We finally decided we should get out of the marina for a shake down cruise, also we needed to fill the freshwater tanks and didn't want to pay for water. We headed north in light winds checking we'd put everything back the right way after the winter. Everyting seemed to work apart from the bleeper on the autohelm, hopefully we'll get that sorted without incurring a hefty bill from Raymarine - the maker or we'll just keep saying "beep" each time we press a button!
We arrived in Lipsi to find just two other boats on the quay, two more would follow us. It was still early in the season and idyllic. Although the water tap had a padlock on it, it still worked up to half open. It only took 2 hours to fill the tanks!
We ate at Manoli's, a taverna at the top of the stairs in the village. Everyday he comes down to the quay in his chiefs outfit to tell the yachts what he has and where to find him. We haven't ate better on the island yet.
It would have been easy to stay longer but there was a weather window if we wanted to go north and G wanted to go to Arki and the taverna with the music. We anchor'd off for one night taking lines ashore but the sea was still too cold to enjoy the swim and the evenings too chilly to sit in the cockpit. We managed our first BBQ of the year but were below decks way before 9pm!
Arki was quiet with only 5 yachts on the quay, the wind blew constantly whilst we were there but other than making us cold we were very safe. A night in the music bar saw a few sore heads the following day. We decided to head back to Lakki with a sail downwind seeing our first turtle and had dolphins playing off the bow - lovely. Back to the marina to do a few jobs and to enjoy the Greek Easter celebrations. The marina bar hosted a free lunch for the yachties, traditional Easter lamb and free drinks. Although the beer ran out there was plenty of ouzo going. We'd have stayed later except that Chris from Vonasi call to say he was just coming into the bay. Riding bikes and taking lines is not that easy after a free Greek lunch and drink session!
It was good to catch up with Chris but seemed strange with no Claire who was in the UK dealing with her mothers estate. A few meals and drinks had before Chris headed out towards the Cyclades, he was heading for the Ionian.
Time for us to start heading for Kos for G's sister's, Lin, holiday. She had a hotel room booked for her duration but we hoped to get her out on the boat although she'd never been on Crazydream before.
A stop in Kalimnos town where our first breakage of the year happened - the shower drain pump decided not to work. A few hours later, with the pump being dissembled at least 3 times, a new impeller was required but it was sunday! The following morning found us trawling the greek chandlers and eventually finding a Greek impeller that would fit and at a good price. Shower pump now works.
We arrived in Kos at the time we'd said (always difficult when sailing) and there was Lin in the harbour entrance with a beer in hand. Lunch on board with more drinks prior to seista, well for Lin, we decided to fill with water (again for free) and shop for beer and wine (not free!).
A couple of days in Kos showing Lin the sights and using her hotel shower saw rolly nights in the harbour on the boat and a surge at one time causing us to hit the bottom with the rudder. It was not pleasant and so it was time to head off.
With a southerly forecast we headed northward stopping again in Kalimnos, then onto Leros where the strong southerly blew through before we headed back south. There was a lot of shore time with us being attached to the land each day, we even hired a car for one day to show Lin the island of Leros where we have kept the boat for the last four winters. She caught the ferry from Kalimnos to Kos and we headed for Nisiros to sit out another southerly that was due to blow.
As with most times when we go into Nisiros, Ces la Ve were in port and we caught up with what each other have been doing over the last couple of years. Sven was still enjoying being "harbour master" helping boats who got into trouble whilst mooring or leaving. The Port Police where in force here, well one chap came round everyday to check papers and take money. Cost us nearly as much as our marina berth a night but it was a safe harbour for the blow and a lovely beach for a swim. Downside is that you feel obliged to eat out in one of the many taverna's that line the small harbour and then it starts to get expensive.
On to Tilos for a free stop and to stock up from the local butcher before heading over to Symi to sit out another blow that was forecast. A very good anchorage at Panormitis saw it full of boats, some closer than we'd have liked! The blow came in when it said it would and we saw a few boats drag their anchors, we held firm but put a chum weight on the anchor chain to get further away from the boat who we and a canadian boat couldn't wake up. A little sleep that night before P was up anchor watching as the wind increased. It turned off in the evening giving us enough time to have Geoff and Liz from Surf Song over for a drink and to discuss some of the yachts anchoring techniques!
Onto Symi town to stock up before a few weeks in the Turkish anchorages in Hisaronu Korfezi. As ever we went to Georgina's for our beer and wine supply and were pleased to see her busy and that people we had recommended to her had visited and spent some money. A noisy night from the cafe bar made our decision to head off the next day. A nice downwind sail and anchored behind the island of Kiseli Adasi, an idyllic anchorage until the wind turns, we dislodge the rock that we are attached to the land with, wind increasing with us on a lee shore (being blown onto the land 10m behind us) and rain - all before 7am. We spent some time looking for somewhere to hide as did many others, with all the normal places open to the wind blowing 30kts plus and other places too deep. Eventually we settled outside of the islands for a few hours knowing that the wind was going to change again and we'd need to move - again - oh the joys of cruising!
An arrangement to meet Frank from Marinerme saw us heading to one of our favourite anchorages, Dirsek, a spot backed onto the beach with lines ready for Frank when he arrived (he was on his own as Jenny was back in the UK). The offer of pork chop on the barbie was a too good and it saw us meeting a day early and staying together for a few days. Sadly only two of the blue band gang where together, Rassy Lady weren't out but hopefully we'll get us altogether in the autumn and maybe this unsettled weather will sort itself out!
 |
| Lipsi early in the season |
We arrived in Lipsi to find just two other boats on the quay, two more would follow us. It was still early in the season and idyllic. Although the water tap had a padlock on it, it still worked up to half open. It only took 2 hours to fill the tanks!
We ate at Manoli's, a taverna at the top of the stairs in the village. Everyday he comes down to the quay in his chiefs outfit to tell the yachts what he has and where to find him. We haven't ate better on the island yet.
It would have been easy to stay longer but there was a weather window if we wanted to go north and G wanted to go to Arki and the taverna with the music. We anchor'd off for one night taking lines ashore but the sea was still too cold to enjoy the swim and the evenings too chilly to sit in the cockpit. We managed our first BBQ of the year but were below decks way before 9pm!
Arki was quiet with only 5 yachts on the quay, the wind blew constantly whilst we were there but other than making us cold we were very safe. A night in the music bar saw a few sore heads the following day. We decided to head back to Lakki with a sail downwind seeing our first turtle and had dolphins playing off the bow - lovely. Back to the marina to do a few jobs and to enjoy the Greek Easter celebrations. The marina bar hosted a free lunch for the yachties, traditional Easter lamb and free drinks. Although the beer ran out there was plenty of ouzo going. We'd have stayed later except that Chris from Vonasi call to say he was just coming into the bay. Riding bikes and taking lines is not that easy after a free Greek lunch and drink session!
It was good to catch up with Chris but seemed strange with no Claire who was in the UK dealing with her mothers estate. A few meals and drinks had before Chris headed out towards the Cyclades, he was heading for the Ionian.
 |
| Kalimnos Harbour |
Time for us to start heading for Kos for G's sister's, Lin, holiday. She had a hotel room booked for her duration but we hoped to get her out on the boat although she'd never been on Crazydream before.
A stop in Kalimnos town where our first breakage of the year happened - the shower drain pump decided not to work. A few hours later, with the pump being dissembled at least 3 times, a new impeller was required but it was sunday! The following morning found us trawling the greek chandlers and eventually finding a Greek impeller that would fit and at a good price. Shower pump now works.
We arrived in Kos at the time we'd said (always difficult when sailing) and there was Lin in the harbour entrance with a beer in hand. Lunch on board with more drinks prior to seista, well for Lin, we decided to fill with water (again for free) and shop for beer and wine (not free!).
A couple of days in Kos showing Lin the sights and using her hotel shower saw rolly nights in the harbour on the boat and a surge at one time causing us to hit the bottom with the rudder. It was not pleasant and so it was time to head off.
 |
| Kos Free Quay |
With a southerly forecast we headed northward stopping again in Kalimnos, then onto Leros where the strong southerly blew through before we headed back south. There was a lot of shore time with us being attached to the land each day, we even hired a car for one day to show Lin the island of Leros where we have kept the boat for the last four winters. She caught the ferry from Kalimnos to Kos and we headed for Nisiros to sit out another southerly that was due to blow.
As with most times when we go into Nisiros, Ces la Ve were in port and we caught up with what each other have been doing over the last couple of years. Sven was still enjoying being "harbour master" helping boats who got into trouble whilst mooring or leaving. The Port Police where in force here, well one chap came round everyday to check papers and take money. Cost us nearly as much as our marina berth a night but it was a safe harbour for the blow and a lovely beach for a swim. Downside is that you feel obliged to eat out in one of the many taverna's that line the small harbour and then it starts to get expensive.
.JPG) |
| Leros looking south from the castle |
On to Tilos for a free stop and to stock up from the local butcher before heading over to Symi to sit out another blow that was forecast. A very good anchorage at Panormitis saw it full of boats, some closer than we'd have liked! The blow came in when it said it would and we saw a few boats drag their anchors, we held firm but put a chum weight on the anchor chain to get further away from the boat who we and a canadian boat couldn't wake up. A little sleep that night before P was up anchor watching as the wind increased. It turned off in the evening giving us enough time to have Geoff and Liz from Surf Song over for a drink and to discuss some of the yachts anchoring techniques!
Onto Symi town to stock up before a few weeks in the Turkish anchorages in Hisaronu Korfezi. As ever we went to Georgina's for our beer and wine supply and were pleased to see her busy and that people we had recommended to her had visited and spent some money. A noisy night from the cafe bar made our decision to head off the next day. A nice downwind sail and anchored behind the island of Kiseli Adasi, an idyllic anchorage until the wind turns, we dislodge the rock that we are attached to the land with, wind increasing with us on a lee shore (being blown onto the land 10m behind us) and rain - all before 7am. We spent some time looking for somewhere to hide as did many others, with all the normal places open to the wind blowing 30kts plus and other places too deep. Eventually we settled outside of the islands for a few hours knowing that the wind was going to change again and we'd need to move - again - oh the joys of cruising!
An arrangement to meet Frank from Marinerme saw us heading to one of our favourite anchorages, Dirsek, a spot backed onto the beach with lines ready for Frank when he arrived (he was on his own as Jenny was back in the UK). The offer of pork chop on the barbie was a too good and it saw us meeting a day early and staying together for a few days. Sadly only two of the blue band gang where together, Rassy Lady weren't out but hopefully we'll get us altogether in the autumn and maybe this unsettled weather will sort itself out!
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