Summer Fun

Corfu

Having made a dash through the Ionians, largely due to necessary repairs, and having discovered how truly busy this waterway is, we thought we’d disappear northwards and return – after August – to spend time floating amongst lush green islands and sheltered anchorages.  Plans were made to be modified.  So it was we found ourselves heading south to Kefallonia, more precisely Fiskardho, via the wild, west coast of Lefkas.  (Going this way was visually captivating – huge, sheer white cliffs dropped into the most amazing turquoise seas we’ve seen to date.  But devastating to the stomach!  The swell was a tad challenging, so we had the waters mostly to ourselves.  Hmmmm!)

Family had been heading south from Croatia and we hoped to catch up.  Somehow we passed them in the Lefkas Canal area as they headed south for a week off their boat (a pristine aircraft carrier) in a wonderful villa in Fiskardho with friends.  We tracked them down.

Sailboat Baruch with the Watson family & friends aboard
(& his Cap'nship making a thorough inspection) 

All having lots of fun

 

Having been treated like visiting royalty, we decided to make for some of the anchorages we’d previously planned to visit.  Meganissi has some lovely deep bays on its north coast and we’d imagined exploring them.  It seems most of Italy had the same idea.  We finally found an anchorage but couldn’t get the anchor to set through thick weed.  Equally thick (but solar) were the Germans who abused the Cap’n for anchoring too close.  We wondered what their definition of “close” was given this was the Ionians and August… 

Happily, although well after sundowner hour, we found Vlycho (Lefkas) an almost landlocked bay with lots of room, despite a seeming cast of thousands at anchor.  Here we stayed a couple of very pleasant nights – the Cap’n waving merrily as the histrionic Germans joined us.  They kept moving well passed us though….

Back to Preveza (where Bertha Rocna had unsuccessfully made an escape bid) to pick up spares and on to Paxos.  We’d chosen a small bay, a little south of Gaios (the main town we’d planned to dinghy to) and were pleased to be boat number three.  All to ourselves.  Well, not for long.  They steadily streamed in.  Mogonissi is not large and yet they still sandwiched themselves in – some med moored and plenty at anchor.  We postponed our dinghy ride and slept a restless night in sardine bay. 

Lakka was no better so we hot-footed it across to Corfu, nervous of what we might find.  Here we sit in a large, open anchorage at the foot of a grand old fort surrounded by the big boys (hot water boats).  We’ve had a day in town shopping (the Cap’n purchasing some courtesy flags..I guess that’s shopping) and walking narrow Venetian streets.  We dinghied the fort moat (thinking of you & Ceuta, BCK) and watched in horror as a speeding hot water boat (worth millions) nearly demolished itself on the old fort walls.  We walked into an exhibition of Indian artefacts in the Palace of SS Michael & George – with a ravishing photo of the Taj Mahal.  India & Nepal just seem to keep following us around….  Then, finished the day with a cold beer overlooking probably the Med’s only cricket pitch!

 

(PS We’re not sure what our next destinations will offer in terms of wi-fi (here it’s said wee-fee) so bear (maybe some brown bears?) with us.)

A very close call...& only saved by a tiny bit of beach

From: Preveza, Greece Lat/Long: 38:57.173N 20:45.844E Date/Time: 5/08/14: 1130
To: Corfu, Greece Lat/Long: 39:36.873N 19:55.603E Date/Time: 11/08/14: 1615
Time Taken: 147.5nm (23.5hrs) Distance (this year): 959.5nm (163hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 14292.5nm   Weather: Better winds in the Ionians (NW & evening) although the afternoon heat can oppressive at times
Fastest Speed: Averaging 6-6.5kts – more sailing here than elsewhere or are we just imagining it?