The End Of Summer … Or So I Thought

While I put the last blog entry online I was working at Epidavros helping with a flotilla turnaround.Then four of us made our way by car driving back to Corfu over the mainland.We stopped at the Corinth Canal and Euca and I bungee jumped off of it.It was my first time doing a bungee, so I thought why not…It was so exhilarating I could have run alongside the car afterwards.The view was amazing and the jump was huge - over 100 metres down. I didn't quite make it to the water.Skydiving next!

On the journey afterwards I had a call from the base.Would I be interested in doing another charter from Paros in the Cyclades on Saturday on a Lagoon 44 - which is a very nice catamaran.Yes please.So on Saturday I flew back to Athens, made my way to the port when the taxis were on strike (I went on a bus) and caught the ferry to Paros.

I had sailed a catamaran yacht last summer in the Caribbean (memorable Ismene with great co-staff and american teenagers) but this was a different make.There were only four crew this week so there is plenty of space on the cat, which can sleep 10 comfortably.With two engines (one in each hull) it is very easy and simple to manoeuvre under engine.On Sunday we headed round the corner on Paros to Naoussa and met up with the crew's friends on their own yacht.Last time I went here on the last evening and there was a free concert that I mentioned in a previous blog. The meltemi was blowing a force 5 with quite a big swell so it was a good introduction to sailing for them and to the stability of the cat even in rough seas.We had anchored in a bay and I volunteered to take both crews to the town on the cat and motor back to the bay after eating.So we motored the 1 mile through the swell to the town harbour, where the swell was too much so in the end we went back to the bay and had delicious risotto onboard.Afterwards I was treated to a singing session with both crews, an accordion and lots of sea shanties.

The next day was blowing just as hard so we sailed downwind on just the jib 40 miles to Amorgos.We made 10 knots on this 44 foot boat, which is the fastest I've been under sail for some time.I'd failed to mention that this area was very popular to nudists, and got some surprised and eager looks from the crew, especially at a swimmer who came to look at us.Amorgos was the second place I'd had goat, and it was even more delicious than the first time I'd eaten it.It came with 'Patatatos' locally grown on the island.

On Tuesday we headed west, across the wind to Ios.The wind had dropped considerably and we even had to do some motoring.I saw the same mega yacht with a very short mast - it had not moved all summer!We went ashore at a bay and went to a mexican reataurant that came recommended in the 'Rough Guide' book.We were even treated to an excellent live guitarist who played a good selection of golden oldies.

On Wednesday we shot into the main town on Ios to fill up with water and supplies.Then we headed further west to Folegandros.The only harbour is very quiet, except for a huge water ship that was unloading water for the island when we arrived at 4pm.We anchored in the bay and the crew went to the main town up a hill.It is getting dark here now by 8pm (Greek time), but the colours that the sunsets are producing are as fantastic as any that I have seen.Away from the mainland, there is a lot less light polution and smog, so the sunset extends around the horizon in every shade of red, orange, yellow and gold.Did I mention I liked sunsets?

After Folegandros we had our 'slog' upwind to Andiparos - only 12 miles from our homebase.Fortunately, the wind was coming from an excellent direction and our 'slog' was actually a good sail in a straight direction. We went into the harbour on Andiparos, where the pilot book said we could, and promptly got shooed off by the port police because a ferry was steaming into that space.Instead we motored round to a bay, anchored in the middle of nowhere and cooked onboard.While we were cooking one of the crew had bought a small fishing rod for pennies and was fishing with bacon as the bait.Suddenly there is a lot of whooping and laughing as a hand-sized fish was caught.Planning to remove the hook from the fish's cheek we discovered that this particularly greedy fish had swallowed the hook completely and there was no easy way to remove it.We decided to put the fish out of its misery and nurse Sue stepped up to the challenge and sliced its head off.I then noticed that there was still some twitching in the head when everyone freaked out!We all had a lot of adrenaline then, and none of us are fishermen.On Friday we sailed upwind back to Paros.

This week has been a real treat for me. Pete, Sue, Willy and Jack were very friendly, thoughtful crew.To my shame I only put the kettle on twice in the whole week.This is because everyone else offered to make a cuppa before I could.Also for having a very small number of people on the huge catamaran meant a lot of space to stretch out and sunbathe.My cabin was also huge, and everyone had an on-suite bathroom.We were treated to a near-perfect wind and weather as well and got some brilliant sailing in this week.

I like my job.