Barbeque bay to Milena

WED

My father and I swam early and then had breakfast. It’s going to be a hot day today! After breakfast I wrote in my log while everyone ate breakfast and swam. Estill learned to row the dinghy so we would let her drive it with the motor by herself. If the motor stops the oars are the only way to get back! She rowed all the way around the raft of boats so we put the motor on and she and Winfree motored around in the little bay. Then we took the motor off of the dinghy and I rowed to shore and pulled up our kedge anchor. We got it back aboard and stowed and shoved off from Blue Moon and headed out. There was a little bit of wind which soon died.

The forecast today is for very light wind building in the afternoon and evening to very heavy wind overnight. We turn on the motor and I am steering us along the coast headed for Palio Trikeri. I pass the lighthouse and turn the corner and my brother wakes up from a nap and says oops I forgot to tell you but we are stopping at Aghia Kyriaki and you passed it! See turned around and headed back. As we turned the corner again a great breeze came up and we hoisted the sails and tacked away from our destination. We had a great sail with Martha at the helm real getting the feel for finding Jules sweet spot. We tacked back and sailed right into Aghia Kyriaki.

We docked side to the dock and went for ice cream. It is very hot this afternoon and we are behind schedule so my father and I decide not to climb to the hill town. So we walk over to the boatyard which they haul boats out of the water for repair by putting them on wooden sledges greased with pig fat and dragging them up on shore. It was hot so they were all at siesta except for one guy painting but they had some pretty big boats in the yard. Lots of repair work going on. No pigs in sight! No surprise.

We walked back to Jules, cast off into a nice wind and sailed down wind back to that same corner where the wind died again in the land shadow. So we motored on in to Palio Trikeri. We rafted up to Blue Moon and then Umoya to us. We put out extra lines and tied her down tight as the wind is forecast to rise tonight. It’s already beginning and the boats are moving around some. Tomorrow we head back to base to turn in the boats so we are trying to eat all of the food. I cut up some chicken breasts and sauté them with the last of the olive oil, onions and garlic. The add olives, red wine and let it all simmer for a while. Then I go for a swim to cool off.

The water is really wavey but very refreshing. I rinse in fresh water and air dry on the fantail while watching some other boats scurrying in before the storm. The wind is really starting to blow outside the harbor. The folks on Umoya head out for a taverna. They are ready for some solid land as the boats are really bouncing. We decide to eat here. So I light the fire under the chicken and add the rest of the fresh plums we picked and zucchini. Then I cooked rice, cut up last of the cucumbers and tomatoes with feta for a salad. We carefully pass plates up to the cockpit, we we sit for our last dinner. Little bouncy but dinner was tasty and nothing broke!

The girls didn’t want what I cooked so my brother made them noodles. My father and i went ashore for ice cream (of course!) We started to walk up the hill to the Monastery but it’s too dark. So we stroll back towards Jules. We see the Umoya crew and I offer to buy them a drink. They have drunk enough and decline so i sit for a while and chat. Then we head back to the boats where Randy and the girls are playing cards. I work on my travel log and then read.

When I turn off my light it’s pretty bouncy and the wind is blowing hard. No worries as the motion always puts me to sleep. I woke a few times when some of our lines were really noisy when the wind gusted hard but soon went back to sleep.

Thursday June 18
The wind is down this morning but still there. Waves outside the harbor. My father and I go ashore and walk up to the Monastery. It’s just up the hill. The door is shut but not locked so we quietly walk in. We don’t see anyone so we tiptoe over to the chapel and walk around. The main entrance porch has a beautiful mosaic on the floor. The chapel doors are locked so we walk around the side and jump up on a ledge so we can see through the windows. it’s lovely inside. Then we walk back out. There is only one monk and a caretaker lady living there now and we don’t want to disturb their morning.

Walk slowly walk back down the hill where we see some goats in the field and one old lady peaking out at us. The Greek don’t seem to be early risers. We see only a few people up on our walk. Back on Jules we eat the rest of the yogurt for breakfast with the last of the melon and feta. We also have the last of the cereal. There is a race planned for 2:30 but we decide to go sail so we cast of about 11 and as soon as we are out of the harbor the wind is lowing hard and predicted to blow even harder.

We reef the main and hoist it. Then roll out the jib to the first reef. We are flying down wind then we tack out across the open bay toward the Mainland and are hauled pretty tight. We are heeled way over and the sea is bouncy. Martha and the girls are not happy. They are all a little sea sick. The wind steadily increases and the waves get bigger. we have to boat under control but if you are not used to it, you feel like you are going to fall out of the boat when we re heeled that much. We don’t have the rail buried but it’s close. We have all the hatches batten down tight and are getting some spray over the bow into the cockpit. We get Martha to stand in the companionway for a while.

It’s the best place to stand if you don’t feel well as you are on center line of the boat and there are walls to lean again and handles to hold onto. About 3/4 of the way across the apparent wind is reading 30 knots and the boat is getting hard to steer so we send the girls below. Winfree cries because she was asleep on the cockpit floor. But we need her out of the way and I stepped on her earlier and she was very unhappy. She has been in a very foul mood today. when the cockpit is clear we head up into the wind and put a second reef in the mainsail and crank the jib in to the second reef. We have better steering and still moving very fast.

Soon we reach the Mainland and the waves decrease some but the wind is still increasing. We tack on to a reach and head down the coat towards Milena and the Sunsail base. Poor Martha is down below with her lifejacket on glaring at Randy. We put a third reef in the jib and the wind is still increasing. Finally we decide to roll up the jib. It takes awhile to winch it in and we run out of roller with it still part way out. So we point up into the wind and try again. The wind is still blowing hard enough that we have to winch it in. We get more of it in but the is still enough out that we can feel it. We have out mainsail fully reefed and out jib rolled as far as we can and we are still flying along at almost 8 knots! We are flying down the coast and there are wind surfers out flying around and doing flips! They are really good.

We are looking for the other boats that are racing but don’t see them. We see one other boat that is sailing but soon drop there sails as they are close to the base. We ready to do the same. I go up the mast and hang on while we head up into the wind and I yank the main down and zip it’s cover. We motor into the bay and we see that the boat ahead of us in Umoya. Their jib is part way out to. As we get into the shelter of the bay the wind drops so we Let out the jib and are are able to roll it up completely. Then we call in and Andy tells us to back in next to Umoya. We make a perfect landing and get the Sunsail office to call our van rental place for us.

They get a message to them and we are all set for tomorrow. So we watch the Sunsail crew jam another dozen boats and 2 huge catamarans onto the docks. We pack some of our gear. do the paperwork and go for a swim and take a hot shower and shave. Feels great after two weeks of just rinsing or saltwater baths! Then we all meet for a final group meal in the taverna. We had a great meal of grilled chicken and white wine. Then our lead crew gave out prizes.

Estill and Winfree got an ice cream because my father and I snuck for ice cream so much with out them! My father and i were asked to mark the map with the five best ice cream stops of the trip. We put our heads together and got it done. Umoya won the wrench award from Ken for getting so fishing line wrapped around their prop. Then we all drink a toast to a great trip. After so more chat, exchanging of addresses and hugs we all headed back to our boats for final packing and our last night aboard. I packed and then crashed hard. it was a very exciting day! Good night.