38:50.0N 20:42.7E

 

2 October Discover it wasn’t Two Rock Bay! Head 25nm SSE to Levkas Town for a two night stop and catchup with Chris and Kay Coomer

Depart what we thought was Two Rock Bay 0845

Arrive just off Levkas marina 1520 28nm

Sun from sunrise (0800) to sunset (1900). Less fluffy white clouds (which mainly avoid us). Brief land breeze. Usual WNW f3 increasing to f4 from 1430

 

Fairly long hop today, out of lee of islands. Dawn cabin temp 16 degrees! Head south and hoist sails as fetch with land breeze. After half mile pass what is obviously Two Rock Bay. No boats in there but a couple of distinctive rocks in entrance. Didn’t check to paper chart yesterday – just chartplotter, which is wrong as clearly marks where we stopped as TRB. Paper chart shows TRB and an anchorage in the bay just passed.Rod’s pilot doesn’t have chartlet but does give lat/long and shows correctly on large scale plan.Land breeze dies after 2  miles, so motor. NW swell making main crack on rolls. Annoying. Have already rolled up genny as not enough wind to fill. From 1200 just enough breeze to fill sails and give extra knt, but keeps fading. 1315- enough breeze to switch off motor and a good f4- 5knts for last hour n a bit. Drop sails in moderate swell off Levkas canal entrance 1430. Anchor in pool awaiting 1500 bridge opening. Go thro with 4 other yachts. Anchor in inlet just to N of marina. Many many charter and other yachts moored stern to town quay – looks like for the winter. Launch duck with motor to get to quay and explore Levkas Town. Have been racing by on previous visits and never got into town. Find pleasant long pedestrianized mainstreet with interesting shops, excellent chandleries and other side of marine a Carrefour (and tinned coconut milk to go with remaining jar of Tescos TGC paste!) Have credit left on shower card from last visit, so Jane has first shore hot shower for several weeks. Get excellent takeaway pizza from Festina.

 

3 October – Early rise. Cold wind outside so have breakfast in cabin. First time for quite a few months. Duck ashore for proper shopping expedition wearing fleeces – remove by 0930. Thank goodness it’s sunny again. Skip does chandleries (and gas); Jane does non yachtie shops. 1130 lift anchor and visit fuel berth. Two gerrycans and 9ltrs in main tank. (69euros for 47 ltrs) Should see us thro to winter layup in Messolongi. Get shown to berth with laid sternline (and elect & water). Book in at marina office – now out of season so only 19.66. Top up shower card too as will still work when passing next year. Visit bookswap room. Invite C&K for meal on D`fly. Jane does TGC prep, Skip does boat clean. Both hose decks. Fill fw tank. Shore showers again Jane has luxury of “hairdryer” on boat mains. Evening drinks nattering with C&K well wrapped up in cockpit. Others going ashore predominantly with trousers, sweatshirts and Gill type jackets as cool wind blowing. Eat below. Halcyon is lifted out tomorrow. Forecast of several days rain next week and Easterlies. Will need to be somewhere with decent wifi. Already have novels at the ready.