets too hot for Mark to work. The weather all of a sudden has got hot, no heating up g
radually, it was 30 in the shade in the cockpit yesterday afternoon.We had visitors out the first 2 weeks of May, Andy and Tracey came first and they staying in a house owned by a friend here, our most memorable day was at Meteora where the Monks built monasteries on top of rock towers – why they would want to do such a thing is beyond me- however it is quite spectacular. The drive across the back bone of Greece is also quite stunning now, instead of small winding roads across an enormous mountain range; the new road goes straight through the mountains and straight across the valleys. Mega millions has been spent and we were one of the very few cars on it!! The weather for the week was mixed but Andy and Tracey had a good time. Pictures of Meteora here.The next week we went sailing with Nigel and Cath (Summertime owners). They flew into Corfu and caught the ferry to Igounomista – just over an hour from here – and landed at 1.30 in the morning!! Nigel had hurt his back and was drugged to the eyeballs and remained that way for the next 3 days. However we did go sailing and got down as far as to Zante. We moored on the Quay and settled for the night. Next morning whilst Mark and I went in search of fresh bread and supplies the local Mafia turned up demanding 115 euro for the overnight stop, along with our Cruising Permit (which Lefkas Port Police had told us a year ago we didn't need), a one off fee for arriving in Zante and goodness know what else. Nigel was having none of this and wanted an explanation of all the bits of paper with varying amounts of euros on, and refusing to pay anything until he understood it. Anyway our local Mafia guy threw a fit and told Nigel he was off to get the Port Police and would be back. We arrive back shortly after and hear of all the excitement and await the arrival of the Port Police. Mafia guy arrives back on his own, asks for Mark to get on his scooter and go his office, without Nigel, and after much argy bargy and 'discussions' over his back hander (which amounted to over 50 euros) Mark eventually paid only what he had receipts for. A great lesson in Greek business, only pay for what they will give you a receipt for - God bless paperwork!!
Since getting back Mark has been doing some work on Summertime and we’ve been getting our boat ready for Michael and Eve arriving on the 3rd. Lots of jobs to do, poor boat hasn't had any attention for nearly a year. She's like the builders house, always the last in line to get any TLC.
Well that brings us up to date, Michael and Eve are due so next blog will be in a few weeks, unless we get Internet while we’re away and if we do I’ll keep you posted of our adventures.
