39:14.23N 20:07.95E

Monday 22nd September

Awoke to the pitter patter of rain on the deck which was definitely not in the brochure! Very strange weather patterns at the moment which have certainly confused the forecasters and most of us as well. Big black clouds swirled over Paxos and the mainland, but then in the gaps, the sun would burst through making it hot as well. We took advantage of what appeared to be a break in this pattern to head off to Lakka, but of course today had to be the day we got our anchor crossed with another. This is a fact of life out here as the Greeks do not yet have many lazy lines etc. so for the most part all boats have to lay an anchor to hold them off the quay. This invites a degree of chaos and argument as the less adept skippers tend to lay their anchors over the ones already down, which is not a huge disaster as long as they leave first, but if they don't.... Well this was the case today as the boat next to us arrived yesterday after us and laid his anchor at an angle ensuring that it passed over ours. So when we raised ours this morning, we had his chain and anchor all hooked up with ours. Dived into the cockpit locker to unearth the gizmo we bought in the UK to help with just such a situation and it worked a treat so in due course we were free to continue our journey.

Arrived to find Lakka bay pretty much empty so we were able to select a decent spot to anchor, although with the wind swirling today, it was hard to be sure where was the best place.

Settled down to lunch and had been watching a mini tornado under a huge black cumulonimbus cloud high in the sky when the wind suddenly started to increase around us along with an unusual rushing sound which suddenly developed into a waterspout flying across the bay towards us. It flashed past us upending our dinghy complete with outboard engine before heading towards a neighbouring boat. By now it was less dramatic as a spout and was just a mini tornado, but it caused panic in the yacht as they healed over under its force before it passed on out of the bay. (Photos will be posted in next day or so at www.rhbell.com)

After this bit of excitement things settled down and the afternoon proved very pleasant with the sun replacing the thunder clouds encouraging us both to go swimming and the evening went on to be clear with all the stars shining brightly!