30th September

This morning as there was no wind we seized the chance to take the mainsail off. It was late morning before we set off to walk to Anogi. It's an easy path but it winds inexorably upwards for 1671 feet to the town. It was wonderful to put our feet up and have home made lemonade, cheese pie and Greek salad. It was easier coming down for a total distance of 7.3 miles. The Sailing Holidays lead boat had been replaced by another one. The man from Garmin emailed to let me know we needed a new chart plotter.

Sent from my iPhone

29th September

While we were here we knocked off an eight mile walk before lunch. It took us to a beach and then inland up to 787 feet before descending to the town. It was six miles round to Kioni, one of our favourite spots. We found space on the quay before the flotillas arrived. We'd done enough to deserve our afternoon of relaxation.

Sent from my iPhone

28th September

The small chandlery had a soldering iron. We just needed the solder to arrive from Fiskardho. Eventually it turned up and we pushed off to Kioni on Ithaca, one of our favourite anchorages. Let's see if the soldering does the trick. In the meantime a potentially much more expensive problem is the chart plotter refusing to read the chart on the SD card.

There was no wind as we motored to moor at Vathi on Ithaca. On the way I had a go at soldering. That's another 17 miles closer to our winter base.

Sent from my iPhone

27th September

The big attraction of Eufimia is the magnificent laundromat. It took three loads to clear the washing backlog and in the afternoon Imagine was festooned with drying clothes and linen. Later I tracked down a loose wire as the reason the inverter wasn't working. I need a soldering iron and skills I'm not sure I possess.

Sent from my iPhone

26th September

We set off just before dawn to see the sun rise while a cruise ship docked in the harbour. The sea was lightly ruffled by a breeze that was not quite strong enough to make hoisting sail worthwhile. While the going was good we pressed on to Eufimia on Cephalonia. The main attraction is an excellent laundry. The distance was over 55 miles and we had to motor most of the way but it placed us within a day or two of Preveza with about a week before we needed to be there.

Sent from my iPhone

25th September

The forecast for today is for headwinds for those heading north. After yesterday we feel we need a break anyway. The quay is large and we have water. That made it easy to clean and start packing away. A cruise ship is in the harbour and coaches line the quay all ready for visits to Olympia. The chart plotter card read got wet in yesterday's deluge. I've spent much of the day drying it out. It now works, sort of. Fingers crossed that we'll know where we're going.

Sent from my iPhone

24th September

Well that was interesting. We planned to leave Pilos for Kiparissia. We knew some rain was due but we were eager to press on. After a couple of hours brisk winds from astern were propelling us at 7 to 8 knts with the odd surf taking us to 9 knts and beyond. Things were good so we decided to press on to Katakolon. Shortly after the point of no return the weather caught up with us. Visibility was almost nothing, the rain torrential and the seas confused. After about 30 minutes things calmed down and we thought we were through the worst. Our mistake. Another weather front hit us from the east, worse than before and this time accompanied by lightning and thunder. It was time to take the sails down, retreat into the saloon and hope there was nothing out there to collide with. By the time it had passed a couple of hours later we were five miles out from our destination. We hung clothes up to dry and tidied up. It was then that the chart plotter packed up. At least I knew the harbour. We moored with the feeling that a good day's work had been accomplished and added a defunct chart plotter to the list of jobs.

Sent from my iPhone

23rd September

After breakfast we motored 2.5 miles across Navarino bay to anchor in the north west corner. We left the dinghy on the beach and took the path up to Palaiokastro, the castle of Pylos. From there we could look back at Imagine and northwards over the picture postcard semi-circle of the beach at Voidhokoila. We tramped the crumbling walls and loose stones within the castle. It was only when we finished our walk that I pointed out the sign at the bottom stating that the castle was closed due to serious danger. We then drifted back to the harbour and were fortunate to find a berth alongside. We replenished the stores and I looked at the memorial to the three admirals who commanded the fleet that destroyed the Turks in the Battle of Navarinon. The British commander was Codrington.



Sent from my iPhone

22nd September

For the first time in several days Imagine rested calmly overnight only disturbed by the gentle patter of rain on the roof. In the morning we explored the castle. The fortifications date back to Byzantine times and at various times was occupied by the Venetians, Ottomans, the Turks and Egyptians as well as the French. Back on the boat we motored north to Pilos. The large marina is neglected with local boats and abandoned yachts filling almost all the space. We only found a berth because as we arrived a boat was leaving. We walked through town to the fortress. This was built by the Ottomans and overlooks Navarino Bay. In this bay on October 20th 1827 the British/French/Russian flotilla of Admiral Codrington defeated the Turkish-Egyptian fleet destroying Turkish naval power and leading to Greek independence. Astoundingly the engagement was while most ships were at anchor after Codrington sailed into the middle of a circle of enemy vessels. It was a pleasure to be able to walk ashore and we took advantage by going out to eat in town.

Sent from my iPhone

21st September

We went peacefully to sleep under the lee of the castle off a sandy beach with waves lapping gentle against the hull. Sometime later someone turned the cosmic washing machine onto cold wash and we were rolled in every direction of the compass as the wind and waves created a jumble of the ocean. In the dark the cliffs loomed ever closer. China chinked together, glasses rattled and loose objects fell to the floor. Lucinda and I retreated from the booming cabin to try and snatch some sleep in the saloon. Morning revealed rollers crashing onto the beach and we decided not to attempt a landing. As we left there were rain clouds over the headland to the east and a rainbow to the west. The surface of the water boiled for 10 minutes with a heavy rain shower and then it all subsided into a gloomy weary sort of day. Within two hours we passed the last of the three capes of the Peloponnese and felt ourselves back in the Ionian. By lunchtime an anaemic sun appeared and we anchored under the shadow of the castle at Methoni.

Sent from my iPhone

20th September

Overnight there was little wind but the anchorage was rolly. Lucinda was driven out of the cabin and into the saloon and even there had little sleep. Morning was overcast with a dark grey cloud crawling towards us over the cliffs to the north. We motored south to the next bay to anchor off the entrance to the Viychada cave complex. As we contemplated going ashore it began to rain. We dithered then decided. From the jetty it was a short walk to the entrance to the caves. We then had to walk up the road to the ticket office. Two senior discount tickets were purchased (will we get them if we Brexit). It was after opening time but there was no urgency to let us in. Some time later we were issued with life jackets and descended the stone steps to board a small flat-bottomed boat. We were paddles through 1,200 metres of low tunnels garlanded with stalactites like an acid-house nautical London Underground. The final 300 metres were taken on foot until we emerged on the cliff side several hundred metres from where we entered. It was the back to Imagine for the crossing to the north east to Koroni. The sky was now clear and there was a gentle breeze although, inevitably, it was blowing from the direction of our destination. However, after several hours of tedious motoring the wind shifted and we managed to sail for a few miles. A ketch sped up to get ahead of us into the harbour. We took a look but decided we would prefer going to the south of the pint and anchoring under the castle walls. And that's where we ended up for the night.

Sent from my iPhone

19th September

The winds died away overnight which left the yachts in a jumble facing different directions. No collisions seemed to have occurred so we headed out as the sun crested the land to the east. We rounded the grey bulk of Cape Grosso and headed north to anchor off the village of Limeni. It was hard to find a suitable dinghy landing area but eventually we used the plastic pontoon of the water sports centre. We had a short stroll through town before retreating back to the boat.

Sent from my iPhone

18th September

The bay was delightful but a sideways swell and a soft clanking sound made sleep difficult. We both welcomed the early light of dawn and weighed anchor. We had to go 25 miles west before the predicted headwinds started. All was calm until about a mile out when white horses were seen ahead. As we approached the wind strengthened and by the time we anchored us was blowing near gale force. By evening there were six yachts at anchor squeezed into one corner for best shelter. We went for a walk and then ate by the beach.

Sent from my iPhone

17th September

Unlike last night when the squeak from a rope sent Lucinda and me up to sleep in the saloon we had a fairly peaceful night. Our task was to get round the Cape of Maleas. Luckily we set off in light winds that persisted most of the way to our anchorage at the island of Elafonisos. Here we were joined by another half dozen yachts to anchor off the remote, picturesque beach.

Sent from my iPhone

16th September

Emily and Tanner left Imagine before 7am to catch the ferry to Piraeus. It was our chance to head south after 3 days of strong winds. A moderate northerly wind helped us although the sea was lumpy after the gales. Our destination was Monemvasia. We found a spot in the harbour. It was too late to visit the Byzantine village and castle. We hope to come back to visit. We need to press on west before the weather turns so plan to carry on early tomorrow.

Sent from my iPhone

15th September

By mid morning the Sailing Holidays flotilla has left. The wind was still strong and I needed to rig some other lines and pull up on the anchor to keep us safely off the quay. We met Chris and Fiona last night at the meal in Porto Heli. They arrived in their Farr 50 and joined us later for a drink. Lucinda, Tanner and myself took ourselves off for a walk. We then had drinks on board the Farr before a lady meal out here with Emily and Tanner.

Sent from my iPhone

14th September

The noise of the wind reverberated around our cabin and Imagine lurched back and forward on her lines. From about 5am the wind blew at more than 30 knts with the odd gust going above 40. The Gale continued throughout the day only easing off a slight amount by early evening. We thought it was safe enough to take a taxi to Porto Heli where we joined Gareth and Claire and their friends for a meal.

Sent from my iPhone

13th September

Today the strong wind came. We hung around town, had a walk, went to the bakery, had a siesta and watched a cowboy movie.

Sent from my iPhone

12th September

Strong winds are due from tomorrow and forecast to last three days. We've decided to stay tucked up here in Ermioni and hope we'll be protected. It has given us the chance to take the ferry across to the main town on Hydra. I now understand why all the advice says to avoid taking your own boat there. The small harbour was crammed two rows deep with charter boats, and we believe it can be much worse. Lucinda and I had lunch and a long walk while the others did their own thing.

Sent from my iPhone

11th September

We motored east out of Poros. There was a solid north wind and we had the reacher up to take us round between Hydra and The Peloponnese to dock on the southern quay at Ermioni.

Sent from my iPhone

10th September

Our next stop was Poros. Last time we were here the anchorage outside town was stuffed with superyachts. Today the oligarchs must have been meeting somewhere else. There were plenty of other more ordinary yachts on the quays and at anchor. We found a spot in the south quay that made it easy to wander ashore through the warren of narrow steep stairs of the town. In the evening we were treated by Emily and Tanner to a steak dinner. We then returned to discover the drawback to our mooring place. We were opposite the Malibu nightclub. I drifted off to sleep serenaded by the bass thump off the music from the club.

Sent from my iPhone

9th September

We motored round to Aegina town just in time to meet Emily and Tanner who arrived on the hydrofoil from Piraeus. Once they were on board we motored south to Ay Georgious where we moored for the night. The paddle board had some use and we could swim in the shallow harbour. I had a go, largely unsuccessful. At scrubbing the bottom, before we went to eat by the seashore.

Sent from my iPhone

8th September

Shortly before lunch we left the quay to anchor opposite the harbour. Not only was it quieter but it made it easier to dive on both propellers to scrape them clear of barnacles. As I managed each breaths worth of underwater scraping the debris drifted down attracting a shoal of fish to nibble at the nutrients. Put at sea there was a large black cloud hanging over a burning boat. It looked catastrophic but it was too far away for us to discern details.

Sent from my iPhone

7th September

It was great to have a day at rest alongside the harbour wall. Lucinda went to the beach while I read sitting in the cockpit. I dived to look at our hull. The props are covered with a good plateful of shellfish and the hulls have a coating of vegetation. I'll do my best to clear it tomorrow but only have a snorkel to assist. We ate in the number one restaurant sitting looking down on Imagine.

Sent from my iPhone

6th September

Off to sea at last. We started with a fair wind that faded to nothing after a couple of hours. Imagine was dragging weed and barnacles from two months in harbour and we lumbered along. The north west corner of Aegina was negotiated and we found refuge further south in Perdika. As the harbour filled up boats became even more creative in trying to find a spot attached to the shore. We watched more of the Succession box set interrupted by fireworks exploding above our heads.

Sent from my iPhone

5th September

We set off early to get to the Parthenon shortly after it opened at 8am. We were accosted by Maria, a guide, and paid her an extortionate sum for a brief tour of the site. By this time it was tourist central and the only thing to be seen was other people. We retreated to the cool of the museum. It mirrors the dimensions of the Parthenon and is build over ancient dwellings. We then followed Google maps to Cafe Avissinia on the recommendation of Sophie and David. The moussaka was superb. David said the best ice cream was at Melt. It was very good. It was time to return to Imagine. It was then that Lucinda discovered her purse had been taken from her closed rucksack. What a bummer. At least if Brexit happens she will not have to apply for another European health card.

Sent from my iPhone

4th September

I do this blog to remind me of what we've done and to let the kids know we're still alive. It's kept short and factual. I have discovered that several people are looking at this. Perhaps I should try to make it more interesting and even insightful!

Today our new dinghy arrived. The old one has leaks in two of the three major tubes beyond my abilities to repair. I ordered a RIB that has a rigid hull with inflatable tubes on top. It was meant to be 10cm shorter than the current one. When we looked at it we thought we needed a bigger catamaran. It took considerable ingenuity and several hours to squeeze it onto the davits. We will have to see if our weedy outboard manages to push it through the water. The delivery men were going to take the old, deflated, sad, inflatable away. A Filipino crewman on a motorboat spotted it and was last seen trying to repair the leaks. Good luck to him. There was time for a few more jobs and a reprovisioning run to the supermarket.

Sent from my iPhone

3rd September

We're back. It's hot and we're knackered but Imagine is still afloat with full batteries. We had an early start made worse as Lucinda got up at 03:45 to empty the dishwasher.

Sent from my iPhone