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

Epiphany

Jan 6th is the next biggest day in the Greek orthodox calendar after Easter. They believe this was the day Jesus was born and celebrate as such. In addition to the normal Church services they have 'Diving for the Cross' and 'Blessing the Oranges'.

Both these events take place on the outskirts of Lefkas Town and it's attended by hundreds of people. The Priests process through the town from the Churches, marching bands make much noise to announce the fact that they're on their way and everyone is gathered on the Town Quay and across the bridge ready for the happening. This year they decided to put all the Priests and dignitaries onto a Coast Guard vessel and do their bit from the water. That in itself was a giggle as they all move over to one side of the boat to watch what was going on - see piccies. A dozen young guys all line up and get their kit off ready to jump in and retrieve the cross that the priest is going to through in. You'll notice in the piccies that the sun is glistening on the water. DON'T be fooled by that it was only about 10degrees with a really cold north wind. Anyway Priest throws the wooden cross in, all the young guys jump in and the first to retrieve it gets a special blessing. After that it's the blessing of the oranges. Oranges are tied onto lengths of ribbon and when the Priest has blessed them they're dunked into the sea. This is supposed to ensure a good crop the following year. It's anyones guess as to whether it works or not. And all captured on TV for local viewing. if you could watch the local TV here you would have seen us all wrapped up in hats scarves and gloves enjoying the scene.

There's two observations worth mentioning about all this, one it's lovely to see so many activites that are really family orientated here, all generations out together and being involved together. The second is that it's amazing that anything happens at all here as the organisation always seems to be completely non existent. Having said that everyone has a great time and there's never any trouble anywhere. So another Greek tradition witnessed and survived. Before too much longer we'll be natives!!!

Piccies of the event here

Xmas Day …. Boxing Day…. and the PORK PIE

For the first time in many years I didn’t have to cook Xmas dinner, I was truly excited. Xmas day was a beautiful sunny day so we began the day with a cycle around the Lagoon, showered and changed into some better clothes than our usual slob-wear and joined friends for Bucks Fizz and nibbles. A couple of hours of that and we were off down to Vliho Yacht Club for our Xmas dinner. We had a brilliant day, lots of drinkies, lovely food and as the day flowed into evening, dancing to wear off some of that food and alcohol. We arrived home about 12 hours later, happy, drunk and very tired. Got to be one of the best Xmases I have had.

Boxing Day was a day for lounging around eating all the sweeties Santa had bought and TESTING THE PORK PIE!! It was a momentous occasion and Mark was very excited. It was bought out and placed lovingly on the table. The knife was glinting and Mark was salivating. Lovingly he sliced into the centre and out to the edge. Admired it, examined the colour and texture, and went for the taste test.

Well the look on his face said it all – major disappointment – it didn’t taste like a Pork Pie!!! Never mind we've got my Xmas cake to come…….. We cut into it after tea and it was DELICIOUS!

Pork Pies and Carol Singing

Mark decided that he ‘needed’ a Pork Pie for Xmas and so set about ordering ‘real’ bacon from the corner shop in Corfu, along with the right flour for the pastry. He then spent hours on the interwebulater looking for just the right recipe – unfortunately that didn’t exist in Marks opinion so he decided to ‘consult’ the recipes then make his own up.

I, in the meantime, went Carol singing, it involved no cost, no long hours arguing with the cooking sites and no mess on the boat. We met at our Marina community room for mulled wine, mince pies and lovely Greek sweeties to fortify ourselves against the cold before embarking on our singing tour. We sang around the town and rattled our tins, sang at the old peoples home and were rewarded with more Greek sweeties and drinks and much handshaking and hugging until we thought we were never going to get out of the place, then on to the hospital. The hospital wasn’t as hospitable but then who wants to be in a place like that at Xmas! Back into the town and some of the guys join us for a final couple of carols under the huge Xmas tree in the square. By then I was seriously cold and in need of proper food and alcohol so a few of us peeled off and ducked into one of our favourite restaurants for a late supper. Very enjoyable evening.

A couple of days later after much deliberating, Mark is biting the bullet and making his much talked about Pork Pie. He’s been into town and bought the minced pork and sets about covering the boat with flour and all the other ingredients he needs for his masterpiece. Well you can see from the picture, it looks like a Pork Pie, and it will be admired as a Pork Pie for a few days…..

The last Race

The last race of the winter series and the weather forecast was for increasing winds and maybe rain. We set out clothed for wind but not rain – this might be a mistake but no time to go back and change now we’re already pushing it for time. We get down to the race area before deciding on the jib because the wind is building all the way there. At the start area it’s already around 15 knots so we opt for the smaller jib. We get organised with the main up and run up and down the start line to get a feel for what we’re in for – it looks like it’s going to be wet and lively, wind up to 18-19 knots, that’s a lot in a little J24. We’re off heading down the coast to Nikiana, the windward mark. It’s hard work, the wind is still building and it’s a case of just holding on up on the rail trying to keep the boat somewhere like level. As we get closer to the mark for the first time there’s animated discussion as to whether we’ll hoist the Spinnaker, or if the Spinnaker will even hold out in this wind!! Well the helm is just as much a dare devil as Mark so ‘up it goes’. We all hold on for dear life as we hurtle back up to the upwind mark, it doesn’t take us long to get there and now we have to get the dam thing down and try and keep everyone on board. Some boats had given up and gone home, others are struggling to keep going. We round the mark and head down to the windward mark for the 2nd time and down comes the rain. And it rains and rains and rains so visibility is reduced considerably. More boats give up and go home – but not us!! Round the windward mark, now we’re in winds of about 22 knots and still we hoist the Spinnaker – this time we take off like a scalded cat, the whole boat is humming – Mark and Tony(helm) are whooping, the girl on foredeck with me is looking scared and the pit man can’t believe he can have any more fun. The waves are up along with the wind and we’re flying down them reaching speeds of 13 knots!! Out of control or what. We keep this up to the point we all think it’s going to go completely pair shaped or the spinnaker is going to blow out so we decide as we’re still all on board it might be wise to take it down. We’re not far from the upwind mark by now and round it going like a bat out of hell and back down for the last leg. As often happens when sailing here we get nearly down to the mark and the wind dies completely and we really struggle to get round but just as we do the wind picks up again and it’s on the beam for half the leg then on the nose for the last ½ mile and we are wet all the way down to our skin!! We cross the line in 2nd position with half the fleet having retired. What a way to finish the series.