We spent two months at home in Suffolk. In August, we joined
the Westerly Owners East Coast Group rally along the River Orwell. This was to
celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Westerly Owners Association.
We borrowed Emily and Ben’s yacht, Searose, for this. We enjoyed catching up
with old and new friends as we ate and drank together at various locations
along the river. Thanks to all the hardworking committee members who made it
all possible.
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| Searose in Ipswich, Suffolk |
Two days before we flew back to Greece, we drove up to York
for our great niece, Alice’s, 21
st party. Emily, Ben, Ellie and
Sophie were there along with most of the Spencer clan and Alice’s friends.
Everyone had a great time being amazed by a magician, eating a lovely buffet in
a marquee in the garden, dancing and singing along to a karaoke band and taking
part in a silent disco.
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| Ellie, Anna, Sylvie, Sophie and Alice on stage at Alice's party |
We had booked return flights from Stansted Airport to
Preveza in Greece back in July, after doing our best to understand the 90 days
in a “rolling” period of 180 days. We believed that if we left the Schengen
area for two months, we could return for up to two months. As we researched
further at home, it began to look like we could not do this. We had already
spent 83 consecutive days in the Schengen area. It seemed that we might only be
able to stay in Greece for a week.
“Don’t panic,” we told ourselves. “Check with Immigration at
Preveza Airport and do what they say.” We were relieved when the officer said
we could stay for three months. We only wanted a month. He checked with someone
and came back and told us that was OK. Phew! The Ionian Odyssey could begin.
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| Launch day at Margarona Boatyard |
Jeremy and I both had bad colds when we arrived on Wednesday
30
th September. I felt particularly poorly. We hired a car for two
days from Preveza Airport and Jeremy drove us to Margarona Boatyard. Sal Darago
looked good apart from dirty decks. We drove to Lidl and stocked up with fresh
provisions. Jeremy fitted the new gasket to the diesel tank. We unpacked and we
slept.
Thursday was spent going back and forth to Customs. They
would not release our papers until we applied online and paid our tax and
transit charge to cruise in Greece for one month. This cost 33 euros and was
exactly the same information as we had provided in July. I had a rest in the
afternoon while Jeremy patched up SD’s antifoul paint, filled the water tanks
and bottles and replaced the diesel in the tank. So far, no leaks. He replaced
the outboard petrol tank outside in the dark. I wrote in my diary, “Just the
fenders, horseshoe lifebelts and other stuff to do tomorrow.”
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| Preveza Anchorage |
Sal Darago was launched just before midday on Friday 2
nd
October. I felt a little better after a good night’s sleep. The engine started
first time and we motored to the anchorage off Preveza, where we stayed for two
nights. The only leak was from the toilet!
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| The closed swing bridge, Lefkas Canal |
On Saturday, we were ready to start course planning. Simon’s
old laptop with MaxSea on it, which had worked perfectly before, failed to start
up. Fortunately, Jeremy had installed Open CPN on my laptop to use as back up.
Normally, he would have brought his own laptop but that had crashed out never
to work again while we were at home. We plotted a course to Nidri on Lefkas Island.
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| Santa Maura Fort and the entrance to the Lefkas Canal |
We left the anchorage the next day, stopping to take on
diesel at the fuel berth in Preveza Marina. Soon we had the engine on and the
genoa flying, making 6 knots towards the Lefkas Canal, where the road bridge
opened every hour. We cut corners to arrive in time for the 1100 opening, only
to find they were now operating their winter timetable, so it wouldn’t open
until midday. We tied to a charter catamaran at the quay, chatted to the crew
and waited. Once through the bridge the direction of buoyage changed and we had
to remember to keep the red buoys to starboard. We anchored in a bay south of
the canal. We stayed for two nights. During this time we went ashore to Ligia
fishing harbour in the dinghy and caught a bus to a different Lidl supermarket.
More provisions were purchased. We returned to Ligia by taxi.
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| Tranquil Bay |
Did I mention in a previous blog post that Jeremy had been
in contact with Nick, a rowing friend and fellow World Youth Finalist, from his
school days. Nick keeps his boat in Nidri. He had been very helpful to us on
our journey to Greece. We had arranged to meet up with him and his friend, Bob,
on Thursday afternoon. Nick recommended a quiet bay nearby, which he called
Farm Bay, because of all the animals on the beach. We spent Tuesday night there
and had a peaceful night.
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| Lara at Vlikho |
On Wednesday 8
th October we motored further south
and anchored in Tranquil Bay, which was anything but tranquil, opposite Nidri.
We took the dinghy ashore the next day, used the laundrette and post office,
bought petrol and cooking gas and returned to SD for lunch. In the afternoon,
we motored the short distance to Vlikho and anchored just beyond Nick’s yacht,
Lara. We joined him and Bob on board Lara. It had been 46 years since we had
last seen Nick. It was lovely to meet up at last. Later, we all went ashore to
Elena’s Taverna for dinner. There was a thunderstorm at 0300. We were both
safely anchored in Vlikho Bay.
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| Vathi Harbour, Meganisi |
We spent the next three days with Nick and Bob. We motored
in company to Vathi on Meganisi. We learned a lot watching Nick and Bob anchor
off and reverse to the fishermen’s quay, which had only just been vacated. Then
it was our turn. I dropped the anchor and Jeremy reversed. Sal Darago always
kicks to port in reverse. With a lot of help from Nick and Bob, we were soon
secured with two stern lines ashore. The weather was very unsettled.
Fortunately, it had been calm for our first attempt at berthing stern to. In
the afternoon another thunderstorm arrived with NW winds up to 40 knots. We
were in a good place being blown off our quay, but held securely by our stern
lines. Opposite us, the boats had to beware of being blown into their quay if
their anchors dragged.
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| Nick, Jeremy and Bob |
An inflatable dinghy came floating past with one oar and nobody
in it. Jeremy managed to catch it with our boathook and tie it up alongside. He
called a general message on VHF 16 for anyone who had lost a dinghy. Later,
Rachel and Graham came along and identified their dinghy from their charter
boat. The next day they gave us a bottle of wine to share as a thank you.
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| Jeremy, Kathy and Nick with our boats behind us |
During our three days and nights at Vathi, Nick, Bob, Jeremy
and I ate out at Stravos and Pistrina Tavernas. I made a spaghetti Bolognese one
evening and we all sat round the table on Sal Darago, eating, drinking and chatting.
Nick and Jeremy reminisced about their school days. We also had sundowners on
each other’s boats. Bob and Nick suggested anchorages and harbours we might
visit during the next three weeks. Thank you Bob and Nick for your company and
advice.
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| Jeremy, Nick and Kathy saying goodbye at Vathi |
On Monday 12
th October, we said goodbye to Nick
and Bob. We watched them motor out of the harbour. From now on we were on our
own.
