torsdag 30. juni 2016

Harbour drama and Kythira.

After our goodbye with good friends the bay felt lonely and we sailed up to the little port in the north of Elafonisos. We spent some pleasant days with friendly sailors and where the friendship with fellow yachties was crucial to securing the boat when bad weather came in as we lay longside. Much is to be said about mooring and weather. Any way, as the sea rolled in, we with the help of Manchester sailor Dave, set out the extra anchour and could sleep well.

We are now on the Island of Kythira. It apparently goes mad in august with tourists but now its calm. We had a little mishap with our stern tieing and the rudder scrathed against the under water ballast along the quay. A small damage to the rudder as a result but a bigger dent to our egos. Its a lesson learned as we say.
The boat is still floating so tomorrow we sail on towards Krete or anti Kythira depending on the winds.

Water temp is up so swimming is good!

fredag 24. juni 2016

Last cup of coffee.

This blog post could have been about the Island of Kimmolos. Of our meal in the village eating beans and cheese pies. Drinking a cold Mythos. As we watched Iceland play Romania.

Or about the other game we watched. Sweden against Italy. How painfull the loss was. But how we enjoyed the food and company.

I could have written about the caves in Milos. With the crystal clear water and excellent swimming. The exposed anchourage and the long long line ashore. Of how we sailed out in the evening for an overnight sail to the Pelepones. The dead calm. The sunset. The full moon. The passage of the reputable Ak Malea, cape Horn of Europe. Of how we arrived in a paradise bay in Elafonisos.  The passing ships rounding the Pelepones on their way east or west in the Med.

SV Maples freshly caught tuna and exceptional hospitality, inviting all to sushi and grilled tuna steak. The beach bonfire and sausages rolling off the grill.

Of how we have shared all these experiences with our good friends on SV Maple. How difficult it was for all of us to say goodbye last night.

But how great it was to row over this morning for one last cup of coffee just before they sailed west on their journey around the world. To say "see you soon", row back to La Familia and wave goodbye.

Thanks for everything and the coffee!

fredag 17. juni 2016

Little chatterbox and mad men.

After the weather had passed and we had recieved our wire for the mast almost three weeks went by as we anchoured on Paros. It was a nice place with a great taverna ashore.

But our journey is not over quite yet. And the canadians are just at the beginning of theirs. So we have sailed further west. First to a deserted bay on the Island of Desphotiko. And from there to Sifnos and now to the small Island Kimmonos just NE of Milos.

On Desphotiko we cleaned a small beach and Janna started a small internet rally to inspire people to clean a beach or their neighbourhood.   It felt good to try to give something back to the nature and this area which we enjoy so much.

We moored in a marina on Sifnos. After almost four weeks it felt good to be tied up and have easy access to land. And marinas mean meeting other sailors. Ingrid, as usual, tied ropes and talked away. Hence some britts quickly dubbed here chatterbox! Edvard fished and watched Minions with his friends. Janna read the pilot guide and about Columbus. I jumped, jogged and showered. In the evenings we watched Mad Men. Pretty relaxed!

Today we sailed in about 10 knots of wind. Nice and calm. No rolling or beating in to the waves. Just cruising with the wind! Once anchoured we dingyed to the beach and found a taverna with tv. In good company(Maple) we ate and drunk and suffered as Sweden lost to Italy in Euro 2016.

We enjoy each day now.

onsdag 8. juni 2016

Learning to swim.

Learning to swim is a great challenge. Be it for the first time like Edvard and Ingrid are doing or a new way of swimming as I am trying to do. Learning the crawl technique has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. And now I am trying. Every day. La Familia is still anchoured outside Naoussa with perfect conditions for swimming. The young ones go at swimming and playing in the water with great energy and stamina. Never in doubt it seems of how to master the element of water. I struggle with salty water in my nose and mouth. How to position head and arms for effortless breathing.  I even some times can't make way through the water and get the feeling of that I am sinking to the bottom of the seabed together with my belief of ever mastering crawl. Meanwhile Edvard is taking  multiple summersolts under water. So I have taken a small brake from practice hoping the skill to swim will come to me. Maybe as I am wrighting this I am learning to swim. I still have the hope. And with learning from the persistance of the kids. I will be out there in the water trying to figure out the art of crawling some day soon!

Besides swimming we have done some small hikes and enjoyed the greek tavernas a shore.

Enjoy the summer! With or without swimming!