Previous Diary Entries
2016
Jun 2016
2015
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Motor N to Yithion. Moor up for hire car trip to Kalamata
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Good sail W to Kotranas on Mani
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Visit pretty Elafonisos town. More wind than forecast so stay two nights
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S then E around bottom of lowlying Nisos Elafonisos to anchor in Ormos Levki
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Motorsail E to attractive Elaia, beat S to rundown Plitra
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Escape town to isolated nearby ancient anchorage
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To busy port of Yithion
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Short hop N to Skoutari
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Motor N up E coast of Mani to pleasant Kotronas
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South, visit Yerolimena, around Cape Matapan and back up to sheltered Porto Kayio
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South down Mani to Diros caves and on to Mezapo
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Motor down Mani to Limeni
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Fly back to Kalamata, stock up, wash and go - to Kitries
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Scenic walk up escarpment. N to likeable Kitries
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Rain gone away - S to trendy Kardahmila
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Anticlockwise around N Mani by hire car - STUNNING !!
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Crew depart, wet days exploring town. Hire car to see Ancient Messini
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Cool motor to pretty Kitries on Mani, lively sail to Kalamata
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E around Ag Akritas (S headland on Peloponnese W finger) toKoroni
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Big treck ashore, Pilos for boat handling practice and water, Methoni for R & R
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Treck around stunning Palaio Castro to Nestor`s cave and beautiful Ormos Voidhokoilia
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Back to Navarinou bay for shelter
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Explore Fort. Fetch E to Finakounda
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Demo basic sail handling in bay. S to stunning Methoni
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Uncomfortable morning as f6 arrives. Stay put Pilos as guests arrive too.
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Motor into swell, then turn to port, all sails fetch along pretty coast to stylish Pilos
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To Kiparissia, on mainland Peloponnese, then tidy up day
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Explore Zakinthos fortress
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Tail wind to Sami, frisky sail to Zante
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Quiet Fiskardho
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Lazy day visit majestic Agio Fili beach, move on to Sivota
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Uptop Spartochori; motor to Vas
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Set sail, to Lefkas and on to Babbi`s
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Launch and motor across to Preveza Town Marina
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Back to Preveza, prepare to launch
Jul 2015
2014
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Final drinks party on board. Dragonfly SOLD
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Last sail/motor to Topsham, R Exe Back home!
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Sun`s out. Great cross channel reach to Dartmouth
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Sail thro narrow passage, quick playsail and in to Roscoff Marina
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Motor to Ile de Batz
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Shoot Raz and Four in a tide to L`Aberwrach
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Wet motorsail to Audierne
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Head for Glenans, divert to Port Manech
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To Port Tudy, just off Lorient, and fog
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Start heading W to pretty Sauzon
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Set off NW, end up anchored off Ile Houat
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Long motor NW to Ile d`Yeu
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Across to Bourgenay on mainland
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Short hop to Ars en Re
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Long slog N to anchor S Ile de Re
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Sail downriver to Port Medoc
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Paulliac for rematage, washdown, sails up - ready for sea
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Girls to market. Down estuary to Paulliac on ebb
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Struggle thro weed to lock out, fast passage downstream to Bordeaux
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Hot and weedy. Last night in canal at Meilhan Halte
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Delays due to canal leak! Moor up just short of Buzet
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V V hot day to Agen
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To pretty Moissac V hot!
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Heatwave and chaotic crewchange at Toulouse
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Summit at 194m, still short of Toulouse
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Hairy day racing along to Castelnaudary
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Still going up, to Carcassonne
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Breakfast at Capestang, under lowest bridge, supper at Homps
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Enter canal du Midi, up Bezier staircase, moor on bank
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Mast down, evening passage thro 4 bridges and W along Etang du Thau to anchor just off canal entrance
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To Sete for dematage
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Escape Port St Louis - good progress to Palavas-les-Flots (Montpellier)
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Fly to Beziers, taxi to Port St Louis, launch Dragonfly, wash off grime, wait for Mistral to blow through
Oct 2014
2013
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Pack up,to Nice and Lympstone
Fri 17 Oct 07:54 -
Short motor W in brilliant sun to Navy Service for winter layup
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Great sail for penultimate leg W to Sausset-les-Pins
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East, then South, then West to Porquerolls, on biggest of Isles d`Hyeres
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Wind on its way, so short hop W to St Tropez
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Head W to St Raphael, meeting Adam and Georgi on the way
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Long tiring leg WNW to Port de Cap D`Ail, immediately W of Monaco
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Chill out day on Corsica waiting for Sirocco to ease
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Depart 0230 for frisky sail to excellent marina at Machinaggio on NE corner of Corsica
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Further offshore to Elba
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Leave Italian mainland for island of Giglio, where the Costa Concordia foundered
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False start for ruins. Fouled prop. To Santa Marinella to escape the sprawl
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Motor North to huge Porta di Roma marina. Need shade from sun!
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North to modern and full marina at Circio
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: Explore Amalfi then North to anchor off Isola Procida, just beyond Naples
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Long leg North to stunning Amalfi
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More mountains on way to pretty Scario
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Start heading North along pretty mountainous W coast to Cetraro
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Jamie flys home. Skip and Jane have lazy day. Wonderful weather.
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Slog up through Massina Straits and on to pretty Tropea
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Good sail around the toe to grubby Reggio di Calabria
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Bumpy crossing to Rocella Ionica, on the ball of Italy`s foot
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Preveza - Liveloula lifted out; Dragonfly launched
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Jenny leaves us; we head to Preveza for winter liftout
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LSC boats gather in Fiskardho
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Beat south then SW to Frikes on Ithaka
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Anchor in inlet on Meganisi, and discover Katomeri
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To Kastos, via One House Bay
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Night in Pera Pigadhi bay
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To Sami for drop off, and to replenish beer stores
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Family reunion at Vasiliki. Devon reunion Foki Bay
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Thunderstorm on Kalamos. No Penelope at Frikes.
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Passage to prertty Kastos, via OHB. Meet up with Astra again.
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To sami to pick up Jane and John. Out to anchor at Peri Pigadhi, S Ithaka
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Meet up with Rach and drop off Julie at Vas; To Fokki Bay and rendezvous with Bootlegger and Astra
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Motor NE a mile to small cove for swim/breakfast. Good sail N to Sivota
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To One House Bay for swim. Sit out heavy showers. On to Frikes on Ithaka
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More views of Kastos
Wed 3 Sep 06:51 -
Good sail S to pretty Kastos
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Bit of sun, loads of torrential rain. No sign of noisy Midnight Sun moving, so motor 2nm East to secluded bay for peaceful night
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Gantry fitted, shopping done, watered up - lets get going S to Spartakhori before forecast storm arrives
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South to Levkas for LSC reunion and gantry man, via luvly night at Two Rock Bay
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Leave Corfu for this year and head South to Lakka and await delivery of Julie
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Pit stop at Gouvia to drop Angela, laundry and boat things, then head out to Corfu Old Fort anchorage
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just a couple of miles to Ay Stefanos
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Motor Eastwards along N coast of Corfu
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Island of Mathraki, and down W coast of Corfu to wonderful cove Timoni
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Erikoussa and Othoni, Islands NW of Corfu
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Astra ahoy, Angela arrives and Jane`s birthday
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Back on Liveloula. Dash to Preveza to tidy Dragonfly
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Moor up Gouvia Marina, and home for three weeks
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Lazy day at Petriti. Next day short motor N in flat calm to anchor in lee of Corfu (Kerkira) Old Fort
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Repost of last photo
Sat 19 Jul 10:27 -
Explore nearby anchorages; swim/lunch stop; forecast wind doesn`t arrive so motor most way to Petriti on E coast of Corfu (Kerkira).
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Gentle sail NNW to mainland village of Sivota (Mourtos)
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Motor then sail, slowly, N up spectacular W coast of Paxos to Lacca
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North from Preveza to Islands of AntiPaxos, then Paxos
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Chance meeting Breary family, ferry service to Vassaliki, another LSC gathering, tidy up D`fly, fond farewells to Bootlegger, where`s the Brompton
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To Pera Pigadhi on SE corner of Ithaki, and an interesting night
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Taxiing Rachel and Alice to Sami, Chris Coombers birthday meet, and pottering on E coast of Ithaki
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Foki Bay and Fiskardho for frank`s 70
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Poli Bay for the night
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Boat swap. Dragonfly stored ashore for 3 months, Vigdis bought and launched
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Good sail N, thro Levkas canal to Preveza, to meet surveyor
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Nice sail W to deep water bay and high up village of Spartakhori on Meganisi
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Hardly a hop to neighbouring Kalamos, and mountain expedition
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Green picture resent
Sat 14 Jun 10:29 -
Day exploring Kastos
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To Sivota for engine check, then fast sail to lovely Kastos
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Short hop W to visit "twee" port Kioni, on NE coast of Ithaka
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Motor S to anchor in One House Bay, Atoko, for afternoon and night
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Lazy beach morning. Short passage E to Sivota and engineer Simon
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To Vasaliki. Day trip with girls and mighty thunderstorm
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Test sail
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Further S to landlocked bay of Sivota to meet up with Vigdis for test sail on Friday
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Further S to Little Vathi, and a day off from boatshopping
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More boatshopping - Sunsail Beneteaus at Preveza and S thro Lefkas canal to their holiday complex at Vounaki
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Chilly motor N to Levkas Town. Spot many palefaces.
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Hasty departure, nice sail N to Cleopatra Marina, Preveza, boat shopping, boat repairs, and bad weather
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Less cloud today. Sail on to Nidri to commence boat shopping
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Low clouds as sail a few miles E to pretty inlet of Sivota
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Skip's big 60
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Great sail N to Vasiliki to meet Rachel
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SWIM and across to Frikes on Ithaki
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Morning walk to cove; afternoon motor and sailto One House Bay (reposted)
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Long motor W out of Gulf to Vathi on Ithaki, and v windy arrival
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Good progress W under motorto familiar Messolonghi; hail Bootlegger and resting dragonfly on route
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Time to leave Galaxhidi; head W to Trezonia and farewell to Bridget and Job
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Last day at Galaxhidi. Maritime museum and haircut!
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Still at Galaxhidi. Bye to Sally, hello to Bridget and Job and bikes. Spectacular drive inland with stunning mountain views
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Visit Delphi by bus. Mindblowing!
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Dash to pretty Galaxhidi in lull before more winds fill in
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Great sail further E to island of Trizonia
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Head E to spectacular medieval harbour of Navpaktos
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Enjoying marina life - Sally arrives
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Hard work and launch
Oct 2013
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Batten down, bus to Preveza, taxi to Aktion airport, and home to wet and stormy Lympstone - and a good evening at The Globe
Sun 20 Oct 06:02 -
Second week at Messolonghi
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Interesting marina life, Messolonghi
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Long hop to Messolonghi for winter layup
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Five miles south to smaller island of Kastos
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Just 3 miles South to Port Kalamos
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Due East 8 miles to uninspiring Mitikas, on mainland
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Four miles (atcf) to popular and scenic Vathi, on Nisos Meganisi
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S along East scenic coast of Levkas to Tranquil Bay, just off Nidri
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South to Levkas, and marina showers
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Gotta head south for winter - motor as far as Two Rock Bay, on mainland 7nw SE of Parga. Hit the 5000nm!
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Leave Parga , head north to Platarias (also on mainland) - and a few thunderstorms
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Early departure. Gentle sail to Mourtos, on mainland
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Laden duck takes all ashore, Parga. Bye bye Duncan - sail where we can, so it's back to Gaios, Nisos Paxoi
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Final visit (for 2013) to Emerald Bay; cracking sail 11nm NE across to Parga on mainland
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Motor down E coast of Paxoi, stopping at Longos, for night at Mongonisi (on S tip of Island) and evening walk to Gaios for meal
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Bye bye Nisos Kerkira (Corfu), S 20nm to Lakka on N tip of Paxoi, the next island down
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20 miles South along E coast of Corfu Island to Patriti, just 8 miles from S tip.
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N from Corfu to Ay Stefanos, lovely bay on NE of island, 1nm from Albanian coast
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Last leg for Jules, Petriti to Corfu. Duncan arrives
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Mongonisi to Petriti fishing village on Island of Corfu, via scenic E coast of Paxos
Fri 20 Sep 05:54 -
Ligia to Mongonisi (S tip of Nisos Paxoi) via Emerald Bay
Thu 19 Sep 05:50 -
Levkas to Ligia on mainland. Lots of wind.
Wed 18 Sep 05:48 -
From Kalamos N to Levkas Town, via Spartakhori (on Meganisi) and Skorpios
Tue 17 Sep 05:44 -
Motorsail to Fiskardho, then lovely sail downwind to Nisos Kalamos, just off mainland
Sun 15 Sep 14:26 -
Rain! Back to Sami to meet Mark and Helen on big Bav. Guests arrive next day.
Sat 14 Sep 09:46 -
Girls get early bus. We have a day to spare - head N 4 miles to village of Agia Efima
Thu 12 Sep 09:36 -
Last day for girls. Good sail S to Sami (still on Cephalonia E coast), for bus to airport tomorrow
Wed 11 Sep 19:31 -
Rendezvous with Halcyon (Chris Coomber) and on to Fiskardho, pretty village on NE tip of Cephalonia
Tue 10 Sep 19:22 -
To Sivota, landlocked bay at E end of Levkas' short S coast
Mon 9 Sep 19:15 -
Many miles South thro Levas Canal and on to Island of Meganisi
Sun 8 Sep 05:09 -
A few miles S to lovely Emerald Bay on Andipaxoi
Sat 7 Sep 09:48 -
Pottering along E coast Paxoi, pick up Cat and to Mongonisi
Fri 6 Sep 06:51 -
thro Levkas canal and 30 nm NW to our favourite Emerald Bay on NW corner of Andipaxoi
Thu 5 Sep 06:48 -
Long day heading N to Nikiana as Rachel's friend Cat arrives Corfu on Fri
Wed 4 Sep 05:30 -
and a few miles further West to Sami, on Cephalonia
Mon 2 Sep 05:21 -
Head West to Ithaca and anchor in bay on SE tip, Ormos Pera Pigadhi
Sun 1 Sep 05:16
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Early start and frisky sail to Messolongi, on N side of Gulf of Patras. Dolphins!
Fri 30 Aug 14:06 -
South thro Levkas canal, quick stop at Levkas marina, and on to Kastos
Thu 29 Aug 14:00 -
Haulout to replace anode, engine problems, then across strait to Preveza Town quay
Wed 28 Aug 13:57 -
to Preveza to replace anode, and look at one poss stopover for winter
Tue 27 Aug 04:18 -
Heading South to look at locations to leave Dragonfly for winter
Mon 26 Aug 04:16 -
Farewell to Angela, South 1.5 miles to Mongonisi
Sat 24 Aug 20:16 -
Back to Gaios to drop off Angela
Fri 23 Aug 20:14 -
Potter S down E coast of Paxoi, calling in at Longos, Gaios, and sail on to Andipaxoi
Thu 22 Aug 20:12 -
Wonderful sail to Lakka, inlet on N tip of Nisos Paxoi
Wed 21 Aug 20:11 -
S to Patriti, quiet fishing village with a bit of tourism
Tue 20 Aug 20:08 -
S to Corfu Town for chandlery and to pick up Angela
Mon 19 Aug 20:04 -
Explore adjacent bays
Sun 18 Aug 20:02 -
Just back from visit to UK
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Electrical problem resolved. Cleaning and sight seeing,( see best "car clamping" ever!) then fly back to UK
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Staight to Gouvia Marina, just N of Corfu town, ready for brief visit to UK
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Ed and Rosemary leave; long haul N to return to Patriti on Nisos Kerkira (Corfu)
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To Parga (on mainland) via Andipaxoi
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Further S on Paxos to another large inlet, Mongonisi
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To Paxos, island 7 miles south of Corfu
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to Petriti, small fishing port and bay 10 miles S of Corfu town
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To Gouvia Marina to pick up Ed
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Correction
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Final hop to Kerkira (Corfu)
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To Erikoussa, another quiet island just off NE corner of Corfu
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Fast sail from Italy to Greece. Made it!
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Across Golfo di Taranto to Santa Maria di Leuca, right on bottom of stiletto, for last stop in Italy
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To Crotone; ready for long leg to tip of heel
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Further along the ball to Le Castella, a bit short of Crotone
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Along the ball of Italy's foot (part 1)
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2miles to George's buoys, Taormina bay, and pickup Rosemary
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Laundry, victuals and to Taormina (nearly)
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Leave Islands for Strait of Messina
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Try another island, Panarea
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North a few miles to Isola Salina, and up the highest of twin volcanic cones
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Long hop to Isola Volcano, one of the volcanic Aeolian Islands just off N coast of Sicily, and farewell to Jan
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South from Capri just off mainland to Acciaroli
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Across the bay of Naples to Capri
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Further south to Isola di Procidia, near Naples
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Long perfect sail across the Tyrrenian Sea from Olbia to Ponza, island off Italian mainland
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Marina di Portisco to Olbia, and lay day whilst gale blows thro
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Heading south down Costa Smeralda, NE Sardinia, to expensive marina
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Across the Strait (Bocche) of Bonifacio to Isola Budelli, Sardinia (Italy!)
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Campomoro to stunning clanque Bonifacio, on SW corner of Corse
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Heading south down W coast of Corsica from Sagone to anchor in bay off Campomoro
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Girolata to Cargese for franchise, and anchor off Sargone for night - first swim in warm sea
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to Calvi for shopping, on to red coast and Girolata
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Danuta arrives St Florent; anchor in bay on way to Calvi
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St Tropez to Saint Florent, Corsica
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Ile de Port-Cros to St Tropez, yes THE St Tropez!
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Cassis to Iles d`Hyeres
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Port Gardian to Cassis, getting to Cote d`Azur
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Cap d'Adge to Port Gardian, du Camargue
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Grau d`Adge to Cap D`Adge marina, all of 3 miles along the coast!
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Vias to Grau d`Agde, back to salt water, Jan arrives and mast stepped
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Villeneuve-les-Beziers to Vias, last night on canal
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Capestang to Villeneuve les Bezier , as we didn't like the look of the town quay at Bezier
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Homps to Capestang, and "the bridge" - another gem of a destination
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Carcassonne to Homps
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Bram to Carcasson (Disneyland?)
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Castlenaudry to Bram
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Port Lauragais to Castlenaudry, and party time
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Toulouse to Port Lauragais (small marina combined with motorway service station!)
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To the pink city, toulouse
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Sunny WARM day, tie upon wharf near village (Dieupentale), behind a Con Brio
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Fuel, market and just the two of us again - to Moissac
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to Agen for laundry and a bath
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Lock in and to Les Mas D`Agenais
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Another 36 miles upriver to lock in
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Mast lashed on; to Bordeaux and beyond.
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Up to Pauillac for dismasting
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Move across the estuary to Port Medoc
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Dash to Royan, et La Gironde
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With Astra to La Rochelle (Minimes) via Ile D`Aix
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St Martin for John's birthday
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And to Ars to pickup new boat guests, greet Astra and a few days R & R
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Just the two of us - on to Ile d`Yeu
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Le Croisic for a Plat du Jour
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Motoring East to Port Tudy - JL lives on!
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`round the end in a day
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Bumpy ride to L`Aberwrach - quicker to walk?
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Heading west to Roscoff
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Cross Channel