Vathi Ithaka

The journey begins again. We have enjoyed being home to see family, the Olympics and the start of the Paralympics - and to avoid the 40 deg heat and excitable Italians.

The trip back consisted of a night flight London to Corfu, a morning little shuttle flight Corfu to Preveza, Bus1 from Preveza to Levkas, Bus2 from Levkas to Nidri. Three notables about the journey (apart from being tiring):
1. We wanted a meal at Gatwick before flying. All outlets closed by about 9pm. This prior to last flights and Gates closing. Typical!
2. Tiny Corfu airport 3/4am - outlets open!
3. Transport of solar panels. One got dented on the London to Corfu flight (but otherwise intact). For the small plane shuttle, two chaps came up specially to collect them (we didn't want them going on the conveyor belt). And when we got off at Preveza (only 3 people incl us getting off there) Richard was able to retrieve them straight from the hold himself whilst a chap carried the other two bags and we all walked to the "baggage handling" together. To a totally empty airport and no formalities (didn't see anyone!) whatsoever. Straight through! Fun.

A clean boat awaited us at Nidri Marine run by Eleana and Sotiris. Spent a couple of days sorting ourselves out, the panels out and some stocking up. The local butcher boned some meat for us, so after giving the bones to Eleana for her dogs (Christmas for them she said), we set off.

We had a cracking sail down to Vathi on Ithaka in a westerly F5, doing a steady 7-8 knots with spurts of 8.5 knots. R wanted to keep our solar panel wings up, but I wouldn't let him, just as well as it turned out, with gunwhales in the water. Met up with friends Silent Wings here and had dinner on board Myrica with them last night. And the solar panels are pouring in the amps!

A little postscript: We do not want to be a caravan, nor to alter the boat permanently. We do not want unsightly gantries, nor to drill holes in the boat. So any Med "mods" (incl the solar panels) need to be strong enough but be temporary fittings. So that when we return to the UK, Myrica will instantly transform back to her former sleek, beautiful self. I think Richard has managed that - and his name is not H. Robinson.