SERENITY NOW

  2018 Overall Itinerary Australia Crete Kasos Aliminia  Symi Nisiros  Kos Pserimos Lipsi Samos Patmos Leros Kalymnos  Kos  Astypalia  Kos Tilos Alimnos Chalki Tilos Nisiros Kos  Kalymnos Leros Lipsi Kalymnos Kos Astipalia Crete

  19th Oct 2018 (Astipalaia - Crete) Well this is it: Heading back overnight to our current home-base of Crete at the end of our first season on the water.  Left the quay at Astipalia in convoy with Debbie and Lachie (Mistral), who have extra crew of Steph and Andy on board. Departed at around 5pm, and motored away from the lee of the island as the sun went down. Once clear, conditions were good to get the sails up, which we did, and spent the first few hours going along quite nicely. The ever diligent Lachlan was our frequent radio companion, advising speed adjustments, other vessels, milk bottle floats in water, super tanker dimensions etc. etc. We’d put a 2.5hr turnaround watch roster in place - but this went out of the window early on. The reason for this was a combination of Chez not finding it easy to rest on a rolly boat, and me royally mucking up my first watch within minutes of taking charge ( I’d mis-read the situation of lights on the water, interpreting Lachlan...

  12th Oct 2018 (Kos - Kos) Well today is a first - having left Kefalos heading North after some diliberation we have decided to turn back. The 3 meter swell and constant slamming of the hull brought us to the conclusion that the safest and wisest plan would be to err on the side of caution and return to the calm safety of last nights anchorage. Feels strange - but right.  (Also half way through ‘Four feathers’ and looking forward to finishing that off - a ripping yarn) Haven’t written for a while, sadly missing some of the great times we’ve spent while Martin, Cheryls brother, has been with us: Turkey, Tasty Corner, Spoof and Polish Vodka to name a few of the many highlights :) ...and pretending to be a cat, as the picture clearly shows! :)

  21st Sept 2018 (Kos) Med moored back at our second (or is it third?) home for the year: Kardamaina. Arrived yesterday, after a good little sail (one tack, both sails up, 15-20 knots, some chop) from Nisiros, where we’d spent an entertaining couple of days getting the boat ready for Martin’s arrival and enjoying the evening sport. This consists of getting a beer, standing on the bow and watching the charter crews’ frantic attempts at anchoring/mooring in fading light and rising winds. During this time we were fortunate to be involved in a quayside tug of war against a 50ft Turkish yacht who’d wrapped an unsuspecting Frenchman’s anchor warp. Nice community building stuff! Spoilt only slightly by Herr Uve Bricks (our new friend from Tilos) Pointing out that simply using a winch would be significantly easier than the impromptu tug of war team we'd formed. As we left Nisiros, we collected our nice German (....yes, really) neighbours anchor, and did our own bit of marina entertainin...

  6th Sept 2018 (Kos - Tilos) Disturbed nights sleep last night: firstly our standard 2am mossie hunt, then at 4 ish I flung myself out of bed after hearing a shouted conversation. My sleepy brain translated the raised Northern accents to ‘Mark (Malu Kai) is in some sort of fight and needs help to repel boarders’..  Closely followed by Chez I sprang up the companionway stairs to see the usual pissed argumentative pommies going at it: “ I cannae believe you’d do this on our last day” “ Aww fuckoff or I’ll jump in” Ahhh... young love! So somewhat puffy-eyed, we awoke and began prepping for, what will be our first, real sail on our own. ( Kardamaina (Kos) to Tilos) Said our goodbyes to Mark and Alex on the quay - they have been so lovely/funny/generous, hope we can stay in touch. Then up anchor and away! Wind began picking up as we headed out, it was pretty much right behind us, so we tried some wing on wing action with the sails - couldn’t quite get it right, so went bac...

  2nd Sept 2018 (Astipalaia) Spent the day - Sunday -  anchored in the quiet bay of Maltezana on the island of Astipalaia. We’ve spent the last 4 days here with Malu Kai and Cloud 9. Great company. Went to the main town via bus one day, then on Mark and Alex’s tender the next - getting soaked on the return leg.  The town is picturesque in the standard white and blues, and surrounds a nice enclosed harbour (where Peter & Eyvone & Woozle were moored)  Had a couple of sundowning evenings on Cloud 9. Today went for a ‘last supper’ with Paul & Jill - all very nice, but slightly marred by Paul’s exacting standards of waiting staff.  Said sad goodbyes - C9 heading back to Crete tomorrow, while we, with Malu Kai, head back to Kardamaina on Kos. Have learnt so much from being around Paul & Jill - probably more so than Dave and Shirl - I always found Dave to be a little condescending when helping, and as such didn’t like to ask him things. (edit...

  27th Aug 2018 (Kos)  Anchored at Kardamaina - after having shuttled back and forth to Kefalos for the last two days to visit Debbie and Lachlan. Poor nights sleep last night with an annoying side on roll of the sea and a number of mosquitos playing the ear flyby game. Woke to tea and glorious sunshine over the water - Chez having spent half the night up on deck for a cooler sleep. Both swam naked off the back of the boat, then a quick wash and rinse off. Took the tender to the quay, a quick ‘hello’ to Paul & Jill ( who’d remained med moored in town ) and off to the supermarket. Quick provisioning trip then back to the boat. Chez then magiced up a lovely Spanish omelette for brekkie.  Anchor up & away! Nice little breeze to start the day, so immediately had both the Genoa and main up.  Half hour in started the usual sniping at each other - not sure who or what is at fault, but wish to fuck it didn’t happen every day. Now 12:30 - sitting below after ...