8th October

I thought we were going to be lifted out at 11 am. It was six pm by the time they got around to us. The hull was encrusted but is now pressure wash clean. Some final packing up and we'll leave her until next year.

Sent from my iPhone

Row L Cleopatra

Sent from my iPhone

7th October

It's the end of our season. We moved across to the marina at Cleopatra and filled the tanks with 316 litres of diesel. The distance covered this season is 1010 nm. Lift out tomorrow morning.

Sent from my iPhone

6th October

Our last day on Preveza town quay. The boat is pretty well ready for the winter

Sent from my iPhone

5th October

We couldn't blame the weather for the sleepless night. This time it was the music from the quay behind us that seemed to consist of a repetitive bass note that finally stopped 05:45. This morning we took off the final sail and continued packing up. Tonight I will watch Rocky 3 while Lucinda retreats to the cabin to read.

Sent from my iPhone

4th October

We were anchored in tranquil bay. As we turned in for the night it reflected its name. It was different at 00:45. The scream of the wind and the lurching of the boat summoned us from our slumbers. Outside was an apocalyptic scene. Lightning was striking over the hills behind us mixed with the double flash from the lighthouse. As thunder roared the rain lashed down and a catamaran loomed out of the dark to within a couple of metres of us. On the foredeck a man was attempting to raise the anchor while at the helm someone was trying to make sure than neither us or the boat behind were hit. We watched the manoeuvres with trepidation until 10 minutes later they disappeared away into the darkness. Rain was pouring through leaks in the windows and we spun in every direction while the storm whirled around us. And then, some 20 minutes later, it was over. Sleep was hard to come by but eventually we dozed off only to be woken by a similar, slightly less violent episode at 06:30. As light illuminated our world everything returned to a slightly soggy normality. By late morning we were on the way back to Preveza and the sun even made a brief appearance.

We moored onto Preveza town quay. Ray and Judy were nearby as were Bill and Helen.

Sent from my iPhone

3rd October

We were expecting a brief light shower today. As we headed north dark clouds gathered behind us and to the west. Then we could see lightning and hear the thunder. The storm slowly crept towards us but seemed to be passing to port so we thought we'd escaped it. Then with little warning the wind rose gusting to 45 knts or more. The surface of the sea boiled as the rain lashed down. Everything was shades of dark grey and black. And then the horizon closed in and visibility dropped to no more than 30 metres. Inside the boat windows leaked while we were outside sodden and cold. Gradually the storm passed and an hour later it was calm with a light drizzle. By that time we had anchored off Nidri where we had come to visit the chandlery. It was tranquil at anchor as night fell. What a contrast.

Sent from my iPhone

2nd October

We leave a week today. As rain is forecast later in the week we took down and bagged the jib. As the three flotillas departed we walked for 7.4 miles, an up and down circuit with fabulous views of both sides of the island peaking at 778 foot above sea level. It was then back to the boat to watch another two flotillas arrive.

Sent from my iPhone

1st October

We've never been to Frikes which is in the next bay north on Ithaca. It has the reputation for being very windy and that has put us off previously. We arrived mid morning shortly before two large flotillas upped and left. This gave us the pick of the quayside and we tucked in snugly alongside the south side. We were secure and happy there which allowed us to enjoy the machinations as several flotillas and other yachts arrived later. As we are at a restaurant we could see yachts rolling and yawing in the swell and wind. It made us smug as Imagine rocked gently in her corner.

Sent from my iPhone