PREVEZA JAZZ FESTIVAL, NEW GREEK CRUISING TAX AND WE ARE READY TO LAUNCH

 When posting the previous blog entry I had a problem which I have suffered before using the Google Blogger system, namely that whilst uploading photos (or videos – that was a first) into the blog those not loaded as the first batch cannot be added.

So in this blog post you can see the photos which were supposed to be in the previous post.

It was a good surprise to find that the Preveza Jazz Festival 17^th Edition was being held over the last weekend. It all happens free on a stage in front of the town hall, by the Town Quay where many yachts berth. We finished early and went on Saturday. The highlight was a Leonard Cohen tribute with his poetic songs being sung by three Greek women, each with lovely and very different voices.

I will post some  videos later.

A few more days of good weather have passed and Apataki is almost ready to launch. Final jobs are being done but this morning the new bow roller (for anchor chain) had not arrived from the inox (stainless steel) specialist.

My first cruising catamaran was the Heavenly Twins 26. We met Yves and his friends and looked over a late model Heavenly Twins 27, derived from the 26 and with raised coach-roof for more headroom. They set off to sail to France and have reached Corsica.

Greece has copied Croatia and introduced a Cruising Tax on visiting yachtsmen. We are an easy target as we are seen as the rich, but people cruise these waters in luxury and on a shoestring. This tax has been in the pipeline for about three years and it was launched at the last minute in time for this cruising season. Larger boats pay more. I paid 75 euros for the three months June, July and August. Boatyard neighbours and Facebook group members have had big problems in registering to pay the tax. One friend wasted 7 hours on-line without success before employing a local agent to do it for him. After three weeks of hard work and late nights I went to Sofia at Preveza All for Yachts and it was all speedily done for just 31.20 euros. That was surely money well spent and zero stress. We hear that the authorities are actively checking that boats have paid the tax so can cruise without fear.

Kiwi neighbour Don came over to fit the battery monitor for me which was a big priority for this summer. Now I can see what is coming in and going out of the batteries.

Finally after a few reminders Yard owner Dimitri delivered the new bow roller and heavy rains followed. It will be fitted on Tuesday and we have put the launch back until Wednesday. It is good to be in the boat during heavy rain to identify where water comes in and so be able to rectify it.

A few more images...