The eagerness and anticipation to go sailing is always cast into shadow with the hard graft of preparing and antifouling the boat. Thank goodness the polishing and a million other jobs were ticked off in March, but the bottom rubbing and painting needs to be done just prior to launching. As usual kitted up in yeti garb; boiler suits, masks, goggles, rubber gloves, we were ready and two days later, the job was done!
In between times we managed to arrange a meet up for fellow members of the Cruising Association at the local Greek restaurant Panos on May 6th at 7.30pm. We were pleased that 13 members turned up and we enjoyed a very sociable time, meeting most folk for the first time and now making new acquaintances and friends. Dave and Bev offered us their redundant tap which was just what we needed as Nigel’s expensive spare part failed to seal the galley tap. Mo had to do the plumbing this time as the cupboard was so tiny Nigel could not reach anything.
We are thrilled to have the water working again, our huge thanks to Dave and Bev.
Quite coincidentally our neighbour from Farnham, Jo, was visiting their newly acquired Lagoon 45 catamaran in the adjacent yard, to do a few essential jobs and it was great to meet up and share some time together. Jo is one of the most resourceful people we know; nothing was beyond her capabilities! We were very glad when she offered us a lift into town to shop and we were able to reciprocate with helping her in the supermarket and loading her many supplies aboard her boat which is vast!
Once launched, the riggers came to check their handiwork and tighten up the rigging; the engineer came to check all was well with the engine; and the electrician came to install our new batteries and a new regulator which will hopefully solve every problem we previously had with failing batteries. We are very hopeful!
We left Cleopatra and spent a couple of nights on Preveza quay meeting our local friends; enjoying great meals with Costas and then Tassos in The Mermaid. Mo indulged an hour with his wife Noi from Laos, who has set up a Massage salon, having an Asian oil massage and very good it was too!
Monday came and we set off south to transit the bridge at the canal. There are major water works going on and the bridge opening times are severely restricted, but we managed to get through along with many other boats, it was quite chaotic!
We anchored in Vliho Bay for a couple of nights, then moved to the IBA pontoon at Nidri for another, meeting up surprisingly with Phil and Norma of Minne B. They had limped in to Vliho with a poorly engine and were trying to diagnose the problem with the help of the Cleopatra mechanic who was conveniently close. We enjoyed a good meal with them in Nidri before setting off to Karnagio Taverna in Vathi, where we tied up and enjoyed a very good meal on Friday night. We had booked in there in anticipation of some bad weather which ended up being delayed for 12 hours.
The immediate forecast is grim and we had a very bouncy ride in 25knot headwinds and a lively sea down to Sivota on the south east coast of Lefkas. A handkerchief sized jib stabilized the boat but the good news is that we got tied up safely on Stavros’ pontoon just before several hours of biblical rain and even stronger winds. Many lines were required to minimize the rocking and rolling of all the boats and there was great excitement when a catamaran arrived at the zenith of the weather, ploughing into the pontoon on the other side to us. All hands to help and all was well, but it is still raining.
Monday with winds abating we planned a sail across to Kefalonia and decided on Efimia to moor up. It was so windy when we arrived, mooring to the quay was untenable, so we anchored in the teeth of a Force 5-6 wind, fortunately excellent holding. In the lull of the following morning we approached the quay and tied up with local help. The harbourmaster Makis is not working this year and it makes tying up a challenge. Here we were to stay for a couple of days whilst very strong north westerlies were unrelenting. Unfortunately after meeting Sue and Graham from yacht Vivamare and being treated to a cappuccino at the local cafe, Mo was immediately laid low with bad food poisoning; the milk being labelled the culprit. Not pleasant and taking a couple of days to recover.
Next blog will find us moving south to Poros and our eventual rendezvous with Tom on Zakinthos at the weekend.
Deja Vu 
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