A wave of stormy weather sat over us after the family went home, lucky they missed it. However it did freshen the air and we were relieved to have some respite from the mid 30s temperatures that they enjoyed and endured! The Greeks have a new warning system for impending dire weather that they ping on mobile networks and we received one on Thursday evening 9th June, forewarning us of weather on Friday 10th June. Perhaps that is the reason our next visitors’ flight was cancelled for Friday evening, and we had to wait around another day. It was a day to cycle to the beach and only the hardy went into the waves fanned by a stiff onshore breeze for a swim.
Peter and Irene finally arrived on Saturday 11th June, late in the evening so there was little time for them to acclimatize to the boat before we set off at 10am on Sunday 12th to start our sailing trip with them.
First stop was a favourite, Varko Bay, for a lunchtime swim and lunch, then a sail down to Sivota for a fun night there. Our plan had always been to head into the Gulf of Corinth with them and deposit them in Galaxhidi, from where they had made plans to stay in Athens and then tour parts of the Peleponnese before returning to the UK and then their home in Portugal. They were round the world (well nearly) sailors so well accustomed to boat life and the heat, no problems there! We started to head west from Lefkas, stopping over, long-lining to the rocks in One House Bay on the island of Astokos for a welcome midday swim and lunch before sailing on to the quiet anchorage on the mainland at Limini Petalis for a meal on board.
Messolonghi Marina was next at the gateway to the Gulf of Corinth and, en route, Nigel was pleased to dust off the cruising chute and get it hoisted for several miles before a squall threatened. It was at this point that Mo confessed to having overshot the course and we had to turn and beat back a couple of miles. At least Peter and Irene had a complete sailing experience that day. However Peter was getting increasingly unwell and it was only after we had made the trip under the Rion bridge to the island of Trizonia, that the light dawned and we asked him to do a Covid test. His health was giving us serious cause for concern. All of our visitors bring good cheer and good company. Peter and Irene also had a different sort of gift, the very unwelcome sort. Covid had arrived, Peter was certainly afflicted and Nigel caught it from him.
A new plan was needed, back to Messolonghi , where medical resources were available if needed and there were facilities of the Marina, crucial to endure an isolation period.
On the way to Trizonia the repair to the mainsail outhaul done last year started to fail. Nigel contacted sailmakers in Athens to organize a proper repair. It is a high tech sail and the repair was beyond the capability of the local sailmakers. Elvstrom came up trumps and the sail was duly taken down and shipped off to Athens for a speedy turnaround. We suddenly had time on our hands.
Not much more to put into the log from this point. Peter and Irene decamped to Athens as they preferred isolation in a hotel and the proximity of private hospitals. Unsurprisingly Irene also contracted Covid, but we are pleased to say their messages declare they are coping and slowly improving.
We remain on board Déjà vu, which has been cleaned scrupulously from top to bottom, to sit out the 5 day isolation for Nigel during which time he has had a few ups and downs. Mo thankfully seems to have escaped infection, probably due to having increased immunity from a bout of it the Christmas before.
We have had a few stormy days, quite an odd weather pattern for Greece, with big swings in the barometric pressure. Mo has been doing all the chores, the cooking and the errands and so far it looks like we are on the road to recovery for Nigel and the promise of going sailing again in a few days. Today is 21st June, our mainsail is due back tomorrow and our fingers are crossed.
Deja Vu 
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