39:46.83N 19:31.17E

Friday 22 August and Saturday 23 August Short hop SE to Island of Mathraki, then down W coast of Corfu to Palaiokastritsia, and hasty retreat to isolated cove, Timoni

Friday 22 depart Othoni 1200 Arrive Plakes, Mathraki 1400 7nm M1 S1Many Italians leave Othoni. Ang heads ashore for morning Greek coffee. Finds friendly Antonis. We join her. Wonderful complimentary milopita. Gentle trip to Mathraki. No one else on quay, deserted – drop anchor and go in stern to at N end, and gently run aground. Pilot says 4m – obviously now under 1.85 Struggle to get off. Blow anchor trip. Reanchor and go stern to at S end, but told best to move a bit as ferry skipper may not be at his best after lunchtime tipple. Leave Ang ashore to take lines. Try again, anchor doesn`t bite. Fourth attempt fine. Late afternoon four nice young Italians come in. Skip knows what he is doing on oldish sloop. Then Frenchy storms in between without dropping fenders. Skip objects so he goes out, lays anchor over nice Italians and squeezes in. Strange set up. All very sloppy, tho he talks a good story Crew clueless, and Italian. Jane makes peace. After some drinks handed round they pile ashore to eat. Italian motor b comes in other side. Friendly, with wife and two young kids. Likeable rogue type. Late evening he sees silhouette of friend on 46ft Oceanis motor by. Catches him in spotlight and gets him to squeeze in. Plonker – anchor dropped across two or three of us. Fun at 200am as surging becomes vicious. All skips up to check lines. Plonker`s sternline has upended likeable rouge`s tender with outboard motor attached, so lr takes a dip to right. Plonker becomes arsehole in morning as refuses to acknowledge he is preventing others from leaving, and saunters off to taverna for breakfast. Ang witnesses his arrogance at taverna to confirm first class arsehole. All around us leave, save the nice four. Interesting experience! Wait for fresh bread to arrive from mainland on ferry. See rather beat up bed and awful mattress come ashore from ferry in bits. Someone must have extra visitors this week.