PREPARATIONS AND PERPETUAL MOTION - Days 72 - 75

PREPARATIONS AND PERPETUAL MOTION - 5 to 8 July Days 72 - 75

It took us three days to complete formalities for the boat in Greece. The first day we went to the Port Authority Office in Corfu Town dock area. They gave us a paper to take to the Tax office and we arrived just before closing time 13,00 and paid our 50 euro DEKPA fee.

We were busy in town the next morning and were given the option of completing the process at the Gouvia Marina but arrived after the office there closed at 15.00 but really no-one is worried. So on Friday morning I waited for some time in the queue to be served by a sweet young lady Maria who completed the process with a smile and lovely attitude. Now we have one year, and can renew if we wish to. She said that as EU registered boat with EU crew coming from Schengen country we were the easiest case to deal with. We did have to pay an extra 15 euros yacht entry fee to Greece which I was unaware of. Life is difficult in Greece with a poor economy and migrant flows but she is a perfect example of keeping happy and not letting outside matters affect quality of life.

Maria explained that if we leave the boat in Greece we can go to a Port Police office and inform them so that the time we are away will count towards the year.

At 5am I had woken in the marina and changed battery charging to the second battery, but waking again at about 9 am I found no-electricity to the boat, and of course the fridge was off. I soon heard from the VHF radio traffic in the marina that the problem was a local power cut.

I took the computer to one of the cafes, paid 2.50 euros for an espresso coffee with hot milk and used their wi-fi. Returning to the boat we finally managed to connect to WIND and our 20GB roaming packing thanks to advice from Peter, one of the owners who had wintered in Marina di Ragusa.

There was much work to do and we were just ready in time to leave the marina by 14.00 checkout time with family due to land at the nearby airport from Poland at 15.15. We had wind to sail across the bay back to Corfu town while they took 15 bus to the town bus station and made the short walk to the entrance of the fort where we were anchored in shallow water below.

We stayed at anchor there overnight and took a night walk round the buzzing and beautiful town with so much charm and lovely back street restaurants and shops staying open very late.

On Friday morning after a swim we motored to the town quay to take on more petrol and fresh supplies then set course for Paxos island 27 miles away. There was almost no wind so we motored but eventually wind came and we sailed gently towards Lakka at the north tip of Paxos. After more than 4 hours of the passage with motor it shuddered and stopped as we approached the anchored yachts. The tank was empty so I quickly changed to the other tank and we anchored in sand at a depth of 2.8m of water.

The strong NW (prevailing wind) came ahead of forecast on Saturday morning – the blast from the north which had slowed our progress through Calabria. Some swell came into the bay but we were safe in the turquoise waters as we watched the wild dark blue see full of white horses (breaking waves) out at sea. Our visitors took the dinghy to the village and we were content to stay on the boat all day after a few very busy days.

All was not well as Mateusz was rowing back to the boat in strong gusts pulled hard on the oars and something broke. Later they tried to get back and accepted help from someone with dinghy and motor.

Our small catamaran has a larger cockpit than many yachts and at night they erect a small tent we bought in Sicily in which to sleep in comfort in the cockpit. The bay seemed full of yachts as we tried to sleep with gusting winds and motion of sea – PERPETUAL MOTION.

The gusty strong winds blew into the night. This is not as normal as described in the pilot book of strong from about 2 pm to 8 pm.

I was awake worrying about the dinghy problem as the dinghy is our vital link to the shore and in the past I have owned or borrowed dinghies which in my opinion due to poor design failed on one side so that rowing in strong winds was a problem.

My first task on Sunday morning, at last in less wind and swell, was to lower the dinghy to the water and inspect the problem. A rigid plastic tube had broken in the fitting to which the oar is attached. I found a solution in a double ended screwdriver and inserted the metal part, made larger with duct tape, through the two broken parts, and sealed the ends with silicone sealant. The result seems stronger than the original.

We came to Paxos on Friday to be ahead of the many charter boats which are mostly in the Marina for change over until Sunday morning. One after the other they came in with the less strong morning wind and by evening there were almost 100 boats in the anchorage. We had our spot and were happy with it. Many were rolling in the swell, especially mono-hulls. Catamarans are really the fashion now for charters and many came in.

The visitors stayed aboard and we went in late afternoon to the shore to explore. Anita described the place, both village and surrounding nature, as pure Heaven. There are some 200.000 olives trees on the island, many 400 – 500 years old, also the pencil thin tall cypress trees. Walking through their shade and feeling the refreshing breeze is more than a pleasure.

We did not risk draining the recharged ship batteries to charge computer and our power banks were emptied to phones and modems so we took a day away from internet which is perfect here. Anita understands now why people take small boats cruising in beautiful places.