The Flying Olive

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDwKi4MvhbU&feature=youtu.be

Thanks to Alex De Jong and crew for this video of their holiday!

Video diary of sailing trip in Ionian on "Olive" (Bavaria 36) June 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucgo0Ctw91o

Thanks to Alan Lauder for allowing us to post this link.

The YOSC Yacht Charter in Greece, 10-17th May 2009

A total of 20 people booked to go on this sailing trip to the Southern Ionian proposed and organised
by Graham Collins, YOSC Social Secretary, who has had a lot of experience of chartering there.
(Originally there should have been another member going, Alex Phipps, but we had to leave him
behind in the care of a Consultant Surgeon. We are looking forward to getting you back on the
water this summer Alex). 14 members flew out on an 8am Monarch flight from Gatwick to sail
3No. 37 to 40 foot Bavaria yachts from Nisos Yacht Charter in Perigiali, just north of Nidri, Lefkas.
The other folk flew out later in the day and were picking up their boat “Scarlet Rose” (3 double
cabins each with en-suite heads & showers) from Sunsail about 8 miles east of Nidri. It turned out
that two further members and wives were on the Monarch flight to go sailing in Greece
independently and we were to see one, Mike Hopkins, later on that day, Sunday, at Sivota. After a
smooth flight and minibus transfer we were welcomed by Nisos management at Perigiali. Very
soon we had bought a few victuals locally, raised the anchors and set sail in the three Bavarias for
Sivota, 8 miles away to the south.

Graham Collins had planned for the Nisos charter group to have an evening meal together after a
short passage at the end of a long day. All went to plan, a light northerly filled the sails and a bit of
motoring completed the stern-to mooring in Sivota. And there we met Mike Hopkins again, 1500
miles later the same day, now on board a boat he had chartered in Sivota.

Monday
Breakfast ashore for most and a bit more shopping before raising anchor and sailing towards
Meganisi to explore Papa Nicoli’s Cave by dinghy. After recovering the crew from the dinghy we
sailed south round Meganisi and up the east side of Kalamos Island to anchor for lunch/swim at
Port Leone, a town devastated by earthquake in 1953 and never repopulated since. However the
church is still used and cared for. The weather was really warm and sunny which delayed a restart
until quite late to do the last 2 miles to Kalamos town harbour where George, the proprietor of a
taverna, took our ropes and guided us in to a stern-to mooring on the quay. Of course we felt
obliged to eat at George’s that night! He also had showers @ 3euros50. He had already welcomed
the Scarlet Rose crew to the harbour so now we were 20 for dinner. We ate well.

Tuesday
Several of us, after showering at Georges, were rewarded with fresh bread from a real bakers, but
only after a 10 minute climb up a steep hill. Wrong order in hot weather, get the bread first!
This was to be our longest passage and it turned out to be the best sail of the week to Fiskardho,
Cefalonia. “Christopher Robin”, with single line slab reefing (the other Bavarias were in-mast
roller types) with new member Maggie Vickery, Sara Smith, sailing friend Chris and myself (Ed)
was, I think, the last to leave at 11.15am in very light wind. After half an hour motoring we set the
sails, cut the motor, bliss, with a westerly F4 increasing F6. Once clear of Kalamos Island it was
hard on the wind to get to the west of Atoko, and as we closed the coast of Ithaka the first reef was
put in (all lines led to the cockpit) without any real effort and made life comfortable, beating to the
west, putting in the first tack to head NW to clear the top of Ithaka. Lunch was taken in the cockpit
on the way. One more tack later we were able to lay a course straight for Fiskardho, arriving at
5pm sailing right up to the harbour entrance. The town is now very much a posh tourist
development and a more expensive place. Lots of shops and tavernas to please all. It has to be a
favourite place for me.

Wednesday
We walked around the town, had coffee, bought and sent postcards home, lunched at the Captain’s
Cabin and then found our boat was aground. The windlass motor failed (the overload trip should
prevent this) so we heaved the boat away from the quay manually. We were still not free to go until
at about 3pm we had re-laid a newly arrived neighbour’s anchor warp that had been laid across our
chain. We motor sailed in light winds to catch up, and run the fridge, arriving in Sami, further
down the east coast of Cefalonia, at 5.15pm. We advised Nisos Yacht Charter by mobile phone of
the windlass problem. They promised engineers with spares next morning and we found an
alongside berth to save manually laying the anchor. All 4 boat crews were eating in town that night.
We were well entertained with live music and good food in a taverna that attracted us.

Thursday
Nisos came in their ex RNLI rib early in the morning and changed the complete windlass.
Amazingly good service which took all the stress out of a problem without affecting our sailing
schedule. Christopher Robin departed Sami about mid-day with no wind, very warm and sunny,
sea like glass, anchored in Ormos Sarakiniko for lunch, (windlass much more willing and working
perfectly) and a swim (even I went in!). Explored a little ashore by dinghy, took some photos (lots
more pictures of the week’s trip will be in the Magazine in colour next month) and, as we heard
Graham Collins say on the VHF that Kioni was full, we went on to Frikes. Initially we tied up
alongside “Deep Blue” (crewed by Graham and Mary Collins, Pauline and Geoff Hooker, Sarah and
David Dray) but this was an untenable position to be rafted up due to the swell from ferries passing
at least half a mile away. We found a better spot alongside an Irish boat crewed by 3 real Irish men
on the opposite harbour wall, close to the Commodore on “Constance” (with Jerry France, and their
friends Sue and Woody). All 20 of us together again at dinner.

Friday
We committed a seemingly minor error in not emptying the heads holding tank the day before,
simple oversight. This was to be my undoing this morning. While pumping out the tank built up
pressure, the pump valves inverted, brown water covered shower floor and my feet. Advice was
sought from those who sail with these things (Ticker has less sophistication) and Nisos again. All
valves were removed, re-inverted, re-assembled, tank emptied(!) heads walls and floor washed and
finally a nice shower for me. This operation earned me congratulations from the Nisos management
when I returned to Perigiali. We were last to leave and in very light winds motored to an anchorage
on the west coast of Meganisi for lunch and to Vathi on the same island by the early evening. This
was to be the last time we were to be in the company of the crew of “Scarlet Rose” (Richard and
Gill Magnay, Raquel and Donal McDonnall, Alan and Cheryl Goodwin) and we all ate at the same
Taverna.

Saturday
As always we did a little shopping and left Vathi about mid-day. A mile or two later we anchored
in Abelike Bay. It was so warm that we all had a swim at different times over a long period for
lunch not departing until 4pm, closely inspecting the Onassis’ island “Skorpio” on the way back to
Nisos base at Perigiali. Dinner for all Nisos crews was enjoyed in Nidri, a long walk for some, a
short taxi ride for others.

Sunday
Packed up and off boats by 9am, achieved by the crew of Christopher Robin despite talking until
late and then, while all still fully dressed, adjusting anchor and stern lines, frapping halyards, at
2.30am in very strong F7 winds. Eventually all was quiet. The coach picked us up at 11.30 for the
return trip to Preveza Airport.

I believe everybody enjoyed the slick organization, the weather, the sailing, the places we saw and
each other’s company so much that there is bound to be a demand for a return next year.

Thanks to YOSC for allowing us to reproduce this article from their June 2009 News Letter.

"Iona" in the Ionian -18th to 25th May 2008

CREW: Simon and Louise Gould; Adam Dunlop; Debbie Thorne; Alan Green

Yacht chartered - Iona - Bavaria 39

Louise and I had an early start on Sunday morning leaving Bristol for Gatwick at 1am, picking up Adam on the way & meeting Alan and Debs at APH Car Park just outside the airport.  Forgotten just how tatty and busy Gatwick now is - means to an end - flight left at 6:30am to Preveza, arrived on time, quickly through the formalities and outside to a warm and bright Greek afternoon - met as promised by a taxi organiser who soon had us on our way to Nidri.

Arrived in Nidri at 2pm met with Laurie & colleagues who said the boat - Iona - woiuld be ready by 17:00 - nautical time keeping now of course - quick lunch in "Nick the Greek" taverna, even quicker euro100 shopping just up the road and the yacht was ready for us, squeaky clean and in excellent condition, a quick breifing from an old Yorkshireman (his words not ours) basically said, "if it works - leave it, if it doesn't - leave it!" - this became the saying of the week - "Leave It!".

17:00 on the dot...ish and we upped anchor & left civilisation behind us for a week.  Sailed, rather motored, across to Porto Spilla, Spartachori on Meganissi, an uneventful passage apart from our first near miss of many with the Meganissi Ferry, strangely called "Meganissi".

I (Simon) reversed her in stern too, dead easy, no wind and luxury of luxuries, lazy lines - great start to the week, less than 10 hours from after leaving Gatwick.  Strolled up the hill to the village, great views and photo opportunities, bought "naked lady" post card and Meganissi Ouzo glass for Adams birthday next day.  Down to the restaurant for an evening meal by the pontoon - Greek salad, Schnitzel and chips, Mythos and wine for euros 85 for 5 of us - great stuff, earlyish to bed and slep like a log until....

Monday

Obviously Ad is excitied, its his 52nd birthday, can't sleep so wakes us all up with typical Ad stomping around the boat at 07:30.  At least we get tea in bed.  Gouldy comes up with a great idea - why not fire over to Abeleke Bay for breakfast and a thrash around in the rub a dub with outboard.  Lovely motor over, bit confused which bay to go into, Ad and Al have no memories from previous visits - safe to say no real memory at all.  Dropped anchor in bay on right as you enter, totally peaceful, naked bathers on nearby boat quickly get dressed as Gouldy sorts out the tender - handy practice for things to come...

Later after brekfast, we sailed down the east coast of Meganissi, lovely broad reach F3, before motoring along the south coast, visiting the caves in the tender, then on to Ormos Rouda as the wind picked up.  Tea and cake at anchor, before sailing around to Sivota on Lefkas in an increasing wind.  Debs on the wheel, tricky reversing in a busy harbour with lots of wind on the bimini and parked Iona up outside "No Problem Taverna".  The owner of the taverna fixed our stern lines, and was keen to show us his fresh, very expensive fish.  Great showers and loos, much improved on our last visit in 2001.

A bit of an emotional evening in the Olive Press as Lou, my wife and I got engaged in Sivota in 2001 and Louise Stratton, a friend who was with us in 2001 on a Sunsail flotilla holiday sadly died in child birth 9 months later - we all miss Lou massively.

Great meal in the "No Problem" Euros 120 due to fresh sea bass - drinks next door and shopping in the first of many bracelet shops.  Great day got better when we met Tony who was on a sailing course, brilliant guy, ex Dan Air pilot with loads of stories and Spanish Brandy.

Tuesday

Ad up early again.  Misty start to the day, not much wind but we had the sails up early as we left Sivota and headed south towards Cephalonia - the intention to head towards Fiskardo.  Got brighter as day wore on and a bit of sea swell sent Ad down below for the "Quells" - a bit late and he suffered for a few hours.

Listened to Als "Janet and John" CD from Wogans radio 2 show.  "See John skip away, see Janet chase after him with a rusty rake".  Do you know what its like to be seasick? Adam does!.  Had our photo taken by Sailingpics.com off Ithaca coast, sailed past Fiskardo into a small bay with a disused fish farm and wrecks just underwater - ideal for exploring in the tender and snorkelling.  Around 16:00 we headed into Fiskardo - heaving!  We decided to take a line to shore on the north side of the harbour.  This upset our first "Mr Grumpy" of the week.  He thought he owned that area and moaned about noise, our position and the small chance that we had laid our anchor over his.  Having said that the mooring was not in an ideal position - two long stern lines but very close to rocks and not the most relaxing of nights ahead with the wind blowing us onshore.

Much debate.  In the end we decided we could not relax there any longer and we decided on an 11 mile thrash down to Ay Eufemia further south again.  At 18:00 we moved out of Fiskardo and had a great sail south to Ay Eufemia.  Lots of quay space for me to reverse into, water and shore power all for euros 14.  Only mooring fees we paid all week!!!!  Brilliant meal in the restaurant in the coner of the harbour, set up on a concrete plinth - euros 65 - great value and good wine! Met Mr Dan Air again...

Wednesday

Out of Ay Eufemia towards Kioni on Ithica.  Saw a pod of 6 dolphins off the south coast of Ithica, fab day, warm sunny but no wind at all.  Motored all day, explored some caves and found the most fantastic beach on the east coast just south of Vathi - white chalk pebbles and turquoise water - totallly tropical!

Headed to Kioni at about 16:00 and got into a queue of 7 flotilla yachts going in early.  Jumped the queue but found them rafting up all over the place.  Decided to abandon the flotillas and head for Frikes - bound to be quieter there and we can watch the Champions League Final in peace....

The wind was getting up as we left Kioni and screaming as we entered into Frikes.  Seemed a lot of Neilson yachts on the mole but there were plenty of gaps on the far side.  Wind blew us all over the place as we reversed stern to alongside a Sailing Holidays flotilla. Bit of fun getting anchor laid and fending off flotilla boats.  Then a huge Austrian boat with what seemed like a clueless crew and skipper tried repeatedley to get in alongside us.  Now these Austrians were a bit odd, skimpy speedos on very over weight middle aged men - not a pretty sight - and what was that hanging down his leg as I passed his stern lines back to him?!

The wind was promised to die down at 20:00 so we ate well and cheaply for just euros 65 (for all of us!) and settled down to watch Man U vs Chelsea in a very trendy bar.  Lou arrived at half time - "The anchor is slipping!!".  We charged back to the boat and persuaded Laura (Sailing Hols flotilla skipper) to relay our anchor and our Fortress kedge anchor in her tender which she did - what a star!  She had already fallen in the water when helping ward off the attack from the Austrians! "Do you know what its like to miss a penalty? John Terry does!"

Thursday

Bright and clear, warm and no wind. Boat safe.  Hired scooters for euros 10 each for the day and rode over to Kioni for sightseeing and coffee.  Met Mr Dan Air again.  Love Ithica.

Left Frikes at noon and headed east towards Kastos and Kalamos.  Arrived in Kastos at 16:00 and managed to moor up against Mr and Mrs Gushy (avoid at all costs) - talked about "sardines on a plate" and Apple struddle" for a few hours with them.... Main anchor well dug in, but decided to lay the kedge anchor as well as an insurance policy, due to forecast strong winds that night.  The wind never came....

Great afternoon exploring Kastos - permanent population of 25, all over 65.  Three visits to Chef Johns Restaurant.  Food good and great views, service and price.  Euros 65 for five of us.  Met an old merchant seaman - born and bred on Kastos, now an urchin fisherman with a fantastic Italian urchin beheader machine.  Very expensive drinks in the Windmill bar, but hell we were miles from anywhere and stuff has to come by caique from the mainland.

Friday

Motored and sailed around the north of Kastos, poked our noses in Kalamos harbour - very pretty and then headed down the east coast to Port Leone, a deserted village since the earthquake in 1953, a dozen or so derelict buildings and a renovated church - and evidence of a failed taverna.  Two mini moles and deep water in the bay would provide a safe harbour overnight.  But quite an eary and sad place really.

The best sail of the week followed as we headed north on a reach towards Meganissi and got to Vathi at 17:00.  Simple reverse parking next to Mr Grumpy II, a sour chap who said we had laid our anchor over his (WRONG!) and that he was leaving at 05:00 early the next morning (also WRONG!)....

The next Mr Grumpy (but a very rich one) moored up alongside us, in his great big Bulgarian Gin Palace with 4 crew, the owner and a bit of totty on his arm with the generator running keeping his caviar and champagne cold.  Simon was close to taking action but didn't get support for an undercover operation from the crew.  Nice meal in the Rose Garden, stuffed aubergine, stuffed tomatoes, stuffed peppers, spicy dausage and very filling mousaka and wine for euros 70!

Saturday

Left early for another morning moored in Abelike Bay - fantastic place! Great swimming.  Sailed around Skorpios, dodged the Meganissi ferry and sailed into Sparatchori again for the final night.  Great not having to return the boat to base on the Saturday night!   Meal at Lakis Taverna in the village - euros 68 for Chefs salad, Lamb chops, House wine - brilliant - nice location, great service.  Strolling back down the steep steps to the boat, Ad tries a commando roll and could have done some serious damage - very brave soldier!

Boat rocking like a good un' on our return but lazy lines hold us firm and we sleep well.

Sunday

Early rise again for 08:30 start. Quick brekkie, pack our bags and off to Perigalia, to meet Laurie.  Anchored, as directed in Tranquillity Bay and Laurie whizzes us back to the quay in the RIB and after a quick drink, the taxi arrives to take us back to Preveza, via the worlds shortist dual carriageway just outside Lefkas town.  2 hour wait at the terminal.  Say goodbye to Mr Dan Air and also to Mr and Mrs Gushy - sardines on a plate - whatever next?!

Home to the UK - dull, cool and rain in the air - busy on the M25 and M4 back home by 6pm.  Where did the week go? Great holiday, great boat, great company, great food and drink.  Decent sailing, fun in the tender, some hairy moments mainly on the quayside, but overall a fantastically enjoyable time.

 Thanks to Nisos - a very well run Yacht Charter company - try them.

Thanks to Simon Gould for writing this journal.