37:47.0N 20:54.0E

Wedesday 20 & Thursday 21 April Lovely sail to Sami 15nm(S2.75 M0.75), frisky sail to Zante (Zakinthos Town) 36nm(S4.25 M2.25)

Sunny

Wednesday 20^th Depart 1100  Unusual (for us) favourable wind in the sound between Ithaka and Kefalonia f3to5 run bit of gybing to keep genoa filling. Arrive 1430 – go stern to. No one to take our lines so hold transom close to quay with tight anchor and gentle revs astern for skip to jump ashore and take a turn in f4 xwind. All sorted. Dolphin, Mermaid and other tavernas not yet open, but SMs and butchers are. Dig out grit to lift manhole cover and access water to fill up. Big ferry to Ithaka and mainland is running and ties up for night. Usual noise of slop hitting wavebreak arches in quay astern. Good forecast good for longish sail to Zante (Zakinthos) tomorrow.

Thursday 21^st Depart 1045 as early NE f6 should be falling off. F1/2, veers to SSW as we start heading S. Not as forecast. 1230 see white tops approaching from E, and f5 NE arrives     - this is what was forecast. Fast reach (6/7knts) with wind just abaft abeam. Swell and wind build as clear Kefalonia – put in 2 reefs, with only small fall in speed. Quiets own 5nm off destination, and dead run so motor last 2nm. Stern to main breakwater. HM takes our lines, &15euros with much form filling. Advised Olympic flame was lit at Olympia today, and is arriving Zante by ferry 1800 GMT (Greek Maybe Time) for a night before returning to  mainland, up W coast of Greece, across to Macedonia, down to Athens, then to  the Olympic Museum Lausanne (Switzerland) (why?) and on to Brazil. (The high priestess of the Goddess Hera (or an actress playing the part) used a parabolic mirror to light the olympic flame direct from the sun’s rays this morning – good job it wasn`t cloudy!) Yellow ferry arrives with much sounding of ships hooter, and other vessels blast out too. Many folk about and loads of youngsters in their sports club outfits and colourful trainers on sea front. Lots of police, harbour police, coastguard in best uniforms about whilst dignitaries assemble in main square. About 2hrs later (!!), preceded by a fire engine, press and drones is runner with bodyguards. Speeches commence – all a bit Greek, so we head back to L`ula