38:45.7N 20:43.2E

 

4 September Think we’ll pick up Cat on Paxoi, so need to get about 60nm North quickly – lets see where we get to today!

Depart Sami 0740

Arrive Nikiana (just short of entrance to Levkas canal) 1930 45nm

Dead calm, at end of day quickly builds to NNWf5 (on the nose!)

 

Itie had indeed laid his anchor over ours. Fortunately no wind as we sort. Even with Rachel’s muscle can’t get our kedge up to surface as his chain v heavy, so lash our kedge chain as high as we can and skip takes early morning swim to pass line under Itie chain, lash to D`fly and drop our kedge down to unhook and get on board. No apologies offered by Itie. Motor N at justabout 4knts for 27 miles (do the maths 27/4=? hrs). Motor into picture postcard resort of Fiskardho (on N end of Cephalonea) for a looksee. One of the few places with buildings left standing after earthquake in 1953. Motor on, and on... Dip into landlocked bay of Sivota on very SE corner of Levkas. Anchor off beach for swim and late lunch nibble (1430) Get going as wind is up blowing up the channel between Levkas and Meganisi. Fizzles out at top end and skip decides to tack out into bay rather than motor up inside islands of Skorpios (Island bought by Aristotle Onassis many years ago, so occupied by Jackie at some stage), Madhouri and Sparti. Suddenly f5 and on the nose. Put in two reefs and beat up north. Rach on helm. Wind must be fanning out down bay as get freed at either end of tacks. Eventually able to lay Nikiana, a small harbour on Levkas about 2nm S of entrance to Levkas canal. Wind much less in here. Quay already full – loads of Ities (perhaps heading home). Anchor in 14ft just off harbour entrance. Long day. Have made good progress N. Beer and supper on board. An early start again tomorrow.