Winter 2014

We managed to have a final sail before heading to the UK, heading the 12 miles or so to Lipsi to one of our favourite tavernas. Again sails were reefed down, the deck got wet and the boat was tipping over - Gordon would say 10' P would say nearer 45', oh for some light winds. Still with it being windy there was plenty of room on the town quay where we moored stern too and watch the entertainment of the charter boats coming into moor. Rassy Lady joined us for a reunion after there trip north, some excellent non typical meals were enjoyed at Manoli's Taverna in the town square.
The return trip to Leros was just s windy and large waves so we needed the reefs yet again and we were down wind sailing! Two other boats were heading the same way and although it was not a race it was good to finish second when we were the smallest yacht. Back in the marina it was like a different day, light winds and very warm. Time to start packing the boat up for winter and storage ashore whilst we return to the UK to earn some money to cruise again in 2015.

A cold morning on the cut!

 Cosy down below!

We say we were home to earn some money but of course after the summer on the boat we were due a holiday! Dave & Marilyn had invited us on to their newly purchased narrow boat, we cruised on the Grand union and Oxford canals but didn't always get where we wanted due to lock maintenance! It was a cruel return to the UK weather with frost for two mornings and torrential rain for one series of locks. The log fire was welcome every evening. A great taster of "living on the cut", not put off and so you may see Crazydream on the French canals yet.
Now we are truly back into work and catching up with people when we can. P, as always back at the hospital, G putting his hand to odd jobs. A new shed roof, fitting a banister just two of the undertakings at Torrington road for his Mum. He also managed a short stint back a Quay Graphics, the print firm who he has worked for in previous winters.
Some house sits over the winter has seen us being able to return some of the hospitality we often receive at others, Christmas and New Year with friends was memorable and P actually went back to work for a rest!!!
With flights booked to go back to the boat we are just concentrating on trying to save some money whilst working out where the boat will go in the coming season. But we have still managed to catch up with some friends on our days off and the pics show just a few of the gatherings.

Cream Tea in Somerset with Sandi & Colin

                                                                              

G, Sue, P, Angela, Pete & John in Dartmouth

 

G, Judy, Richard & Anne Marie at Sandbanks

Summer 2014

Leros Marina with Lakki Town

Having an annual contract has made us lazy (or lazier!) this year, we kept returning to the marina and staying there rather than going out sailing. Its a good marina with a nice shower block with plenty of hot water, if you're lucky someone has left some credit on a pillar on the pontoon and you pick up some free water and electric for the boat. There always seems to be a breeze by the late morning making it a comfortable temperature. The downside is the distance to the town and shopping but now that we have the "Brompton's" its a lot easier and quicker, they also give us the chance to explore more of the island. We visited the Italian battlements from the second world war. Underground tunnels, gun emplacements and even a tank up on the hill in the centre of Leros giving the troops a panoramic view of the island and neighbouring islands. Very thought provoking.

light wind sailing!

Thankfully we had more visitors and so we headed back to sea eventually and picked Jane and Mark up again from Kalymnos. Its an easy place for people to get to from Kos airport with a short bus ride and ferry trip (not always on the same day though!). We planned to visit some islands that we'd not been to before and with the forecast decided to head down towards the north west coast of Rhodes to Khalki and Alimia, some 70 miles south with islands in the way! A gentle first day saw us in Pserimos for a welcome swim and the nightly BBQ after that the wind picked up and gave us bumpy rides to the islands of Yali and Tilos - how do the waves get that big in the Med? We were lucky to find  space in the small harbour of Livadhi on Tilos but not so lucky to find a sheared off bolt on the deck from the inner forstay (a wire that helps keep the mast up!).

Alimia anchorage

As the island is small with limited supplies  a temporary repair was carried out but even that consisted of headlining down in the fore peak - very messy and cutting back the lay up of the boat that was encapsulating the bolts. Two bolts replaced (all we had) and the boat put back together a few hours later. Thankfully  Livadhi has a lovely beach, clear water and trees for shade to escape to, we seriously recommend it to anyone wanting a chill out and do nothing break.

Khalki

We managed to head off the next day heading for some anchorages on Khalki and Alimia, idyllic places with very few people in them. Ashore on Alimia are some abandoned buildings used by the Italians and Germans in WW11 with some nostalgic cartoons drawn by them on the walls. No one lives on the island, there is just the few tourists who take the water taxi from Khalki to there for the day, you have the island often to yourself. Sadly there were numerous wasps when we were at anchor which were very annoying and even stung P who reacted with a very red swollen arm which needed cream, tablets and an injection from the local Dr! We spent 3 days on the quay/pontoon in Khalki due to strong winds, its not ideal shelter and the pontoon was very rickety making the boat move quite a bit. We spent more time ashore eating or swimming off the pontoon than on the boat. Finally the wind eased and allowed us to start making the trip back north stopping at Symi, Tilos and Nisiros, winds were anything from having us reefed down, motoring or the light weight cruising chute - ah the Mediterranean wind, its either no wind, too much wind or on the nose wind!!

Escapade & Crazydream in Nisiros

Jane & Mark got the ferry from Nisiros to Kos for their return trip and we stayed on in Nisiros to meet up with Svein and Caryn from Escapade. With good company, an excellent restaurant and too much wind from the north (the way we wanted to go) we stayed over a week. Finally the wind eased enough to head back to Leros in two hops, we needed reefs in the main as the wind was lighter than it had been but was still causing us to get water over the foredeck - the canals are seriously becoming a option!

Again some free electric and water saw us staying in the marina for longer than we should but there was the repair of the inner forestay to do, headlining to be stuck, water pump to be mended then subsequently replaced, the jobs are endless, we even started some internal varnishing. Then there's all the people to socialise with, we will get out there again soon - honest!!

Early Summer 2014

Crazydream at anchor

A leasurely return to Crazydream this year, a few jobs to do before we were lifted out of the water for a survey that our insurance company had requested. Crazydream is 30 years old and needs an "all clear" for the insurance company to keep taking our money! Whilst out of the water Gordon took the opportunity to drop the rudder and make the bearings looser to lighten the steering. Surprisingly this was all done with relative ease over a day or so but having booked 10 days ashore many other jobs were done leaving a whole day at the end for the survey. A nice chap, Ioannis Galouzis from Kos agreed to do the survey and happily took our money before delivering a favourable report. All that maintanence is worth while.

Once back in the water we prepared ourselves and the boat for our first guest of the year. We have an annual contract again this year and were in no rush to head out. The weather this year is unsettled and was still chilly in the evening in late May and strong winds from the south.

Anne Marie on Crazydream

Early June saw Anne Marie join us for 10 days. Pick up in Kalymnos went as arranged before we headed north for her stay. We visited many idyllic anchorages that Anne Marie had not been to on Matapan, we didn't want to bring back too many sad memories. Only one day of strong winds saw us held up in Lipsi on the town quay for a couple of nights. A safe place to be and the chance to visit one of our favourite resturants in the area, Manoli's in the centre of the village.

 Some down wind sailing to Kos where we hired a car to drop Anne Marie off with relatives who happened to be holidaying on the island. We shared a meal with Lucy, Steve and Beatrice before we headed back to Crazydream.

Goose winging downwind

Keeping the car the following morning to shop in Lidl's - a must for every cruiser when you can!

A return to Lakki marina for some rest before our next guest - the berth is paid for so we may as well use it! A little socialising with some of the other boat owners we knew before heading back to Kalymnos to pick up Kathryn. A few hick ups in that we weren't actually berthed when her flight landed and when her ferry arrived we missed it as we were sitting in the shade and it crept in without us seeing it. A text from Kathryn saying she was on our boat was all that made us move!!

With Kathryn's nick name of "windy witch" there of course was a blow forecast for a few days time, so a short sail to Pserimos with the hope of seeing some dolphins (didn't happen) before a swim and bbq in a lovely anchorage. Wind increased overnight and as we left the anchorage in the morning, just under genoa, we saw 32 kts and a large sea north of Kos. It became less as we travelled down the passage between Kos and the Turkish coast but at the notoriuos SE corner of Kos the wind increased and we were reefing  - the blow wasn't meant to start for another 36 hours. We headed straight for Nisiros and secured a spot on the outer breakwater, stern to the wind and as forecast the wind increased as did the waves outside the harbour.

Roma Bath, Nisiros

Windy at the Monastry

On our second day the wind was a force 8-9 with the waves crashing over the breakwater an covering the boat with salt. The motion of the boat was not very pleasant and the girls opted to go sight seeing whilst Gordon stayed on board - just in case. We took the early bus to the main town of Mandraki, visiting the monastry, the fortifications of the ancient city (a 30 minute up hill walk out of the village) and the archelogical museum.

Mandraki, Nisiros

Nisiros Crater

Pali Harbour

Looking down on the harbour at Pali on our return the waves were crashing on the breakwater and along the beach, resembling the Gold Coast in Australia - we'd have taken photo's but the bus didn't stop and the windows were all covered in salt! Five nights we stayed in Nisiros, hiring a car to see the Volcano and its craters,  the village of Nikia with its Volcanological Museum, natural sauna's and roman baths. With the motion on the boat uncomfortable scrabble was adjourned to the local taverna! They even put the British Grand Prix on for us to watch.

Eventually we managed to leave having washed all the salt off the boat to then sail into wind getting the decks all salty again and found ourselves stopping in Kos on the free quay. Plenty of depth for us but after a sleepless night due to the noisy holiday makers we remembered why we pay the money and go into the marina! An early start back to Kalymnos with a stronger wind forecast we were reefed down and salt all over the deck, again. Paulines sense of humour really is now fading and this windy, tippy sailing lark is coming to an end for her. A nice last night for Kathryn in Stukas taverna on the front before an early ferry back to Kos and Gordon & Pauline returned to Lakki for a rest and yet another wash off!

As luck would have it Svein and Caryn, friends who had sadly lost their boat to a fire last year but who have since bought another with the insurance payout, were due in Lakki and they had our bikes on board.  They had offered to deliver them from Lefkas, where Gordon had seen them on his delivery trip, as they were coming this way and it would save us the postage. Amazingly they were unfolded at the back of "Escapade" and even after a long time of not being used, ridden back to Crazydream in the marina. A truely useful gift bequeathed to us from  s/y Matapan. 

Our Brompton bikes

A few nights of drinking and eating saw us catching up with all the news from Caryn and Svein before they headed off south, with plans to meet again in Nisiros in August. With the bikes it was now easier and much quicker to go into town for shopping, what would have taken up to 2 hours takes half an hour now, leaving time to do some jobs and catch up on some reading - a book on the French Canals for Pauline!!!!

Winter 2013/14

Slowly people were putting their boats to bed for the winter and heading home but not us. We had jobs we wanted to do and were likely to be messy and thus better when no one was on their boats close by.
The treadmaster on the deck was more worn out than in place and we had decided to remove it and paint

The new decks

the decks. Easy peasy you say - if only! After nearly 5 weeks of Gordon on his knees with either a chisel, file or sander taking the stuff off, then masking up the deck prior to painting "sand beige" deck paint. All in amongst the rain showers, it does however look great and really tidies up the boat.

varnished inside & new telly

That job done saw some inside work of varnishing and headlining resticking. Days were shorter and cooler with the temperature dropping at night. The cockpit tent, which hadn't been used since Kalamata was a God send, keeping the wind and rain off and enabling us to use the cockpit for jobs as well as sitting in the dry. The flat screen telly that we had treated ourselves too came in handy on the long dark nights too, although it was films we were watching rather than Greek telly.

The marina was very quiet with only 5 boats with crew on for the winter and all on different pontoons and all different languages - thankfully English was the universal language. There were some nights socialising on each others boats and in one case in an old Italian style house on the island that a crew were housesitting. When Christmas arrived we headed to one taverna on Christmas eve, a long walk there but with fantastic food and some Greek dancing, it was worth it. On Christmas day all the boat crews headed in a different direction to another taverna, many of us had been frequenting each month for lunch. Poppy served up excellant food and lots of it, with plenty of wine and beer, traditional spit roast pork, pies, pasta, soup and salads all for 15€ a head. No supper was required that evening.

We packed up the next day and as a treat stayed in a hotel for the night before flying back to the UK. We were staying with Anne-Marie of Matapan for a couple of days prior to New Years Eve in London for the fireworks.

Some planning at Anne-Maries was required for the return trip of Matapan to the UK. Gordon was going to help Anne-Marie, with some others, deliver Matapan from Turkey to Slovenia prior to overlanding Matapan

Punting on the Cam

to Holland and then finally the English Channel. After planning we spent a day in Cambridge and with a bright sunny winters day went punting on the Cam! Cold but entertaining.

Our time with Anne-Marie ended all too soon and we headed to London to stay on Taransay Mhor with Sandi and Colin in St Katherine's Dock. We did some sight seeing, went on a tradition London bus and managed 5 Whetherspoon pub's during our stay. We walked along the Thames for a great view of the fireworks on New Years Eve with all the crowds, it was spectacular and an experience but probably done on telly next time!

Finally time to head back to Portsmouth to work, P at the hospital and G to whatever he could find which turned out to be sorting some leaks at his Mum's house, decorating, driving and builders mate. Oh and the

G working, delivering a yacht!

delivery of Matapan in early March across the Aegean and up the Adriatic flying back to the UK after only 3 weeks away.
With all the mod cons we were able to speak to each other almost every day. Matapan took another week to get back across Europe, dropped in the water and sailed to the east coast where she is now based and up for sale.


Some house sitting for friends made the time left go very quickly and what with working it left little time to catch up with all the people we would have liked to - next time! For now it's back to Crazydream for the summer.

Summer in the UK

This summer was different for us, we were going back to the UK for a couple of months. Gordon's mother, Jill was 80 at the end of July so we were flying home and had decided to stay for a while. It had been too hot in the Med the previous year, we could earn more for the cruising fund and Gordon could play on his motorbike without fear of getting wet or cold!!

Glorious weather greeted us on our return and a family gathering at Jill's house saw us celebrate her 80th Birthday. Then back to the grindstone of work which is much harder to do when the weather is warm and the evenings light. But work we did except for when we took a couple of holidays!!

Sailing in the Solent

Jane & Mark weren't coming out to us this year and instead invited us out sailing in the Solent. We'd been concerned that it would be cold and wet but are pleased to report warm sunny weather and good sails each day. We returned to some old haunts of years past, Cowes, Yarmouth, Newtown Creek and enjoyed a fabulous evening in Hythe marina with Steve & Maggie of Rassy Lady. Mooring on their berth, BBQ'ing on their patio and using their facilities. Sorry not open to all Solent users! An excellent few days and more so as we were the guests not the hostess and skipper. Some boat maintenance was required along the way but a cracking week. Thanks Jane & Mark.

After a few days back at work we were off on our next jolly - on a canal boat with Dave and Marilyn. A

A different pace of life

70ft traditional barge with all mod cons on the Kennet & Avon canal. We lost count of the number of locks we went through and the miles we covered but a relaxing time at a much slower pace than we are used to.Again the weather was good to us and the coats stayed in the bag. We were able to BBQ in some stunning places on pleasant evenings even celebrating Dave & Marilyn's wedding anniversary a week late - a long story but we were a week late for their actual wedding day and so it's tradition! Some maintenance was needed along the way, some urgent when we lost reverse whilst heading for a lock gate. Thankfully no lasting damage to the boat or lock gate!!! Thanks Dave & Maz really enjoyed it and we'll be back for more when you get your own boat.


Back to work to save for the cruising fund but we managed a few BBQ's and to meet up with some friends along the way. Time for us to head back to the boat came round quickly and at the right moment as the weather was starting to turn autumnal and a lot cooler. It had been good in the UK for summer and we enjoy the greeness of the country but Crazydream was calling.

On our return to Greece we were met in Kos by Rassy Lady who had offered us a lift back to Leros on their yacht. We couldn't have asked for more, a pleasant wind to take us north, sailing for 4 out of the 6 hours and moored just 3 boats away from Crazydream. No humping of luggage across the islands. Thanks Steve & Maggie.

Crazydream sailing away from Lipsi

All was well on the boat and with an outlook of good weather for a few days we got her ready to sail in a day, including scrubbing her bottom. As she hadn't moved for nearly 3 months her underside was covered in slime and bushes which would slow us down if we didn't get rid of it. So G went in the water with the scrubbing brush!

We had some nice sails up to the islands of Lipsi and Arki with Rassy Lady. It wasn't a race but they won each time but our excuse was that our bottom was dirty! One sail was in stronger winds than P really liked and it reiterated that she is a fair weather sailor and sees no enjoyment in holding on whilst the boat is at a 45' angle. On our return to Leros we stopped at an idyllic anchorage spot for lunch and to scrub her bottom again. Although the water was 23'C it felt very chilly if you weren't actually scrubbing! With a forecast of strong winds and rain we headed back to the safety of the marina and a reunion with Marinerme, Frank and Jenny. The three boats, Crazydream, Marinerme and Rassy Lady have been cruising and wintering together on and off for the last 8 years or so.

Plenty of socialising and planning of the winter jobs begin!

Crazydream, Marinerme & Rassy Lady in Lipsi

Windy July

Anne-Marie on the Helm

We spent a couple of weeks in Hisaronu Korfezi, one of our favourite cruising areas. We were lucky enough to have Anne Marie join us from Fethiye for a few days. Great to catch up and a chance for us to return some of the hospitality we get on visits to her. Our time however went far too quickly and saw Anne Marie heading back to Matapan and us to Greek waters, after a stock up from the local market. As much fruit and veg that you can carry for less than £4, 2 litres of local olive oil for less than £6 and 2kg of chicken for less than £5 – good job the freezer is still working well to store it all.

Palon harbour on Nisiros

A couple of fast sails – up to 8.4 knots, saw us in Panormitis to sit out the next blow. Three nights of windy weather before we saw a weather window to head for Nisiros. Again a cracking sail with speeds up to 8 kts until the wind dropped for an hour in the middle of the 30 mile crossing. Lots of space in Nisiros and the following day saw us take the lines of C’est la Vie and a few days were spent together before we headed off to Kos to pick up Kathryn.

Kathryn lived up to her nick name of windy witch. After her first couple of days on board, the wind filled in to 20-25kts plus and stayed there for the next 10 days. In fact until she’s gone home. We managed a few sails with her to Leros, Arki, Lipsi and then back to Leros to the safety of our paid for marina berth!

Windy Leros

The enforced stay in the marina saw us touring the island in a car and being true tourist, going to the beach on a couple of days. With the wind as strong as it was Kathryn was quite happy to catch the ferry to Kos for her flight home. Apparently the trip was quite lumpy!

With just over two weeks till we flew home we decided to stay put in the marina. The meltemi wind was here to stay which kept it cooler on the boat but still too warm in the middle of the day to do jobs.

Looking towards Kalimnos from Leros

A very sad day happened when C’est la Vie (Sven & Caryn), who had followed us up from Nisiros, was at anchor in Lakki. The boat caught fire and was totally lost to the flames. Thankfully they were not on board (they were touring the island) and were not hurt but they were true liveaboards and lost everything apart from what they had ashore with them. Very sad and tragic, we were only pleased that they were alright. All we could do was help in what seemed little way. Drinks on Crazydream, offer of accommodation, rading the wardrobe for clothes. Many people offered and gave help as only the yachting community can. Even the locals in Lakki offered help. A very sad end to this year’s early cruising. It really does make you stop and think.
 

Local boats on Leros

Early Season

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!

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.

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!