An end to the unseasonably hot weather as a weather system moved in last night. The quay here is relatively sheltered, except for rare easterlies. We turned in early last night, all 4 of us looking forward to a lie-in, having arranged to meet for lunch at 1ish. John and I were exhausted, so not much bothered by the late night techno beat coming from a nearby bar. Or by the creaking stern line immediately above our heads. On any other night, these would have driven us nuts. We slept.
John was the first to wake, around 2am, as the wind got up from the east, sending all of the boats bobbing around as we were blown nearer the quay. He checked lines, fenders and anchor, and went back to bed. My turn next around 3, John again just after 4, etc.etc.
At about 7, I gave up on sleep and got up, watching the wind indicator to see the trend. The internet showed gusts of F7, but the highest gust I saw on the indicator was 24knts, at the lower end of F6. (A gale is F8 and F6 is known as a yachtsman’s gale, as most of us don’t set out in one!) But, it was blowing straight onto the quay, lifting our anchor chains and pushing us towards the stone wall so that our big round stern fender (Big Bertha) was touching the wall. While not ideal, everything was holding. Nevertheless, I put the ignition key in ready, in case things changed and I needed to hold us off with the engine.
By 8 the cafe opposite had opened, so I got cappucinos to help start the day.
We stocked up at the supermarket and had a lovely lunch of meze (Greek small dishes like tapas) at MnM’s favourite taverna in a pretty back street. They also showed us an amazing sprawling hardware shop where i got more coat-hangars (too many linen dresses!) and new galley scissors and a honey spoon (well, one of those twisty things.)
We inflated the dinghy, stowed it on the foredeck, and MnM left us after a cup of tea, as the sky threatened rain.
Sure enough, it pours and the temperature drops. It’s a welcome relief. We don our new lightweight oilskin jackets (J’s is bright red, mine’s bright red and pink!) and head back to the supermarket for 12 large bottles of water, 5 star metaxa (Greek brandy) which we hadn’t been able to carry this morning. We have one folding trolley – we may need a second! Signed up for a loyalty card! You get 1 credit card size one and 3 minis with a hole to go on a key ring. Faffed about, showing things, taking gash ashore (rubbish on a boat is called gash – why do we have different words for things on board? It’s only writing this that makes me realise how odd it is!)
Somehow it’s 9pm so we go to eat. On our return, I prepare the charts, pilot book and my new ship’s log book ready for the passage to Nidri tomorrow. The forecast is for very light winds. We plan to leave at 9am. Then John feels the need to check the new diesel filter for leaks, which means un-making my half of the bed to access it in the locker underneath. Did I mention that as well as sleeping under a creaking warp, we sleep on top of the diesel tank? And people think sailing is glamorous!?!
Time to finish my ouzo and tuck for the night. The warp’s still creaking (note to self – that one belongs in the very bottom of the warp locker, for emergency use only), but at least the wind is from the south and much lighter. Its cool, but not enough to need the central heating -no, I’m not joking, we have an Ebesracher diesel heater that pumps hot air into all 3 cabins!
Night night from LouLouDitsi.