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Sails, Sunsets and Snaps

September - October 2018
A week on a yacht sailing amongst the islands off the western coast of Greece. The theme is sailing but the camera is packed ready for sunset opportunities. What will this adventure bring? Will there be pirates? Will there even be a sunset? Read more
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  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 1

    Travelling and Arrival

    September 30, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This is going to be a very different adventure to the one in August 2018. For a start, it's to a place where the temperatures are around 24c and the chance of rain far less probable ... hopefully! A big difference though, apart from the fact it involves a 38ft yacht and a load of sailing, is that Rob isn't travelling alone this time. His daughter, Penny, and her partner Tom provide the sailing expertise as they are both qualified Skippers and experienced with sailing yachts and all that goes with it. The fourth member of the crew is Alan, Rob's 90 year old Dad, who is really looking forward to the trip.

    The flight was 3.5hrs leaving from Manchester and the best view on the way was as the plane flew over the Alps. Though the mountains could be clearly seen, they were shrouded in an ethereal mist which gave them very much the feel of another world. Upon landing at Preveza in western Greece, the magic continued when the group were greeted at the airport with the most amazing and brightly coloured rainbow. Rob, of course, just had to photograph it (only with his phone though) and you can see the results in this footprint. The rainbow wasn't really wobbly in the middle but something didn't quite work with the panorama mode on the phone camera. You perhaps get the idea though.

    The journey ended after a twenty minute transfer to the marina where the four mariners were introduced to their floating home for the next week. It was dark when they arrived so it was difficult to tell what the surroundings looked like. Guess they find out tomorrow.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 2

    First Day Sailing

    October 1, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today the weather was bright and sunny and after a morning briefing and a visit to the supermarket for supplies, the boat was prepared and Penny took the helm. Her trusty crew manned the ropes and Rincewind, the name of the yacht, glided from its mooring and headed for the open seas.

    Sounds impressive doesn't it ... and it was to be honest. The water was calm and a lovely deep blue and the temperature pleasant. Once out of the shelter of the port there was a favourable wind and soon the main sail was suitably hoisted.

    The sails were used all day with the wind gusting to around 20 knots at times and it really was fun even though there was plenty to do at times. It seemed like no time at all when the destination port was sighted then Penny was skilfully manoeuvring Rincewind into her birth for the night.

    The day ended with a G&T all-round then a lovely meal out in a nearby restaurant. No sign of a sunset though, so maybe tomorrow.

    No pirates either.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 3

    Sailing to Kefalonia (Morning)

    October 2, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Having checked the weather forecast for today, at one point it suggested rain but fortunately it was wrong because the weather turned out to be just right ... bright and sunny with very pleasant temperatures. For sailing, the wind was great in the morning but virtually non-existent in the afternoon.

    The day, then, started with the standard morning briefing where the destination is set and the sea conditions given. Then, having taken breakfast in a small restaurant, it was back to Rincewind to prepare to leave. This didn't take long at all and Rob was really excited when he was given the opportunity to take the helm to steer the yacht from its moorings and out to sea. In no time at all the boat was in open water and the sails were raised.

    It turned out to be a great morning sailing with a steady wind (yesterday it kept changing direction) and the yacht maintaining a really good speed. At times waves broke over the bow and you really felt like you were moving. Penny & Tom commented this was probably the best wind they'd had in Greece and maybe this was helped by the fact they were sailing in open water - as the course changed southward the wind died down.

    At lunchtime Penny & Tom knew of a quiet little bay to anchor for lunch and this is just what they did. Lunch consisted of Greek salad, nibbles and rum punch ... it really is a hard life!

    Penny decided to go swimming and commented how warm the water felt, once you were in. Rob spent some time feeding a shoal of fish with some bread left over from the meal and Alan & Tom just spent the time relaxing.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 3

    Sailing to Kefalonia (Afternoon)

    October 2, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Having upped anchor and motored out from the bay it appeared the wind had almost died away to nothing, so the only option was to continue with engine power.

    The sea conditions were calm and with little breeze, other than that created by the movement if the boat, Tom and Rob decided it was a perfect opportunity to test fly the drone from a moving vessel.

    They decided a good take-off spot was towards the front of the yacht and set-up there, but this turned out not to be such a good idea. The drone didn't cope well with fact that it's take-off spot moved and this confused it completely. It wizzed off towards the rear of the boat, collided simultaneously with Rob and the mast, stopped it's rotors and sulked, which is pretty much what Rob and Tom did as they collected the drone and checked it was okay. It was.

    It turns out that it's really hard to fly a drone from a moving boat so after a bit of analysis it was decided it wasn't a good idea given the chances of it ending up in the sea were quite high. So the rest of the journey was simply chilling out until it was time to prepare Rincewind for her mooring. That went perfectly and with everything in place it was once again time for a G&T. It seems to be a ritual one simply has to do, you know.

    So, still no sunset and not even the slightest evidence of some bloke with an eye patch and parrot. Maybe tomorrow then, Jim lad!    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 4

    Sailing to Ithaki

    October 3, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today the weather forecast was nothing to write a blog about. It was dull and cloudy and a suggestion of rain, though there was none whilst on the High Seas - which weren't high at all of course, given the absence of any wind. This meant the engine ran continuously and the sails remained stowed away. It wasn't exactly cold but Alan did feel the wind chill a little but even so, he enjoyed the gentle cruising across and around to Big Vathy, the next port of call for the night. At one point in the day they sailed through a relatively narrow channel, which was fun.

    It's amazing how the days are slipping by. Penny and Tom had said it wasn't going to be a problem but even on this quiet day sailing-wise, Rob's fears of boardom proved to be unfounded and in no time at all the crew of Rincewind had eased the yacht into her mooring and were relaxing with that G&T, with ice and a slice of course ... and the added bonus of a torrential downpour to end the day.

    Before the evening meal there was time for a little window shopping in the town ... Alan purchased a fleece jacket (just in case) and Rob a fridge magnet for his growing collection. They discovered a lovely restaurant with excellent food then returned to Rincewind to end the day. Penny had packed some pineapple fairy lights and these were attached to the sun hood, together with that green-theme lantern Rob used in the tent in Scotland.

    The pirates continued to be marked by their absence and still no sunset ... but there's still time of course!    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 5

    Leaving Ithaki

    October 4, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The weather forecasts for the region have continually given the impression that every sort of weather could be expected at varying times of any day. Rain, wind, calm, thunderstorms and in whatever combination you choose. The only exception was snow - all the weather apps agreed on this - there would none, at any time!

    Rob decided to believe the suggestion that the day would begin clear and warm, so he peered outside about 45 minutes before sunrise to see if there might be an opportunity for some photography ... and there was. He collected his gear together (having got dressed of course) and quietly left the boat and headed down the quayside in search of a decent composition. It was quite peaceful in the morning light, setting up the tripod and trying different angles - a boat here, or there, or that angle or this but all too soon the sun was up and the light had changed, so Rob headed back for a coffee just as the others were getting up.

    After the morning briefing/breakfast in a nearby bar-restaurant it was time to leave. The weather was perfect and promised to stay like that for the whole day so, in the warm morning sun and on calm blue waters, Rincewind glided along through fabulous scenery towards the open sea.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 5

    Sailing to Spatochori

    October 4, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The journey to Spatochori was straightforward with the aim to find a pleasant cove or bay to drop anchor for lunch and to go swimming ... and this is exactly what happened. Penny was first in the water followed by Rob who, it has to be said, was a complete wimp about getting into the water. The water was lovely once you were in, Rob just made heavy weather of it and took ages. Yes a real wimp, but once he was in he agreed the water was lovely and both Penny and Rob messed about in the water, accompanied by large blow-up pineapple (there's a theme going on here don't you think) until it was time to raise the anchor and continue the journey.

    On the way to the port for the night there was a strange sighting. Tom and Rob were sure they spotted a skull & crossbones on another boat. Could there be pirates in these waters, me-hearty? Rob managed a blurry photo of the offending vessel so what do you think? Will there be dastardly deeds on the High Seas before nightfall?    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 5

    Spatochori, Meganisi

    October 4, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    The pirate ship sailed into the distance, clearly not at all interested in the bounty aboard Rincewind. Let's face it, your average pirate will never look mean and scary manning the cannons with a large blown-up pineapple under one arm. That pineapple was undoubtedly the saviour of the day.

    Before long the day's destination came into view and Captain Penny asked if Rob would like to take the helm to steer Rincewind onto her birth, so Rob took the wheel while Alan and Tom looked after the ropes. This was the first time Rob had done this and it was a delicate operation too ... the yacht had to be taken-in backwards (the standard way in Greece) but he also had to go manoeuvre around another boat into the reserved slot against the pontoon, whilst avoiding a group of swimmers nearby. Rob managed it perfectly and was really proud of his success, with the G&T's being used to toast the achievement a little later.

    Having completed the drinks tradition and showered, Penny, Tom and Rob took the path up to the viewpoint above the small marina. They were hoping for a good sunset but once again the light never came. The view was amazing though and well worth the effort of climbing all those steps. The main village was there too so a little time was spent having a quick look around.

    The evening ended with a group meal in the beach restaurant with the crews of all ten boats attending. It was a great evening and also a lovely atmosphere afterwards when Rincewind's crew chilled on her deck for a while before bed time.

    Another day comes to a close.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 6

    Little Vathy, Meganisi

    October 5, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today brought excellent weather once again with the forecast predicting virtually no wind - wrong again.

    The briefing and breakfast were in the beach restaurant, where the meal was held the night before, but there wasn't very far to go today so the aim was to use the engine to once again find somewhere to stop for lunch and a swim. Essentially, this is what happened but before long the wind increased, the sails were raised and the engine turned off. You can see from the route for today that far more time was spent at sea than the day promised according to the forecast. The sailing was great in fact.

    The wind had disappeared after the stop for lunch and a swim (Rob wasn't such a wimp this time) so the engine was used to cruise to Little Vathy to end the day.

    The evening was once again a group meal but with pre-dinner drinks provided by the floatilla Captain and his wife ... though it's probably more accurate to say the drinks were included in the charter price. On the way there Rob managed to capture something approaching a sunset, though only on his phone, but it was better than nothing of course, though not quite the glorious event he was hoping for.    Read more

  • Sails, Sunsets and Snaps
    Day 7

    The Last Day on the Yacht

    October 6, 2018 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Another great morning weather-wise, being lovely and warm with a deep blue sky, as you can see. Being the last day there was no briefing this morning because the aim was simply to sail back to the home port of Lefkada: be there by 5pm. Breakfast was just a short stroll from the yacht and was the first time there was a waiter whose understanding of English was definitely from the 'could do better' school of international languages. Basically, the problem seemed to be that whatever you asked for it had to be related to coffee or an omelette. 'Toast and Jam' turned onto 'omelette with ham', though everyone concurred they could see how that might happen. What wasn't clear, however, is how a fresh orange juice eventually arrived, but it did.

    On the way back to the boat Rob spotted the sunken plane in the harbour. It seems it was purchased by a local and then sunk into the harbour - why? Who knows, but it's there and just a few metres from the quayside.

    Penny and Tom picked up some pastries for lunch then it was time to leave with Alan at the helm. The bay chosen to stop for lunch was simply perfect and Penny and Rob did a bit of snorkelling and Tom swam as well. All too soon it was time for the final journey of the week ... Rob steered Rincewind out of the bay of turquoise waters, leaving it to become a happy memory.    Read more

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