End of the season approaches

We set off early morning from Gouvia at the end of October. It was very atmospheric, with mist lying low on the land and a small pod of dolphins playing in the shallows off the point. It was quite still with the sun rising over the mountains of the mainland. It was just beautiful. We had a fantastic motor sail down to Preveza with the sea to ourselves. The winds were light, as predicted in the forecast, but was predicted to change the following day with big winds and heavy rain, hence our decision to go and get straight to Preveza. It had rung Sprios the day before to ask if it was ok for us to go inside the unfinished marina at Preveza where we would be alongside. It would be much easier to do any preperations for lift out to the boat there. He said it was ok, so that was the plan. It was bright sunshine but chilly on the way down.









The original Curly Sue

and Andy too

                                          







As we slipped past Sivota it seemed eerily quiet in comparison to when we passed through about a month earlier. The season had well and truly ended. We saw only two other yachts on our trip to Preveza, one of which followed us up the channel. We motored up Preveza channel against a two knot current which was flowing out of the Gulf of Amvrakia which we had visited what seemed like ages ago. We were just starting to lose the light as we approached Preveza and there were three yachts alongside on the town quay in comparison to thirty or more when we had left. We passed them and found a place on one of the pontoons behind a couple of fishing boats then gave Spiros a ring to let him know we were there. He was out taking students on a sailing lesson and said he would call and see us when he came in, which he did. So this was it, last stop before Curly comes out of the water for the winter. We had quite a few little jobs to do, just getting sorted out for the winter. The genoa came off ( front sail ) and we packed all the sails away in their bags.

Unfortunately Susans knees were giving her real grief that painkillers and anti-inflamatory pills only partially helped. We walked into town to the bus station to buy our tickets to Athens but as Susan was struggling so much it took ages, about 45 minutes each way. Still, the weather was beautiful and warm with bright blue skies. We had already booked the boat to be lifted out on Friday 5th November. For the rest of the week we just enjoyed the weather which was marvellous and polished the boat from bow to stern. In the evenings it was dark quite early so we settled down to a game of scrabble and a drink before dinner about 7.30pm then a game of chess after dinner. Susan is the scrabble champ and I have the title for chess. On day when we were busy we were surprised to see Mark and Angie that we had met in Sivota walking down the pontoon. They were having a day out and just happened to be nosing around the boats.



On Friday morning we set off in plenty of time to go across to Cleopatra marina. Not that its a long way, about 10 minutes across the channel. We hailed them as we approached and were waved in. They were busy lifting a large trip boat out which was causing them a few problems. Well, more than a few actually.

in the cradle

Our 9am lift out became 1015 and she wasn't settled in her cradle until after noon. We stayed on her for two nights with Susan struggling up and down the ladder then moved into a room in the office complex for Sunday night. It was still lovely weather over the weekend but come Monday morning it changed and as we set off for Athens it was pouring with rain. " the sky was crying, the streets were full of tears". We felt sad to be leaving Curly behind.



Curly with her winter cover on



A very wet October in Corfu

We left Preveza on 3rd October and headed north to get to Corfu for Rebecca, Chris and Oliver arriving on the 5th. We intended to anchor at Two Rock Bay ( no prizes for guessing why its called that ) but when we arrived decided to move on as the southerlies were blowing straight in. We didn't have to go far to Ormos Fanari which was a fantastic enclosed bay backed by a nice beach. It was very quiet, with only two other yachts in for the night. The following day we dinghied ashore and went for a walk. There is a river runs into the bay which it is possible to navigate up, providing your draft ( depth of boat ) is OK. I decided not to risk it. It was a nice town but very quiet and seemed a little sad really. We moved on from there to Sivota/ Mourtos which is a pleasant harbour and tourist town with a number of anchorages close by. We went into the harbour and moored stern to. We had a nice night there before an early start to get to Corfu. We considered going into the private yacht club at Corfu town but when we went in the swell was considerable and would have meant a bumpy night, so we pressed on to Gouvia Marina. This was a good decision because the next day the monsoons started. It lashed down like nobodies business !!

the supa safe paddling pool

moored in Kassiopi

Chris showing Oliver the ropes

Rebecca and Chris and Oli arrived as scheduled. We met them at the airport, it was so nice to see them again. First out their suitcase on the boat was a blowup paddling pool for Oliver. Handy hint from Dave and Sue of  Scath. He could sit in that in the wheelhouse or saloon and play safely to his hearts content. It worked a treat, as did Susans idea of using his reins to strap him in the seat in the wheelhouse. That night we took them to the Telesilla hotel for a meal. We were greeted in great style by Michael ( who for some reason I keep calling Denis ) who made a great fuss of us and especially Oliver. He even made sure the Greek dancing was a little more reserved so as not to disturb him. Next day we set of to Kassiopi at the north of the island. The forecast was fair for two days so we had to make the most of it. We had a lovely cruise up there and moored against the breakwater at the entrance to the harbour, making sure we were clear of the rocks and ballast under the water that could damage our sterngear. Kassiopi was very pleasant and we had a bite to eat overlooking the harbour and 'Curly' before going for a pleasant walk around the headland. While we were eating a stray fender bobbed its way across the harbour straight to me so I gave it a good home back on Curly. Makes up for one we lost a while back.  We ate on board that night, then next morning, after another sortie into town, and me stunning Susan by buying a rug, we set off back to Gouvia. We had lunch at anchor in a bay on the way and Bex and Chris went for a play in the dinghy. We made a full day of the trip back. Next day the rains returned with a passion. We managed to get out for a few hours on Wednesday when we anchored off one of the islands near Corfu Town. Rebecca and Chris tried their hand at fishing with the rod they had kindly bought us in Kassiopi. Beccy caught one and Chris nearly did, but it fell off just as he was bringing it in. We moved to a more comfortable berth inside the marina on our return as it was bouncy on the first one and we were worried that it may disturb Oli. Unfortunately the week was over before we knew it. I'm afraid it was a damp squib. Susan and I felt awful that they had come all that way for it to be so dissappointing weather wise. We saw them off at the airport with the rain still hammering down and returned to the boat feeling very flat.

the last breakfast

To add insult to injury when we went out for a trip one day, during a break in the monsoon, we decided to empty the holding tank. Susan went below to do the manual pump out. A short time later I heard a loud cry of  " SH!T"........Susan shouted for help. The diaphgram on the pump had split and sprayed liquid sh!t liberally around the front cabin. She managed to clear the rest of the tank by keeping her finger in the hole..yuck. Once back in the marina, fortunately the mess was easy to clean up and we had a sweet smelling boat again after not too long. Then it was just a matter of getting a new one to fit which we did a few days later. Oh well, it could have been worse!
While at Gouvia we had the engine serviced and a new engine mount fitted and also, a new bimini designed and made by Gordy the Kiwi ( steelwork ) and Astrid the dutch lady ( canvas ). We were very pleased with the outcome and will mean that we can have shelter from the sun and put our mizzen sail up at the same time. We saw quite a bit of our friend Duncan after Bex and co left. He very kindly gave us a hand to take our main and mizzen sail down. Duncans wife Julia was back in the UK. However when she returned we all went out together for a meal. That was our last night in Gouvia and the following day we set off to return to Preveza where the boat was due to come out the water.