It’s time to head north to Corfu for our flight back to UK on Friday 27th. With an unusual spell of southerlies, the most sheltered stop would be Paxos, but I need new bikinis and Flora’s in Parga is the best place for those. The forecast is only for light winds, surely it won’t be that uncomfortable . . . ?
At 8am on Friday 20th we start getting ready to leave. We empty the two 20ltr diesel cans into the tank ready to refill with fresh fuel in lefkas. Take down the tent, outboard and dinghy onboard. At 0945 anchor up and we’re off to Lefkas.
At Lefkas we fill the tank and both cans with diesel (it’s reportedly much more expensive in Gouvia marina on Corfu.) We mill around for about 20 mins waiting for the bridge opening at 1200.
Once clear of the bridge we get the sails up, making an easy 6kts on a beam reach. It’s a joy to be sailing again after a lot of hanging around. At 1530 the wind veers and drops and we’re down to 2kts SOG (Speed Over the Ground.) Eventually we at 1615 we give in and turn the engine on, dropping anchor in 2 Rock Bay at 1805. The stern gland leak produced another 600ml.
A very uncomfortable swell set in as the wind died and continued all night. The whole bay was equally affected as the swell bounced back from the rocks all round.
We had a late breakfast after a bad night, followed by a ‘refreshing’ (icy) swim! Motored up to Parga in the afternoon with the wind on the nose and anchored in Valtos Bay, which is just round a headland from Parga.
After another slightly roly night, comfort and common sense suggested moving on, but both were overridden by my need for new swimwear. I’ve been buying bikinis from Flora in Parga since 2003 – she has a great range and a really good eye for what will fit well and make you feel gorgeous! In the summer here, most days are spent in swimwear, so a selection is called for and I came away with 5 bikinis. It was Flora who encouraged me to mix and match tops and bottoms, which gives even more outfits 🌞👙👙👙👙👙🌞
0400 I’ve given up trying to sleep through the most hideous swell coming onto the beam (the side of the boat.) I’m huddled in the cockpit, poring through the pilot book by torchlight considering our options. Other figures sit miserably in the cockpits of nearby boats. We watch 2 boats up anchor and head out to sea. One brave crew find their way into the tiny harbour and moor up in its shelter. I consider leaving: we have no chart plotter in the cockpit; our depth sounder isn’t working (we need to clean the impeller;) Platarias is the best option, but we haven’t been there for about 10 years and the harbour’s been changed a lot since then; hazards in Greece aren’t marked or lit as well as they are in the UK; we’re tired. Our situation is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. I decide we’ll sit it out. Is it worth it for the bikini shopping? Ask me again on a calm sunny day.