15th June 2013 Kilada Repair of the Mishap and Saga of the Wind Sim

We had been having a fair degree of difficulty making progress with a proper repair to our pulpit - it had begun to be an exercise in frustration, time and interference with our cruising plans. This was our last shot, otherwise we were going to pass it over to the insurers and Hallberg-Rassy for a new pulpit. However, we are now sorted and think the other side (the perpetrator) is also happy with the outcome.

We went to Spetses and talked to recommended "Takis". He said he would call his welding man and ask him to visit the boat to discuss after 18.00 that evening. No-one came. The following day the "water man" said Takis was a good friend and he would call his welder. First the son came, but spoke no English. Then his father who spoke a little. They looked at the damage and said "no problem". We said we needed an estimate to which he replied "not much". He did not want to remove the pulpit but said it may need heat. Pointing out the bit he wanted to heat had light wiring going through it made him hesitate.

We were worried that the bow roller was not very secure so he has straightened that, reasonably well with a wrench and crowbar. He wanted to do same with pulpit, but we stopped him (with difficulty) as this was not repair, but a bodge. We paid him €20 for the stemhead. His methods did not exactly inspire us with confidence and we did not want him attacking our pulpit with a crowbar, potentially causing further damage.

We went into Porto Cheli and talked to the boatyard who does stainless steel work and seem competent. They knew what was needed and we liked what they could do - unfortunately they cannot undertake anything until the winter. But we do not plan to be here in the winter.

We were advised that Basimakoupouloi Boatyard in Kilada did SS work, so came here. They do not but brought along someone (a Bulgarian, no tax, not registered, no English, who again just wanted to try and straighten or weld in a bit but with 90 degree bends of a different radius to current tube. We turned him down so the boatyard called another outfit, proper SS company, good people, who came this morning, took off the pulpit, took back to their workshop to cut, weld in new solid piece (old actually had a crack once we could see) and straighten and polish. It is obviously not as brand new, but given the circumstances we are happy with the result. And they did a good job, nice people. So now we can continue without fretting. The perpetrator has again behaved impeccably, quibbled not a jot, and transferred required sums into our account online in hours. Sorted.

Not so with online access. The Wind Sim cards ran out. We got 2 texts in Greek we could not read. We thought the 2nd month would kick in automatically. It didn't. So we ended up reducing our credit accidentally by x amount per mb. Went into Wind Shop in Porto Cheli. We have just opened, our terminals are not yet connected, we do not know what we are doing. Come back tomorrow. Charming young lady. Went back tomorrow, not yet working. Go to Kilada for above repair. Cycle into nearest town, 4 miles away - last mile uphill. Find a Wind Shop. Just opened. Same young lady here as in Porto Cheli and we recognise each other. Sorry, terminals not up, come back tomorrow. Sorry. Or go to kiosk, buy scratch card, txt to activate then all ok. Go to kiosk, with example from old one. Don't have that on my system.

Viv and Alan from Free Spirit borrow our bikes next day to go to town. We give them our Sim cards and money and ask them to top them up if the Wind Shop is operational. They come back with one of them. It works. The Shop would not do mine, as they said it was the wrong sort. (It isn't , it is identical to R's but I had it in my dongle and they thought his was for phone and mine for data). So we are halfway there. The Greek system is extremely complicated (we think we now understand it), sadly their own people really do not understand it at all. A different story every time.

But we are free. Sophie and Alastair are flying out to join us in the Sporades 2nd week July. We need to get our skates on and make tracks north. But first we are heading for the islands of Idhra and Poros, full of legend. And we had dolphinsfor company, not the little Atlantic commons that dash and prance, but big bottlenose that heave themselves gracefully out of the water and give you a sideways smile as they do so. They came and played and bow rode with us for about 20 minutes, chattering and I swear looking up at us. I sat on the pulpit, with feet over the side, drumming against the bow. The biggest dolphin kept pace just underneath my feet and then broke surface to let me stroke him before he dived back down. He had scars on his back, testament to encounters of a less healthy kind, but seemed otherwise sleek and healthy. Such a treat.

To Idhra and Poros next. And watching for the coming Meltemis.