'Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it' Winston Churchill.

Sailing for three days and two nights from Greece. First twenty four hours in F6 wind, sailing into the waves for a proper Mediterranean bathime. Our plucky little yacht taking it all on her nose, sailing well. A Force 6 wind is approximately 25 knots of wind - on land approximately 28 mph - or when you can hear wind whistling in the trees or in power lines OR when using an umbrella becomes difficult :)  I could have done with an umbrella LOL Sailing at night is fabulous btw.

Goodbye Greece you are amazing!

Goodbye Greece It's been amazing!

I could live in Greece. No matter where we've travelled, inland, up a mountain, along the coast, the landscapes and Greek 'Kefi' have been outstanding, not to mention the Greek hospitality which is second to none in this World. Then crystal clear waters and the bluest skies ever. Little wonder artists come in their droves and stay. I've met many Greeks and they are suffering. It is not true that they are lazy. Most of the family men we've met work two jobs to make ends meet and still are generous beyond belief - particularly in spirit - nothing is too much trouble even if you're a xeno! It's wonderful to watch hordes of teenagers walking along TALKING to one another - not glued to ipads or whatever device is commonplace elsewhere. They are blessed kids indeed :O)

There are still meadows full of wildflowers and squillions of fireflies every night. In Greece I rediscovered how tomatoes and lemons should taste. We've eaten the healthiest diet. Greek yoghurt with local honey and walnuts is the best breakfast ever. A pre-digestive of Ouzo, a glass of Robola or a glass of Metaxa, we've raised our glasses to them all.

Now add their History ( Ancient and Modern) No-one has truly conquered her for long.
Greeks are loud, they can become quite rude,  but they are genuine, passionate, easy going, warm, creative, interesting people that you would love to have as friends. Greeks seem to live every day as if it is their last and that’s why I would love to join them!

 Here we are moored stern to in Preveza. Reminded me of Fowey about fifty years ago. Fishing boats, people know one another, people greet one another and pace of life is slooooooow.

WE'RE OFF TO SEA AGAIN - HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US

Been a year since we last sailed - seems far too long away from our lovely boat and a lifestyle we've come to love.
I'd like to say a bit about my experience of sailing and I hope it inspires you to go out on the water yourself. Or if you've given up your salty ways, to join the armchair sailors following this Blog. All are welcome...
I've discovered a new kind of magic at sea. Not all of it can be written down or even spoken of. Sitting in a cockpit alone, especially just before dawn or just after dusk, is fantastic. You get to see the stars, the moon, the Milky Way, satellites and shooting stars as you have never seen them before. Dolphins trail phosphorescence - like fairytale torpedos swimming alongside the boat, clicking and singing at us through the hull. Then below us many thousand metres of depth and probably strange and unknown creatures. At times it seems nothing is around you yet our tiny yacht makes its way across an ocean or a sea. It has been and continues to be a unique and privileged feeling, to simultaneously have a massive and tiny space all to ourselves. We've had dolpins doing arial displays over our bow. Wild sea birds have resed on our deck, sometimes for days. Butterflies and migrating insects have landed on our sails to refuel and rest and we've wondered with wonder how these fragile and beautiful things come so far. At night we've left trails of flourescent plankton in our wake and flying fish land on us. Sunfish looking like giant bin lids have winked at us from the sea off Portugal. I often feel that sailboats are like us ( or vice versa) they need to keep moving from the moment they are cast off until they are moored up or at least secured. I've learnt to depend on my companions - a lesson needed - and appreciate them. I've learned that I am resourceful and courageous and I have felt truly alive.
I know many of my friends believe sailing is outside their comfort zone but I'd urge them to try it. Our beautiful planet is 7/10ths covered in water. You will be amazed and humbled in equal measure. It will change you :)

JULY 4TH HYDRA GREECE

My birthday started at 4am when the crew on our Starboard side returned from a bar and decided to carry on partying with rum and cokes and loud music - oh well I thought, they're young, they're American, go with it Mar. So I got up at 4:45am and started to dance in our cockpit as it was my birthday as well :O) With that the four young German men on our Port side hung on our rails and started to sing Happy Birthday loudly (and harmoniously) to me. WTF? I had told no-one it was my birthday. The American's joined in as well. WTF? It turned out that Victoria and Kane had met them all in a bar and put them up to it LOL. The wind was picking up by 7:30am and the Americans were in full flow (!) now. I heard their skipper say:' Hey Guys how about we leave for Athens now? ' I couldn't believe my ears as they were all totally pissed. Anyway, by 8am they were making ready to leave. They cast off all their lines, the wind was blowing them onto us and as they went forward their stern crossed over our anchor chain. Greg shouted:' Cut your engine, cut your engine, you've got our anchor line!' Of course being pissed they were slow to react. We could hear our anchor line wrapping itself round their propeller. Now all hell let loose, the wind picked up again, we were being pushed back onto the quay, everytime they tried to adjust their position more chain entangled. Men onshore held off our stern ( thank God) and two of the drunk Americans jumped into the water to try and free our anchor chain - now a ball - from round their prop shaft. So now fast forward: Americans eventually free themselves, drop our ball of anchor chain and sail off ( Greg hoping their propeller was stuffed). Our bow is tied to the German boat while we sort the mess out. German chap - Lasse - jumps into his dingy (which is flying about in the swell) and retrieves our bent, twisted and knotted anchor line - all 30m of it. Two hours later we have it all unknotted and re-set. Winds still increasing. All is well, double-check anchor hold, check springs check check check - drama over. So to offer our thanks we invite the four Germans to have breakfast with us and Victoria and Kane. Lovely guys, all friends from University days having a sailing reunion. As we were eating breakfast at a bar 50 metres from the boat, Greg shouts: 'Oh no, that boats got our anchor now.' Another yacht leaving harbour had dragged his anchor across three other anchors including the Germans and ours - off we ran again. Eight Greek men helped keep Lerryn Lady off the quay, we sent a line out to a fishing boat that also helped hold us off, we couldn't believe this was happening again. And again, the yacht causing all the trouble just sailed off leaving three boats floundering. The quay on the north of harbour had two empty spaces ( unusual) so we upped lines and moored on the north quay, the Germans followed suit, we might be safe there. In three days we had our anchor lifted five times through no fault of our own - it is a small harbour and huge gin palaces come in laying two anchors apiece hitching everybody - total madness ensues every other hour. We sat and watched the shannanigans with people hopping mad, screaming and shouting at each other all day. Hydra is stunning and beautiful, goodness only knows what the locals make of all of this.  Oh, I forgot to mention the best bit of my birthday - I now own a horse, a beautiful grey called Pip :O)))))))))))))))))))))))))))) The second best bit - making four new friends :O))))   The third best bit - knowing I can keep very calm in a Tempest.

Our anchor coming up after the Americans tangled it:

The first knot to appear:

Then more:

This is Lasse with our twisted chain in his dingy:

Then we all went for a birthday breakfast:

 During breakfast we had our anchors dragged again. Here are the four German friends, Lasse, Benedict, Robin and Moritz after they moored alongside us on the north mole of the harbour - safe now? Don't ask!

 Greg with our German friends:

 

HYDRA Greece Anchor Tangles Galore

 These boats were anchor tangled for over an hour.


This gin palace caught us on his Port anchor and two other yachts with his starboard anchor - they couldn't care less either.

Greg watching our anchor being pulled up:

They've paid this man to row out and help untangle the mess they got themselves into:

Here he's trying to get our anchor clear of them, before clearing the other two!

This little bird came to sing us a song:

Then a sea lion swam past:

Thank goodness for wild life :O)

Victoria & Kane arrive from Australia

Kane and Victoria onboard Lerryn Lady drinking a toast! Kane proposed to Victoria in Spetzes, on the beach, at breakfast time. Greg knew of course as Kane asked his permission in Navplion! Fancy keeping that secret from me as well LOL. So excited for them  :O)

 

We sailed to Hydra and reserved a table at the Sunset Restaurant that evening for a celebration dinner!

 

On the way Victoria chose a beautiful dress:

 

Loving the elegant backline as Kane looks on :O) 

 

Hair comes down with the long dress :O) 

 

Watching the sunset on their engagement day :O)

And the sunsets!

Mum and Dad chuffed to bits for them:

 

This little tabby sat by our table and got a fish for his trouble:

Lights come on the tables:

Next morning Victoria and Kane off to a beach :O) Wishing you every happiness  and always all our love to you both XX

 

Spetzai Island - Belitza Creek

Spetsai is a low lying island, our next stop after Tiros.  As with Hydra, motorized vehicles were banned on the island though a few have crept in ( mainly scooters), Victoria and Kane hired a buggy to get about. Main mode of transport here is horse drawn cart. We sailed into Balitza Creek which is very shallow and reminiscent of it's old boat building days. There are a few yards remaining that build and haul, reputed to be the best in Greece! Dapia is the main town east of our mooring, we avoided Dapia because of al the ferries and wash - but instead had to contend with a massive gin palace that roared and groaned and disturbed the peace determined to get in between us and an old fishing boat. With literally only millimetres to spare it got in and its generators and diesel fumes hummed into our boat all night! Well as long as the occupants had their Air -Con I guess that is all that matters, who are we to need sleep and clean air? If we ever visit again we will definitely anchor in the creek. Our reward here was a delicious sea food supper on a floating pontoon restaurant with Victoria and Kane. We discovered the next morning that the gin palace 'GEORGE P' was being chartered for 35,000 GBP a week - he who owns the gold makes the rules! LOL.


Greek colours - blue and white:

Fishing nets laid to dry:

Working together - the fishermen:

A little spot out of the sun:

 

The Gin Palace ' George P ' arrives complete with uniformed 'staff' :

Our fenders trying to hold off a 60 foot motor launch!