thurs 26th Gouvia -> Kalami 8 miles
An easy day to get out of the damn Marina. Gouvia proved me right again;... Yesterday the Office staff told me that Drinkable water was available only at the Fuel station at the entrance to Gouvia. So I paid at the office in the morning with Jack (after an expresso and read of yesterdays british papers). And we emptied the water tanks of the 20% salt - brakish disgusting marina free water. The fueling jetty told me that they didnt have any water but the Marina office has some "energy cards" which can be used for drinking water.... Grrr - Im getting right ticked off now. I called the office on Ch69 and asked them about the water - "ahh yes we have that", "OK" I enquired; "and were is this water?" - " Oh you can go back to where you were". I didnt feel convinced but went back thinking there was some secret pipe somewhere that I hadnt seen. moored up amongst the charter boats were we were. I borrowed the kids skooter and nipped back to the office.... 3 cards for 300 litres of drinkable water; 3.51 Euros - how on earth someone invented 1.17E for 100 liters of water, Ill never no. Any way, after waiting 10 minutes while they insisted on printing me out an invoice for 3.51 before they would give me my change, they told me that the water was only available on D, E and F pontoons (which seemed private pontoons) only. So - I moved the boat again and, yes, we made it, there was the "energy" water outlet. I poked the hose in and turned the tap - lo and behold water - without having to put the energy card in. A nearby German told me that it has been broken for ages and is the only one "free" in the marina - sounds like a well kept secret. Just as well as I discovered my water tank holds 600 litres not 300 I estimated !.
So we eventual got going by 4pm (Helen even had time to make and back some scones - ahem, well what turned out to be biscuits). Wind W (5-6knots), I hoisted the "Genoeka" and the full mainsail. with 5 knots of wind we managed between 3-4.5 knots through the water. Infact there were times when we went faster than the wind and the Gen backed., On average we did just under 4 knots and got to the anchorage at 6pm intime for Helens serving of "Nice-Rice bacon". Anchored in 5 metre a stones through from the beach. S,E, and mum swam to the beach and back. Very nice anchorage, shared it with one other yacht - a 60 footer, I suspect its a busy resort in the height of summer. Sophie did a bit of homework with Mum and the others watched Willy Wonker choclate factory. and so to bed.
Fri 27th Kalami
School morning - Review day. Dad spent the morning in "Jacks" room working out the material requirements for Italy, Malta and Tunisa courtesy flags. Dad and Jack then went ashore and walked the road - very touristy. checked Email at a Hotel reception, and found Scooby Doo, Spy Kids II on VideoCD.... Went back to the boat for lunch, Jack had and afternoon sleep and then while Helen explored the bay in the dingy (1st time practice on the outboard!) Dad rigged out the boom and we swung from the deck into the water. Emma joined Mum in the dingy, then it was Dads turn and explored the next 3 bays Northwards. Dad cooked Dinner (Tuna Lasagna) and afterwards we all played on the beach while mum tidied up. We then watched Spykids II before bed.
Sat 28th
Awoke with a weather forecast of rain and thunderstorms. So we decided to Hire a car and go exploring. By the time we got a break in the weather and got ashore we got to the hire place at noon. Helen and kids went to get some lunch while Dad and Sophie waited to get the car sorted out. 12:30 we arrived at the taverna for lunch and noticed that the boat had swung now onto a onshore swing about 20 metres of the shore. The shore didnt shallow until 2 metres off the beach so things were not bad, but just incase, Dad went to the dingy to more the stern of the boat onto one of the mooring bouys for added holding. As he got into the dingy the heavens opened the lightning hit and torrential Rain ensued. by the time he got to the boat (after a flap over the outboard safety starting cable) he was drenched right through. engine on, maneuvered the boat and secured up. The Rain continued to pelt down so Dad had lunch aboard while the others ate in the taverna on the beach. When the rain stopped Dad joined them and we all pilled in the Suzuki swift toy car. We left the mobile number with the Taverna and asked if there was any problems with the boat to call us.
We set off and toured around the NE-N coast of corfu looking at the bays, harbours, and towns. Everywhere seemed to be extremely Touristy, beyond belief touristy, almost like the towns where designed for nothing but british tourists. the anchorages were looking untenable in the North winds. We couldnt decide to get dinner here and head back after dark with sleepy children or head back soon foir dinner on the beach. We were then called by the Taverna and he said he didnt like the boat it was 10 metres from the beach, no wind little waves. So I said it would be ok, as I knew the lay of the anchor and new that it would go no further than 10 metres from the beach. I reassured him it would be ok, as we had 2 anchors down 5x scope of chain and also secured the stern to a mooring bouy.
We carried on exploring, more tourist nightmares. Then Another phone call, he was still concerned and said we should come back. Not wanting to risk fate, and realizing that our decision had been made for us, we headed straight back to the boat and while Mum got the kids dinner sorted in the Taverna, Dad headed back to the boat (no rain this time) and anchored further out (deeper water - more scope) and moored stern to the mooring bouy with a stern rope. We were now 50 metres from the shore, and everyone was happy. After Dinner at 8pm, we all piled into the dingy from the beach (with hardly any surf at all) and got back to the boat. Jack wwnt straight to bed and we all settled down to nother night at the movies with the Scooby DOo Movie VideoCD. (btw.. both movies were pirate copies of videocameras at the back of the cinema.)
Note: Bought huge candles a few days ago - 2 big blocks with 5 wicks in each. These serve as very adequate lights for the saloon at night. (5 wicks for dim, 10 for reading).
Note: kalami suffers slightly from distant wash from ferries passing in the North Channel, 1 mile away, which causes some rocking (not bad in a cat, but I could imagine a single hull being thrown about a bit)
Sun 29th Kalami -> Ay Stefanou 1m V0/1
An adventurous day planning to go 1m up the coast to a new anchorage!. The rain stopped Mum and Sophie wanting to go Pedelo'ing. Dad went ashore to take the DVD's back - they were pirate copies and wasnt prepared to pay the 15E for each!. after tidying up and having a snooze, we set off for Ay Stefanou at 3pm. We anchored in 3.5m of water and Dad went ashore with sophie and Emma to have a few stiff vodka and cokes, ice cream and personal space!. An evening meal and a candle lit story time of "The Lion the Witch and the wardrobe" before bedtime.
Mon 30th Ay Stefanou. weather picking up. sunny all day with the odd shower.
Another morning of successful school, while Dad and Jack went shopping for the odd provision and hung the washing out. After another lunch of salami, cheese and biscuits and fruit. Mum and the kids adventured on land and the dinghy while Dad got to grips with the computers to try to enable the ease of writing emails on the boat to transfer to floppy disk to send via an Internet cafe. - success! Dad also organised and tidied the office files and boat manuals. a lazy dinner of chicken and rice. Followed by Mum, Sophie and Louisa going ashore for some tomatoes to try to make tomato soup tomorow....... we shall see.
Tuesday 1st Oct. Ay Stefanou -> N. Erikoussa 20 miles weather: NNW 5/6.
ANother morning of school while Dad and Jack got the boat prep'ed and ready for sail. We set off at 10:30am during break time, where I taught Emma how to raise the anchor, including safety aspects and scope of chain markings. Sophie actually demonstrated the weighing of the anchor. The wind was barely registering 2 knots True as we motored on both engines through the North Channel onto the North coast of Corfu. Where was the 5 and 6's they forcast. Dad tuned into the VHF broadcast weather forecast at noon and - yes, they were still forecasting 5/6 NNw. OK, if the forcast is true its going to be on the nose for the last houir or 2 to Erkoussa. The plan is to check out the island for shelter and provisions to use it as the spring board for our Italian crossing. 1 pm and still a flat calm, we cut the engines (as the sea was picking up a swell) and ate the home made tomato soup Mum had made in the morning. (The swell had stopped school early, So Mum made soup!). after lunch the wind picked up a little, enough to get the sails up and push us at 2knots. then at 2pm it hit us! The line of white horses could be seen approaching. I must learn from this..... after it hit us I put a reef in the main - It would have been easier in th 6knot winds rather than the 16 knot winds!. With the wind whipping the boat forward at a good 8 knots we were soon getting apparent wind of 24+knots. The wind then picked up to 20 knots - apparent wind 28+. 1 Reef and half the Jib out we were making about 45 degrees to out apparent wind, or about 60 degrees to the true (NW) wind. This extra bit of West in the wind wasnt favorable for making the Island, and the waves being a good 3-4 feet, stopped any form of heading direct to the Island - with or without the engines helping. We tacked on 260' and 2 miles from the Island changed onto a 100" tack North with the engines on to take us into the South Bay. Helen and the kids by this time were down below sitting around (standing/walking was not doable) Jack was strapped in his chair eating bananas. The girls lounged around listening to tapes while Jack had a turn being seasick. Mum caught the Banana spew in her hands and grabbed a bowel for the rest of it. Mum and Jack went to bed and the next 30 minutes we made the bay and the swell stopped in the Lee of the land. It was then I noticed that one of the reefing lines was caught around the radar rig. It had bent the bracket and one of the bolts. I was able to lash it upright with a tie to a stanchion. Main sail down and we headed for 3 metres of water just off the beach and anchored. The wind was still blowing in the bay but no waves or swell. We sorted ourselves out on anchor and I prepared the boat for coming alongside the Ferry quay. Lazy Spring, bow and Stern ropes, and all the fenders out. we then motored along side, Helen stepped off the bow (we were being blown off) and managed to get the lazy spring (secured bow and midships) around the forward post. with the boat attached I was able to sing the boat back to secure a stern rope. with lots of maneuvering and every rope onboard used to truse the boat up, we were able to stop and get Dinner down our necks. After dinner Dad and the kids went for a walk while Mum cleaned up Dinner, Sick and Mess. A treat od DVD - "TOy Story", 2 chapters of Lion/Wardrobe by Candle light and in bed at 9:30 with the wind still blowing and the ropes and rigging creaking. The locals on the Island (I think I counted all 8 of them) say we have a week of light Southly winds and calm seas - Ill belive it when I see it. !
Weds 2nd - Erikoussa -> Kassiopi. 23 miles.
Well what a night - The winds lightened over night and came around to the south - They blew right into the harbour and although the winds wernt much the swell was about 2 feet and continually pounded us into the quay all night. With every fender out and our "trampoline" carpet as a fender-protector from the concrete quay, we bounced and creaked through the night. I got up in the night and rigged some fenders horizontal to change the scrapping, lurching, popping and banging into a quieter rolling. We awoke. Jack tumbled out of his cot while playing with Louisa and landed on his head!. We monitored for concussion during the day and a quick phone call to PPP, he was actually alright, and was less concerned than we were. Dad took a turn at school today, and learnt the art of juggling three syllabus' - a fine art which Helen is getting very goof at. Helen and Jack came back from a walk ashore at 11am with news that a 100 passenger ferry was to arrive in 15 minutes for the local restaurant, and the owner said and we had to vacate the Quay. The wind (10knots) and Swell was holding us fast to the concrete quay. Getting off was going to be difficult. I took aff most of the lines and repositioned the fenders and got the end of the jetty at midships. we then cast off the lines and the boat pivoted on the corner of the jetty with way on the engines to brush us clear. A fender misplaced it self and a swell took us and we lightly brushed with a kissing of concrete on Gelcoat and puff of white dust had Helen cringing. We continued the maneuver and escaped the harbour. And to cap it all- The Ferry went stern-to on the other side of the harbour! - The restaurant owner needs to be shot!
So we decided to head back to corfu! - The Navtex forcast was for NW 4/5 the fisherman said S 2/3. It was blowing a S2/3 so we decided to motor into wind and get back to corfu to shelter, a decent mooring and some R+R. As we motored to the mainland the wind died down to a nothing and we motored in a flat calm with the sun beating down to a bay 500 yards west of Kassoppi. we anchored in 3 meters just off a nice tourist beach in shelter from the S winds (when the appear). Then as the afternoon went on the NW winds appeared! only 2/3. It was actually OK in the bay. The winds died down in the evening and we dingyed ashore for a meal and a walk around. We got back on the boat at 9pm for the last three chapters of Lion/W/W by candlelight.
Maintenance list: Gel coat repair kit - Bolts and bracket bending to be done. Next week - get the boat ready for the Trans-Med Journey. ETD - after the in-laws leave, 10-12th October ish.
