Northern Ionian Cruise 19-26 July 2009

Crew: JDCS, PAS, TCS and HAMS

Itinerary: Lefkas-> Skorpios-> Meganisi-> Lefkas-> Ithaca-> Cephanonia->Ithaca->Atakos-> Kastos-> Kalamos-> Meganisi & Lefkas

Total of 121 Nautical Miles logged (non-tidal) Max F5 (28kts)

Sunday 19 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1873	1873	345.5	Gatwick Dep 06:30	Vlicho Arr 13:00	Preveza Arr 11:30

High winds 40+ kts forecast this PM – Ferry Sailings cancelled. No sailing today. Ate in Georges’s Taverna (expensive).

Monday 20 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1873	1887		Vlicho LEVKAS	Spartachori MEGANISI	SKORPIOS

Started the day with stern-to mooring practice off the quayside in Vlicho. Once checked-out we motored out past Nidri. No wind so anchored for lunch and a swim on the East of the bay to the East of the isthmus off the south of SKORPIOS (Onassis’s Island). Had long snorkel with Harry all around the East of the bay. Found wreck of a yacht on the seabed and large clam shells. After lunch we headed in an Easterly direction towards the Greek mainland. Had a good first sail in about 10 Kts of wind with both Main and Genny.

Returned to Meganisi and Port Espilia in Spartachori where we were met by Sail Ionian and moored for the night with the assistance of Panos his Lazy Lines.

Good showers in Taverna. Ate in Panos and Bimi’s Taverna. Walked up to the village in the evening.

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1887	1906		Spartachori MEGANISI	Sivota LEVKAS	Nidri

Walked up to the village again in the morning to buy post cards. Bought bread from Bimi’s taverna.

Conducted brief recce of little Little Vathi and saw some local fishing boats.

We then made for Nidri for lunch and to purchase fins and other provisions.

We moored stern-to adjacent to a super-yacht. In the afternoon we had an enjoyable sail down the Meganisi strait, tacked between islet of Thilia and Meganisi and onwards down to Papa Nicolis’s Cave MEGANISI. The boys rowed the tender into the cave while we stood-by outside.

We then headed for Sivota where we met Neil from Sail Ionian as we moored along side Yanis’s fishing boat trapping some of his mooring lines.

Dinner at Yanis’s Taverna.

A panorama of Sivota harbour from Coconut.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1906	1927		Sivota LEVKAS	Polis ITHACA	Fiskhardo (CEPHALONIA)

We brought up another anchor on departure. Neil on hand to offer advice. Freed it by supporting it from the bow with a spare mooring line.

We planned to anchor for lunch at Ak (Cape) Marmara on ITHACA but this turned out to be a naturist beach. Anchored a little later on in 4m 2nm SW in Afales Bay just to the south west of the cape. .

Early afternoon we moored on north shore of Fiskhardo CEPHALONIA with long lines for the first time. Thomas rowed in with the lines, secured one to the wall near Ferry and then rowed out with it to us to moor to.

We slipped early to avoid becoming trapped by imminent arrival of Flotillas. Enjoyed sailing in a good breeze in the channel between Ithaca and Cephalonia before heading into Polis Bay for the evening.

Several yachts were already anchored in the bay. Our first attempt at long lining was thwarted by a nearby German yacht with only one line. The boys struggled to get a line secured so we initially anchored in 4m near the beach then once we established a secure line to the shore we extended the anchor chain to moor to it before establishing a second mooring line. Grass littered with crickets/ cicardas.

Walked up to Stavros in the evening and saw the statue of Odysseus.

Thursday 23 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1927	1949		Polis ITHACA	Vathi ITHACA	PERA PIGADHI

Late departure after visiting Stavros Archaeological museum, the excellent Bakery and the grocers. Coconut is the yacht nearest the camera in this view of Polis Bay from half way up the hill to Stavros. Cephalonia is in the background.

In the early afternoon we stopped for a swim around islet of PERA PIGADHI just off south east ITHACA.

We then sailed north to Vathy with 12-15 kt winds – contemplated reefing the sails but decided to motor in with bare poles. On approach to Vathy winds increased to 20+ kts gusting 28kts. Initially anchored in Vathy but then attempted to moor stern-to against the wind near ferry terminal. Dropped anchor too early then space taken by superyacht.

We then decided to moor stern-to with side-winds at end of the harbour. We were assisted by adjacent skipper with securing windward line. We then assisted next yacht to arrive. Here are two panoramas of Vathy taken next day.

Took on water from a passing water truck. 5 Euro per 100 litres. 13 Euros paid.

Friday 24 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1949	1968.6		Vathi	Sarakiniko KASTOS	Kioni (ITHACA) and Cliff Bay and One House Bay (ATAKO)

Next morning we bought fresh bread, frozen bottled water and tomatoes before departure for KASTOS. We called into Kioni ITHACA briefly for sightseeing and to post cards mooring stern-to on North wall of harbour.

We then made for the island of ATOKO. We quickly explored Cliff Nay and then anchored successfully among more than a dozen other yachts in One House Bay for lunch and a swim.

The wind then suddenly got up and other yachts started leaving very quickly.

In this photo the other yachts seem a long way away – but it felt very different at the time.

We then had an enjoyable sail North East to Port Sarakiniko where we planned to anchor and long-line.

On arrival the quay was empty so we moored stern-to but anchor did not hold and grounded rudder on bottom.

We rigged a windward line from quay to bow to hold yacht off shallows. A Bavaria 50 arrived later and needed to go alongside windward quayside. Once it was secure we turned Coconut to lie alongside. The keel bumped gently in swell so inspected bottom of yacht, moved some rocks and swam the anchor further out into bay for use in the morning. Sandwiched a pallet between two sets of fenders to hold yacht further off quayside to increase clearance.

Walked up the hill at sunset to view a disused windmill and enjoy views of Port Kastos on the East coast of the island.

Saturday 25 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1968.6	1994.5	376.2	Sarakiniko KASTOS	Vlicho LEVKAS	Vathy and Abelike Bay (MEGANISSI)

Up before 7am. Swam in harbour. Attached kedge anchor warp to main anchor positioned 20m off stern on starboard side. Found a good size octopus and several large clam shells. Took Harry out to see octopus.

Slipped at 10 Am.

Carefully winched Coconut into harbour using starboard winch and warp to anchor to avoid obstruction and adjacent Bavaria 50. Anchored in 6m near to Quay at Port Leone KALAMOS.

Visited deserted village. The boys then messed around in the tender for a while.

Then motored north to Little Vathi on MEGANISI for bread for lunch and then back to Abelike Bay on MEGANISI where we anchored with long-lines to the shore.

After a long swim and snorkel we left on the last leg to Vlicho. Little wind until we neared Nidri when it suddenly turned very hot. Arrived back at the Sail Ionian Base in Vlicho by 18:30 hrs.

On the final evening we had dinner in Vlicho Yacht Club.

On the final morning we cleared the yacht by 09:00, settled our bill with Sail Ionian, got our logbook signed. We then had breakfast in the taverna across the street and waited for our taxi to the airport.

Sunday 26 July 2009

Start Log	End Log	Eng Hours	From	To	Via
1994.5		382.2	Vlicho Dep 10:00	Gatwick Arr 13:30	Preveza Dep 1245