Winching Anita up the mast to retrieve the main halyard is a job for calm water. The small winch which for me is difficult to service makes this hard work.
She sits in a bosun's chair, helping with her legs, feet and arms when possible.
My other objective was a visual inspection of mast, spreaders and rigging to prevent future problems from failure and possible dismasting.
Anita's objective was to take a damp cloth to clean two years of dirt from the aluminium "
stick".
Job done we set off a little later than I had planned to reach the open sea. To get out we need to pass in an almost westerly direction against the west wind. To the casual observer the water is wide but it is also shallow, hence the buoyed and dredged channel. The cost of leaving later was that the afternoon wind had already raised short waves against us so with our small 9.9 hp motor and almost against the wind our progress is slow.
Having very shallow draught we can leave the marked channel with care, and sometime had less than 4 metres of water below us. Once I felt it was safe we turned south and raced across the shallow bay under full mainsail and reefed genoa
Our goal was the narrow canal separating the mainland from the mountainous island of Levkada (Levkas). Before entering the canal we must pass the swinging ferry, aka bridge which opens on the hour. Arriving at 13.45 we milled around with about ten other boats, keeping head to wind at slowest possible speed.
The siren at 14.00 indicated that the road traffic will stop and our way will be open. Only the first couple of boats can see the action around the corner. Then we pass through in procession avoiding boats leaving the canal.
Levkas Town Quay and marina are full of boats including many charter boats which are idle this year with travel restrictions. I observe no yachts anchored between the town and marina for the first time. Has anchoring here been prohibited?
Our procession falls apart as some boats go to the town, some for fuel and some traverse the canal. It is very hot without shade.
At the south end of the canal we turn to a large patch of shallow water to the west and drop anchor in about 2m of water. We set up the awning and have a swim to cool off. We have spent nights anchored here before or after the canal . Perhaps we do the same?
Ashore many cars gathered and well-dressed people arrived. A Greek wedding? Some music.
Late afternoon often brings some wind gusts and we were shocked by the severity of a couple. Shall we use the wind to go south, or rest until tomorrow morning when it will probably be calm and we will have to motor.
We chose to use the wind and setting only the genoa, the large sail at the front of the boat, we enjoyed the freedom of sailing again. We passed close to Largyalo again, which had entered the canal at 16.00 and anchored on the east side for their swim stop.
Passing a couple of possible anchorages we continued, finally under power towards the wind to Ormos Varko, and anchored in about 4m of clear water.
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