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"There's always a plan, but unexpected things happen and we just go with the flow. Though I do believe that fate and destiny often play their part"
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Finally...we've made it to Greece. It's only taken six years but hey, there was no hurry! All that matters is that we're now sitting in Gouvia Marina in Corfu feeling slightly elated that a dream we dared to dream two decades ago has actually become a reality. We were last here on a flotilla holiday in 2003 with our young kids and we were so besotted with the whole "sailing in Greece" experience that we wondered if it might be possible one day we could come back in a boat of our own. In 2007 we got the boat and in 2011 it was delivered to Portugal, where we spent a year buzzing back and forth for holidays and short breaks sailing around the Algarve. On 1st July 2012 we set sail from Lagos, having given up work for good, and the rest of our fantastic journey is documented in this blog - see the Our Route page for a quick summary. Our plan this year was to depart Malta and slowly hop our way up the east coast of Sicily, then day sail from one port to another along the southern coast of Italy, eventually crossing the 60 miles or so from the heel of Italy to Corfu. If we really liked somewhere along the way we might stay for a few days, even a week. However, the small matter of our Grandchild's first birthday, and a big party to celebrate, meant that we would need to be back in the UK in August. Therefore, we decided it was better to make a quick dash from Malta to Corfu. Because the route involves two 26 hour stints, including overnight sailing, we felt it was better for me to make the journey with my great Maltese friend Alfred and Nicki would fly in once we arrived. And so, on 10th June at 05:00, Alfred and I departed Malta heading for Syracuse in Sicily, some 14 hours away. The sail was uneventful and we had a fantastic meal in his favourite restaurant tucked away in the backstreets of the old town. What a truly magnificent place Syracuse is - absolutely beautiful. Without doubt Nicki and I will visit for a short break at some point. On 11th June we set off on the 26 hour journey to Crotone and again it was a really pleasant sail, including the overnight part ghosting along the coast of southern Italy in pitch black. The highlights were the masses of dolphins that joined us on numerous occasions. They rode our bow wave leaping and pirouetting in what looked like a joyous game to them.
After a relaxing evening in Crotone, enjoying a few vinos and a rather splendid fish supper, we got some much needed sleep before departing at first light for the next 26 hour voyage to our final destination. It was calm and peaceful as we headed out into the blue yonder - but not for long. An hour later we were hit by a wind storm that kicked up the sea into a angry swirl; large waves battering us on our port beam. Every now and then a breaking wave would pour over the boat as we sailed at 7 knots with just a quarter of the genoa sail out to give us some stability and forward drive. Alfred and I hunkered down under the sprayhood holding on tight as we were tossed around like a cork. We endured six hours of this beating before the force 6/7 winds calmed down to a more manageable force 4. The sea slowly became lumpy rather than rough and we started to relax knowing that the worst was over. My overriding thought was...thank goodness Nicki didn't experience this...she'd never set foot on a boat again! As for Comino, what can I say. She felt rock solid throughout and despite being thrown onto her side on occasions, she came back up with remarkable speed and weathered the storm impeccably. She is a strong and capable boat for sure. The day passed and night fell as we closed in on Greece. We had some tricky navigation weaving our way through the small rocky islands of Othoni and Mathraki in the darkness just off the north west tip of Corfu. Then we sailed right across the north coast of Corfu careful to avoid numerous marker buoys and the odd fish farm. At first light we rounded the north east tip of Corfu and headed down the east cost to Gouvia Marina. I called the marina on VHF Ch 69 and after passing through the two sets of port and starboard markers at the shallow entrance we were met by a young woman marinero in a rib who directed us to our berth on J pontoon. At 07:30 we were tied up and shaking hands - we'd made it. Thanks Alfred for being a brilliant sailing companion.
For a couple of days we tidied up the boat and did some essential maintenance before Alfred flew back to Malta on 16th June, leaving me to explore the area before Nicki arrived on 18th June. And here we are, 5 days into our adventure together in Greece. We haven't sailed yet as the weather has been a little stormy, but my word are we loving life over here. We've sampled the local Calamari and Gyros and tonight we're booked into a village Taverna for a meal with Greek music and dancing. The marina has a magnificent pool, which we've frequented every day, plus nearby restaurants, bars and a few shops. Soon we'll venture out with Comino and start exploring the many bays and anchorages around Corfu, Paxos, Anti-Paxos and the Greek mainland just a couple of hours away. It's hard to believe we're finally here - a well used cliche I know, but it does feel like we're living the dream.
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A FEW PICS OF COMINO Click a photo to enlarge and use side arrows to scroll through. COMINO IS CURRENTLY HEREDID SOMEONE SAY SEAFOODOn our journey from Portugal to Greece we enjoyed amazing seafood almost everywhere we stopped. Finding the local fish market was always a priority because seafood was so plentiful and so reasonably priced. And, the displays were a feast for your eyes.
Locating a market sometimes meant pounding the pavements in searing heat, but if you kept your eyes peeled, you often came across a little clue. The pic below was a rather less than subtle advert for a fish market - it was eight feet tall.
Freshly cooked onboard, a plateful of giant prawns, baked in wine and garlic, washed down with a few glasses of local vino, was like heaven. Watching the sunset on the boat eating a meal like that was the epitome of "living the dream".
Now we're in Greece we've another favourite to savour. I'm talking about fried Calamari. It's usually good, but every now and then it's off-the-scale fantastic. At Natalie's Taverna on Kontokali Beach in Corfu, it was nothing short of epic.
We're based in Lefkas now and It's been a bit of a mission to find somewhere just as good. And we have. Rakias is a mere ten minute walk from the marina and this little fish market, with its very own taverna attached, is quite sensational.
Oh...and it's also worth mentioning that, on occasions, a bit of barbequed Octopus is on the menu at some of the tavernas we frequent. Can I resist....no. SUNSETS AND DRAMATIC SKIESNo filters, or any other monkey business, have been used to enhance these images.
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