39:50.5N 19:24.1E

 

13 July – Frisky sail due East to Nisos Othoni, an island about 15 miles off the NW corner of Corfu, and anchor just off beach in bay on S coast

Depart Santa Maria di Leuca 0600

Arrive Ormos Ammou 1500 (1600 Greek time) 51nm

Sunny and windy, NNW f3, then 4 and a bit of 5 – & big gusts on lee of island as drop sails and anchor

 

Another early start. Rosemary recovered from Ed lag so up to assist with weighing anchor. Couple of dolphins appear to point us to Greece. Wind gradually builds, so put in two reefs. Further strengthens and seas build too – don lifejackets. Wind just fwd of a beam reach. Speed builds from 5, to 6 and sometimes touching 7knts. Emotional sighting of Greek soil – well actually more rock than soil. Raise courtsey flag – wonder when it will have to come down! Huge squalls in lee descending as roll genny and drop main. Folding prop makes hard work of pushing D`fly into bay. Pilot out of date – Captains Mate to the rescue – now a small yacht harbour. Too windy to muck about in unfamiliar harbour - anchor in 9ft (sand) just off beach. Three other boats already in – one being Dutch mboat we anchored next to in Aolian Islands (Salina) 10 days ago and 350 miles back! Must have similar taste! For D`fly 2229 miles from home. Swim then duck ashore to celebrate. Find classy Taverna (Locanda dei  Sogni). Grow own veg on plot behind (skip taken to inspect plot whilst girls doing facebook). Really good end of meal firewater  - made from plants in the mountains behind. Many cicada around bay. Bliss.

 

14 July lazy start – decide to go ashore for shopping and see what wind is like late afternoon.  End up exploring track into hills. Wooded – Holm Oak, olive and firs. (Rosemary found wild thyme and sage – D`fly now smells like stuffing – but no roast even tho it`s Sunday.) We like it here. Just like old Greece before tourism boom. Off radar for most tourists. Quite a few passing yachties as good first stop on way from Italy. Staff yesterday spoke fluent Italian, so guess many visit as start summer hols – Greece much cheaper than Italian marinas.  Can’t find bread (psomi) or tap water (nero) – well, there was a tap but very murky , perhaps just for watering plants. See small ferry approaching. Goes to old quay despite brand new one to E financed by huge EU grant.  D`fly duck already moved by grumpy port police. Ferry drops anchor well out  to windward and ties up stern to (as they all do) – and stays for day. Excitement when departs as a yacht has arrived and now lies over where ferry anchor dropped. Much hootin to get crew back from ashore.  Ferry leaves. All now calm again.  So relaxed here – lets stay another night. Can’t get kindle to work(good phone signal but kindle won’t pick up), so text messages to Mum to get test result – 1-0 to England. Swim then beer – now an hour earlier as clocks moved fwd! Jambox out. Still blowing boots. Brill.Skip does supper (ham, tom/onion salad and pots!). Allowed to play Decameron CD. All content!