Vliho represents the formal completion of our flamboyant circumnavigation of the Peloponnese. We took a wider view on the route than almost anybody else might but it was great fun and feels like an achievement. We saw lots of weather, lots of new places, lots of weather and, did I mention the weather. But as one of our blog readers commented, we managed to take our pictures on the sunny days. And a least the photos don’t show how chilly it felt.
It was a very short motor from Kioni to Vliho. The wind was strong but our anchor was still a little over the bow because (we hoped) the batteries were tired after pulling up two chains and a heap of mud in Kioni harbor. We did;’t want to risk heeling too much in this state so we we motored a protected route round to Vliho.
In Vliho, the forecast wind started to blow and Lori did a good job anchoring in about 15 knots. She is getting a lot more comfortable with this and is looking cool. We put out enough chain to handle the forecast wind. But an hour or so later we were getting gusts over 40 knots and our anchor started to drag. Not the Rocna’s fault, just not enough chain out.
A hasty gaining control of the boat followed by a less hasty upping of the anchor helped us to avoid hitting anyone and I moved us into a wide-open spot farther down the bay and re-anchored this time with more than 50 meters of chain out. The wind blew for another few hours before dying down to an acceptable10 knots or so.
A peaceful night.
Vliho is our mother ship. While we winter the boat in Preveza fifteen or so miles to the north, the bulk of the work on True Colors gets done by Ruairi and Vicky and the crew here at Vliho Yacht Club. And a pretty fine job they do too. Under their care and guidance, True Colors has grown through her adolescent years and matured into a very enjoyable boat indeed. We have added some very useful (if expensive) stuff - the water maker this last year has been a highly beneficial.
We are now on the quay and we will be here for a few days to fix the items on our list after our extended shakedown trip. Hopefully we can get as many of these done as possible before we leave. We will use the time here to re-provision and get some items for the boat ( a new boathook, perhaps?)
After all the vacillation, it feels like someone really turned the switch at last. It is hot today. Gone is the need for gilets, long pants, warm hats etc. Today shorts and a t-shirt seem almost too much; a sun hat is essential. The teak decks are hot under our feet. Everyone tries to hide inside in the heat of the day - schools close as do shops to open later when it’s cooler. Siestas suddenly seem a very understandable concept. What this means is that, in small towns like Vathi or Lefkas, children are out playing in the streets until 10:00 pm at night. Many parents are working in the stores that are also open so there is safety and support nearby as well as the most positive and pervasive sense of family and community.
Talking of family and community, we met Vicky's parents (Ann and Andy)last night and had dinner with them. They had parked next to Steve and Pam in Fiskardo before coming here. It's sometimes a tight little community. If we had any secrets, they'd be hard to keep!
We will leave for Lefkas when the work is done on our boat and the big northern push to Venice will begin.