Wednesday 8 August 2012
Just to remind you - we had been asked to come along on a trip to Italy and back by a family who own a share in one of the yachts Dave looks after through the winter. They were keen to see Mount Etna, so the plan was to do a straight two-day crossing to Sicily from Lefkas town. The weather was good, we had done loads of shopping, so everything was set.
Unfortunately, it didn't turn out as planned.
We did most of the return trip in darkness, assisted miraculously by the moon which rose directly ahead of us after we passed the Lefkas light around midnight, and needed a mark to steer by. We crept into Sivota at 2 am and executed a perfect stern-to mooring in whispers - Dave said afterwards he was so tired, it had to be good as he couldn't have done it more than once. Also miraculously, there was a whole stretch of the quay, usually taken up by flotillas, completely empty, so we had an eight-boat space to aim for - never happens in August!
Next morning, I texted George, who was out on Tropi with seven friends from Liverpool including his girlfriend, Fillie, and he had also come into Sivota, so we met up for breakfast! They asked if we knew where they could buy fish for supper, so we gave them most of the Albacore, and still had enough for two meals ourselves.
Just to remind you - we had been asked to come along on a trip to Italy and back by a family who own a share in one of the yachts Dave looks after through the winter. They were keen to see Mount Etna, so the plan was to do a straight two-day crossing to Sicily from Lefkas town. The weather was good, we had done loads of shopping, so everything was set.
Unfortunately, it didn't turn out as planned.
Heading for Lefkas Bridge at 6.30 am. Dave overjoyed to be going somewhere different for once!
Clearing the Lefkas Channel, the sun rising ahead of us, before we turned west for Sicily
Rick and Alison, everyone upbeat and excited.
Quarter to six that evening. Plague ship. The bucket gives it all away. After ten hours non-stop seasickness in half the crew, the decision was taken to turn back, as - after 60 nautical miles - we were still nearer Lefkas than anywhere in Italy. The sea wasn't very lumpy, but there was just enough swell on the beam to affect both kids, Alison and me. Luckily for me, my lead time between quease and vomit is long enough to assimilate a seasick tablet, so I was pretty sprightly; unluckily for the others, theirs wasn't.
Quarter past six, and as far as Dave was concerned, 20 hours non-stop sailing (and vomiting, for some) was all worthwhile when he caught this enormous Albacore (a tuna-type fish)
View off the stern, heading east at sunset. Bye-bye Italy. Perhaps another time.
We did most of the return trip in darkness, assisted miraculously by the moon which rose directly ahead of us after we passed the Lefkas light around midnight, and needed a mark to steer by. We crept into Sivota at 2 am and executed a perfect stern-to mooring in whispers - Dave said afterwards he was so tired, it had to be good as he couldn't have done it more than once. Also miraculously, there was a whole stretch of the quay, usually taken up by flotillas, completely empty, so we had an eight-boat space to aim for - never happens in August!
Next morning, I texted George, who was out on Tropi with seven friends from Liverpool including his girlfriend, Fillie, and he had also come into Sivota, so we met up for breakfast! They asked if we knew where they could buy fish for supper, so we gave them most of the Albacore, and still had enough for two meals ourselves.
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