August in the UK

The day after we arrived in Venice we flew back to the UK and picked up our 'runabout' ...........niiiiice!!!

We were nearly 2 weeks later arriving than we had first arranged. I had organised our girls get together at Hewenden and would only be getting back a few days before they were due. Another great weekend of catching up and lots of laughs. It's hard to believe a year had passed since we were last together.

Michael and Eve came up the next week and stayed a night, the next day was lovely and sunny and we took Lewie for a walk up to the viaduct and got some very different piccies of it this year - have a look here.

Michael Eve and Lewie (swimming)

We had a trip down to Birmingham to the Aston Eye Hospital for me to have a consultation for Laser Eye Treatment, got caught up in V Festival traffic and took 4 1/2 hours to get there from Yorkshire - nightmare.

Then the next weekend was spent in the Lake District with Dave and Carole and Steve and Elise. It rained!! We went down to Bury to stay a night with Dave and Chris and it rained!! We got back to Hewenden and it's raining!! We've both been b****y frozen since we've been back.

So that's where we're up to, we'll be off to Stoke to pick up our car (a friend drove it back from Greece for us) later this week ready to fill it up with 'stuff' to take back, then we've got the Bank Holiday Weekend with friends - it's sure to rain!!

Lefkas to Venice on a Grand Soleil

As I said in my last blog, we altered our journey plans back to the UK to include a delivery trip to Venice on a 46@ Grand Soleil. What I haven't told you is that the boat needed some urgent repairs before it was sailable, just small things like the Autopilot!!! Most of the instruments weren't working so Mark repaired what we considered to be the most necessary - like the Autopilot!!!, GPS, small engine problems (water pump exploded) and on an on. By the time we did set sail we still didn't have any wind info apart from the Windex on the top of the mast which wasn't reflective so can't be seen at night unless a torch is shined up to it, and depth which was only available at the chart table.

Anyway we set sail 4 days later than we were supposed to due to waiting for parts for the engine water pump.

After a short sea trial in Lefkas we thought this boat would be fast and give us an exciting sail. We were looking forward to a quick trip. Oh how wrong we were......

The first leg of the journey was to Gouvia Marina on Corfu - call it a bit of a shake down. We got out of the north end of Lefkas and started to pull out the mast furled mainsail - it was jammed. That took us half an hour to free and get going. The rest of the day went without any problems. Arrived at Gouvia at 9.30ish and got moored up. First part of the journey undertaken - no problems.

Next morning, fuelled up again and off we go. Out of Gouvia, Mainsail up, pull the Genoa out and it tore right across where the UV strip should be (note 'should be' - it didn't have one) at the height of the top spreader. Luckily there was another foresail onboard, so we changed that and got underway. Morning was fine, building wind, lovely sailing, this is what we were looking forward to. By mid afternoon we had well in excess of 30 knots of wind (for the non sailors among you that's a lot!) and confused short seas - basically a less than pleasant sail for lots of hours. It was during this period we realised how many more problems this boat had - we knew it had had a keel repair from an old crunch, the mast had been taken off during the repair and hadn't been put back on properly or tensioned correctly and the rest of the repair hadn't been carried out very well. The result was that every wave we slammed down on shook the rig right down to its boots with an alarming judder and very loud sounds of complaint. Coupled with that, water was pouring in through the deck around the mast and most of the window leaked to some degree. We held our breadth every time it happened. We did a lot of slamming over the next 2 days. There were times I thought the whole rig would come down around our ears. We also had a Genoa sheet explode just as dusk was falling on the 2nd evening, so a small fight in high winds ensued with that to end over end the sheets. We were motor sailing to try and keep any kind of northerly course, even then we were forced more west than we wanted to go. Add to that we were in a busy shipping area and as always there's lots of traffic at night. Our track over the water looked like a snail on LSD. Are we having fun yet?????

Day three, we're beginning to get a little tired when the weather calmed down and we were back on course sailing in the right direction. Now the weather was a little calmer I started cleaning the boat down below, we had considerable amount of salt on the inside due to the leaking mast and windows. Day four, calm and pleasant sailing during the day, real busy traffic during the night, however that old friend 'fear' keeps you awake and alert at night. Those big ferries look 'REAL' big close up at night.

Day five and six, no wind. We had to motor for the last 36 hours of the journey on seas of glass, the forecast was for the wind to go round to the south which would have been brilliant, unfortunately it didn't happen. Luckily we took on extra fuel for just such an event.

Well, we'd had it all on this short journey, we thought it would take us four days from Corfu and it took and extra 24 hours exactly to get into Albarella Marina, just south of Venice. This poor boat needs some serious TLC and ti won't be cheap. But that's not our problem; we sat with a beer giving thanks that this bag of spanners had actually made.

Would we take on another delivery - another boat, another destination - a definite maybe!!

Detour on a Grand Soleil

July has been a hot and busy month, we've been working since we came back from our travels and some days recently have been over 40 degrees - wilting temperatures. We're obviously more acclimatised this year though, last year we couldn't do anything when it was like this.

We should have been flying back July 30th but we were asked if we'd take a boat up to Venice, it needed to be there as soon as possible in August.

So we thought a small detour on such a great boat (a Grand Soleil) would be a mini adventure. It's a real high quality boat and should be a joy to sail. We'll fly home from Venice.

The picture here is not the one we're delivering but it's identical. Unfortunately the one we're sailing has been sadly neglected for some time so it needed a good clean and some repairs to auto pilot etc before we would venture out in it.

Next blog will be when we get back to UK when I can tell you all about the trip.

Michael and Eve come to Greece

June was given over to holidaying with Michael and Eve. They were out for nearly the whole month. That's a long time to try and remember everything we would get up to so I kept a short diary, here's a shortened version ...

Day one, relaxing day, got the boat stowed ready for off the next day.

Day Two, down to One Tree Bay to clean the boats' bottom while anchored in fantastic clear water. With diving kit on I did the rudder and prop, Mike did as much as he could snorkeling. Mark did bugger all cos he and his diving kit didn't get on. Stayed the night at anchor just along the coast in a lovely sheltered bay.

Day Three, motored down to Vassiliki at the bottom of Lefkas Island to see about some Laser sailing for Mike and Eve at the watersports centre but alas it was not to be so we sailed up to Sivota and had a barby tea and anchored for the night.
Day Four, sailed up to Skoprios (island owned by the Onassis family), anchored off Onassis beach hut. This beautiful bay is featured in all the pilot books. Swam and Mark made a beaut curry for dinner. Lovely quiet night at anchor in this stunning bay.

Day Five, north to Ligia, anchored off and took part in the Lefkas Yacht Club dinghy sailing afternoon. M & E had fun in Lasers, Mark and I took out a Sport 14, didn't know what we were doing and capsized. I raced with another couple and won that race. M & E raced lasers, Mike won his race. Great afternoon, totally knackering. Had dinner at a lovely little seaside Taverna, waves lapping at the wall. Stayed at anchor for the night.

Day Six, back into the Marina, wash poor boat, shop and stock up and we all went racing on a Sigma 36 in the evening, very fluky wind but first across the line, everyone happy.

Day Seven, left Marina and sailed down to Poros on Cephalonia. good sailing nearly all day. Got moored up and the wind began to rise. Stayed the next day as a Force 7 blew through. Very challenging getting on and off the boat as it bounced around. Walked up to a Greek tomb in the hills which was disappointing. Nice BBQ that evening on board.

Day Nine, sailed to Katakalon on the Peloponesse. Went for a swim once anchored, water was freezing!! Spent most of the next day at Olympia, it's one of Greece's many historic sites and well worth a visit. On our way back we stopped at Olympia Theatre, where Mike took to the stag while we made up an audience of 3, a good day out.

Day Eleven, motor sailed north into head winds to the top of Zante, Ag. Nikoalous. Long day, 8 hours sailing but we needed to get north so M & E can take part in Vassiliki watersports festival.

Day Twelve, visited Blue Grotto at the northern tip of Zante, it was worth a visit but definitely didn't live up to the hype given it. Continued north to Ag. Euphemia on Cephalonia. Sea like a mill pond so stopped and anchored for lunch along the coast, idyllic, went for long swims. Not wind till nearly at destination then about 20 knot while trying to anchor.

Day Thirteen, sailed up the channel between Cephalonia and Ithaca, to the bay at the top west coast of Icatha, this bay is truly beautiful. Anchored, had lunch then swam for the next couple of hours, lazed then had BBQ dinner. When it dark we lay on deck and watched the stars, the bay is nearly deserted so visibility was fantastic. Had a very peaceful night. That is definitely the best it gets sailing in the Ionian.

Day Fourteen, no wind so motored up to Vassiliki for the watersports festival. Over the next few days we all go racing. First day of Laser racing Eve got 2 2nds and 2 3rds, poor Mike didn't do so well. We timed out in the cruiser pursuit race, very frustrating winds. Next day Eve got 2 2nds and a FIRST!! She finally bet the Greek Olympic bronze medallist. All good fun for everyone.

Day Twenty, shopping, filling up with diesel then sailed down to Kioni on Ithaca. Anchored with line ashore in the outer harbour, not a very comfortable night so next morning we sailed down to Vathi and anchored in the bay. Mark made curry for dinner and I made my famous lemon tart. Wind picked up over night and really blew through till mid afternoon next day so we stayed put.

Day Twenty Three, motor sailed to Missalonghi
on the Greek mainland. In the harbour there's and area given over to old fighter planes, tanks and missiles. Mark and Mike enjoyed climbing all over them.

Day Twenty Four, motor sailed under the Rion Bridge (spectacular bridge) to Navpaktos. Fabulous little harbour town with a castle overlooking the bay. Walked up to the castle through the lovely old houses. Got seriously rained on before finding a cafe to shelter and have hot chocolate. Castle closed!! Ate out in a lovely traditional Greek restaurant, we all agreed it was the best place we'd been.

Day Twenty Five, spent the morning in Navpaktos then sailed to Patras marina on the Peloponesse. Went into St Georges square in the evening and had nice gyros and souvlake for dinner. Next day Mike and Eve began their journey home. Bus from Patras to Athens then flight to Manchester. Sad to see them go but we've had a great time.

Mark and I set off along the Gulf of Corinth towards Trizonia. Good wind, up to 28 knots, so good downwind sail all the way. Trizonia is a beautiful quiet island just off the coast of mainland Greece about halfway between the Ionian Sea and the Corinth Canal. We spend a couple of peaceful days chilling.

Day Twenty Eight, left Trizonia and had a good sail all the way back under the Rion Bridge to Messalonghi on our journey back to Lefkas. Next day sailed from Messalonghi to the island of Kastos in big winds, high 20's low 30's, 3 reefs in the genoa and one in the mainsail, not what was forecast and provided a very spirited sail. Anchored in the bay outside Kastos harbour. Dinner ashore at the Windmill restaurant overlooking Kastos bay. Next day a short journey to the next island of Kalamos, pulled into Port Kalamos to get food, which included the steepest uphill walk to the bakery we've undertaken. A lovely village. Then up to the top of the island to a lovely sandy bay for any afternoon of swimming and snoozing.

Day Thirty one, north to BBQ bay, where we started out nearly a month earlier for our last night. Fabulous holiday, the first real sailing and exploring we've done since arriving in Greece 18 months ago. It was brilliant.

Piccies to follow shortly.

OOOOPS - it's been too long

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 with 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 gradually, 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.

It's not all work!!!

It's Soapbox Derby time. Vliho Yacht Club set the challenge, home build, no more in the budget than 50 Euros (money put in by one of the other long term liveaboards) and must carry a passenger (yours truly). Purchasing commitee went along to the local bike shop and got him to donate bike wheels and a couple of frames, then to the steel merchant for some mild steel box section for the frame and the woodmerchant for some ply for the body. The assistant manager in the Marina gathered up a few dead cycles that had been lying around for months and donated them to the cause.

The build team consisted of English and Swedish, the English nearly ended up lamping each other on more than one occassion, the Swedish just worked away quietly providing sensible and capable skills. The build stage complete the buggy went off to the driver(ex parachute James Bond type) for it's paint job. He was left in relative peace to complete this stage for some reason.

Buggy was tested on the only small hill in the Marina and proved to be scarily quick. Couple of days later we drove the course, 1.5kilometers down a typical Greek road ending at the main road between Nidri and Vliho - scary!! Free wheeling in the car we reached 55 MILES per hour before having to brake, with our bums so close to the ground in the buggy this was going to be seriously frightening.

Test Day. Off to the course for some testing. About 8 runs later we were ready, we knew the course and had our best speed at 60kph !! We could do the whole run without touching the brakes. Bring on the big day.

Derby Day. A fabulous day, sunny and even a bit warm. We all assembled at the start point for scrutineering (a term very loosely used). Of the 11 entrants we thought there were 3 others that may give us a run for our money. The order of the day was 2 timed runs to determine grid position then the race. We had our first run at 2.28mins for the 1.5k's. Second run at 2.3mins. that put us 2nd on the grid. Nerves were tingling now, it was all to fight for, our chance for glory! Our pusher was ready, our pit crew milling around, driver having a nervous fag and yours truly trying to keep them all focused.

Countdown!! We were off, we got a great start and went immediately into the lead. We kept the lead for the first half of the race then through the slow incline we were caught and passed by the eventual winner. Not only did they pass us but the next bugger also passed us - this wasn't good. But as we started the 2nd decline we rapidly picked up speed and regained 2nd place after some very close passing. Down the last straight towards the finish line in a blaze of glory but alsas only 2nd place. MARK IS STILL SULKING!!!

See more piccies here

Watch the video here

One year on - Summertime Refit

We can hardly believe it, we've been here 1 year and 2 weeks. I don't know where the year has gone. Lefkada is a very easy place to settle into, the town is a nice size and is bustling all year round because it's main income is not tourism. We've been here long enough now to see changes, ie new buildings being completed, roads (only a few mind) being updated and resurfaced, we feel part of the place now.

As for Summertime, Mark tells me he feels like he's broken the back of the job now, but with the osmosis treatment still to complete I'm a bit dubious of the statement. With all the rain we've had this winter her bottom is not drying out as quickly as we though it would and it's a case of patience, nothing apart from some warm weather will speed it up.

All the new instruments are installed and working in the cockpit and he's nearly completed the installation of the bow thruster which have been two big jobs, especially as he had to make the new housing for the gear lever, bow thruster control and the windlass. It looks really smart. The saloon cushions went to the upholsterers this morning and when they come back they'll make a huge difference to the look below. Next big thing to see finished will be the forecabin, it's coming on and will make a big difference to the living space. Anyway you don't have to read me drivelling on about it take a look at the piccies here