38:37.6N 20:36.4E

Sat 7 June A few miles W to Vasiliki, to see Rachel, and use washing machine

Depart Sivota 1130

Arrive Vasiliki 1400 9nm S1 M1.5

Another all day scorcher, NWf2, didn`t build

Really hot day. First day needed to continuously drink water, even when at sea. Unusually no wind in Vasiliki bay, so much motoring. Get Bromptons out. Head off to Rachel`s workplace – Neilson hotel beach. Seek shade not sun now. Sneak a load in Rachel’s washing mc. Buy all ingredients for spag bol – rare loose mushrooms available here, we don`t need usual big carton. Wonderful minced steak, again. Have to wait till sun down for temp to drop (peaks at 29 in cabin). Rachel joins us for supper – taken in cockpit, it`s that warm.

Sun 8 June Day trip to Fiskardho with girls. Meet up with Frank and Jackie. Mighty thunderstorm

Depart Vasailiki 1045  Arrive Fiskardho 1410 10nm S.75 M1.5  WNW f2/3, some of the way

Depart Fiskardho 1715  Arrive Vasiliki 1930 10nm S1.5 M 0.75  WNW f3/4, SE f3/4/5

Hot day again. Girls day off as changeover day. Rachel and friend Rachel join us after lie in. Munch chocky and fresh strawberries on crossing. Mid ocean stop for cooldown dip. Popular Fiskardho pretty full, even this early in day. Bad approach to quay – just recover. End up alongside SO35 we went on board boatshopping in Preveza, and opposite Liveloula gift shop. Messolonghi friends, Frank and Jackie, are moored up further S, but have hired car to explore Kefalonia, so decide to come and see us. Have long long natter over coffee/juice in shade of quayside taverna brollys. R&R snorkel in cove just S , and explore shops. Nosey parker lady on adjacent table nearly falls off chair leaning our way to hear our tales. Learn thunderstorms on way, so hurried departure. Wind does 180, from NW to SE. No violent gusts, yet. See massive thunderclouds/rain pass from N to S inshore, and curl out to hit Fiskardho. We seem to have escaped. Then black clouds roll over mountains towards us as we enter Vasiliki bay. Flotillas in harbour so no room to go bows to. Rain starts. Moor up alongside, outside. Need to spring in as wind blowing us off. (Ozzie with twin rudders couldn`t do this.) Heavens open – crew dash below. Skip gets drenched, but it`s very warm rain. 80m quay becomes 80 m wide waterfall. Lightening bolts earthing to sea not that far away. What a spectacular sight. Girls make a dash for it as have social appointment. Skip and Jane sit tight, battened down. Glad tied to quay with four lines and not bows to as strong squalls blow thro. Blue sky reappears. Put gangplank (scaffold plank) outside fenders to take wear from sharp stones used for quay concrete mix and protruding like giant sandpaper (that would destroy plastic fenders). Go for beer ashore. Decide to go for Vigdis.

Mon 9 June Lazy day. Move into harbour, bows to. Many emails to get Vigdis survey arranged

Cloudy morning. Flotillas depart. Move D`fly into harbour. Find shallows on way in. Book Leon for 18<sup>th</sup> or 19<sup>th</sup>. Relieved as vital and v short window. Sun shines after lunch. Supper with Rachel at taverna near work. Rach seems to be mending more staff than guests. They`re a fun gang.  Town, or is it a large village, now about 3 times as busy as when first visited two weeks ago. Nuisance Bav two away and motor b the other way – run engines a lot to charge batteries. Our PVs and windy do it for us, in silence, without fumes.