38:57.4N 20:45.3E

 

28 Aug Replace anode, issues with impeller on relaunch, head 1/2 mile across straights to go alongside Preveza Town quay, and a night of promenading

1/2 nm!

 

Arrive “the office” at 0800 and manage to get haulout arranged for 1200noonish – last lift before lunchbreak. Gs runs out. Fit spare and buy replacement from Cleopatra chandlery. Last changed on Georges buoys, Sicily, so has done well.Jane takes free watertaxi to Preveza (dep 1000, return 1200).Skip gives D`fly freshwater wash(decks and below). Swift liftout. Have replacement anodes on board, so engineer removes old and replaces easily. Main anode may have lasted till final liftout for winter, but with v warm and saline sea want to avoid grounded seacocks and stainless bolts (for keel rub fitting) disappearing. Engineer suggests a proper ground plate.On relaunch no sea water being pulled thro engine cooling system. Go alongside wavebreak pontoon and investigate. Find impeller damaged – two paddles ripped off. (The impellor is rubber paddlewheel rotated by fanbelt off engine and sucks up seawater and pushes it through the heat exchange unit (to cool engine) and out via exhaust – hence we always look over stern after starting engine to check it is working – otherwise major overheat which melts exhaust pipes and ruins engine!) Decide need help from proper engineer – so same chap sent to sort – but we are at very end of pontoon, so long walk with toolbox. Watch as he tries to find missing paddles. Locates one and tickles out from heat exchange unit. Fit new impellor, but still no seawater coming thro. Takes impellor and pump to workshop to check watertight – if any slight leak the system sucks in air (and not seawater) so will not function). No leaks there. Eventually finds that by tightening one of the many circlips in the system all is ok. Skip thinks now have improved water gush from transom exhaust. Circlip must have been letting in air for some time but with all seawater draining on liftout there wasn’t enough left to “prime” the cooling system when engine started after relaunch. Skip feels can sort any future problems himself now. Head over to Preveza town quay and go alongside near end of promenade 1600. No one about. Explore town. Most impressed. By 2200 scores of couples and families promenading upndown quay. See pairs of men/women nattering away to each other, so engrossed,  as they stroll in automatic.  Lovely old my Deianer registered St VG (Where is that?) comes in and moors alongside quay. Must google her sometime. Loud music from adjacent bar till 0400, but decent beat so not too bad. Decide we like Preveza but the hassle of wintering at Cleopatra (rather deserted the other side of straight) n having to get watertaxi or long walk to bus stop then thro tunnel to town (and back) for evening out/shopping rather inconvenient. Would do, but hope we can find better so living aboard ashore to close down D`fly in Oct and prepare in April is enjoyable and not a chore.

 

 

29 Aug Get leaflet explaining must visit port police. What a palava. Fill in form, and pay about 8  euros for the night. Next time will just clear off early. Get euros with PO card, but one hole in wall allows request then gives nothing – hope not debited account!