38:27.6N 20:39.8E

Monday 26 May Visit other Brit in Bay, GO FOR SWIM!, lovely sail to Frikes back on Ithaki

Depart One House Bay 1300

Arrive Frikes 1615 16nm M0.75hr, S2.5hrs

Not a cloud to be seen. WNW fills in f3/4

Blow up ever so clean duck and paddle to neighbouring Brits on Sun Odyssey Legend 35 Vigdis. After 7 years they may be selling and heading back to land. Interesting! Quite a few other yachts arrive. Skip AND Jane go for first swim of year. Cuppa, then raise anchor and motor up E coast of island to meet decent breeze filling in from WNW. Hoist sails. Comfy beat 4+knts. Head NNW to start. Tack over onto stbd – about 25degrees below desired course for Frikes. Freshens, stick in a couple of reefs early. D`fly balanced and loving it 4to5knts. Get hoped for lift as wind curls round N of Ithaki so can lay Frikes. Full sun. Bliss. Headed near coast so short tack on Port, back on Stbd and fetch right into bay. Motor last ¼ mile and good manoeuvre alongside, where parked Good News those 8 years ago. New version of pilot still refers to going stern/bows too, but locals explain too much weed for safe anchoring, (esp as pitching on waves from offshore Italy to Patras ferries racing by can pull anchor out), so must go alongside and raft up if no space. Excellent sturdy mooring hoops on quay. Loads of space today so can go alongside. Quaint place. New road (good for around mountain walk!) has been cut into hillside. Some dislike it here as gusts from hills continue well into night and ongoing ferry wash makes it uncomfy, but proper springs and scaffold plank outboard of long fenders keep D`fly snug. We’re now very fond of Ithaki. Jane finds finest shower. 3euros again, with own cubical and communal dryer AND straighteners. Skip does usual black bag wash, then both have beer ashore. Can`t find green beans in minimarket. Hope Vasiliki better provided, to go with Fray Bentos Steak n Ale treat. Hear Bridget, Job and bikes safely landed London and heading back to Bristol, in the rain. Tshirts and shorts here.