This blog is split by day, like some earlier ones. Click on each day's link for the full entry. Scrolling through pix on this page will give you highlights.

6/4-6/15/2024 - A sailing trip to Greece

Time for another trip - this one to Greece. A birthday present from my dad (thank you!). It is my first visit, so country #36 for me.

This builds on my ASA 103/104 certification sail in the San Juans a year ago (see earlier post on page 10) and the first flotilla sail.

Like the Croatia mini-cruise last September, this sail is organized by Med Sailing Adventures. There are six boats in all. Shortly before departure from home we receive the boat assignments via email - I'll be on Bellatrix, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 monohull. Slightly bigger version of the boat I sailed on last June.

Jean and Mila, the husband and wife team who run the adventure, will be on another boat.

On my boat besides me there are two couples - Anthony and Lindsay, and Randy and Tessa also bringing their teenage son Owen. So six people total. There are five berths and five heads total, although the 'skipper's cabin', just aft of the anchor chain locker in the bow, is merely a hole to sleep in, with a toilet at the bottom of it. The other four cabins are quite nice. The boat is clearly designed for chartering, and this arrangement allows a hired skipper to be separate from the guests if needed. Originally the hired local guide for the flotilla, Spiros, was going to use the skipper's cabin but he ended up on another boat.

On this sail the skipper is Antony, I'm just crew. Which is an ideal way to keep learning and working up to maybe eventually skippering a boat myself. This time, it is nice to not be responsible for planning or navigation. Just a lot of winching to manage the sails, dealing with the anchor, and handling the docking lines.

Of course all this info, while emailed out well in advance, I only learned the night before getting on the boat. I knew I wasn't in charge so had the luxury of simply showing up and seeing what happens. Which is how I do.

Day 1 - Transit and arrival in Athens, Acropolis, other sites - Full day link

Day 2 - Athens by public transport, half-day tourist sail on Aegian sea - Full day link

Day 3 - 5 hour bus ride to Lefkada, dinner with the flotilla group, meeting the rest of my boat's crew, exploring Lefkada town a bit - Full day link

Day 4 - Getting onboard, evening sail to Vathy on the island of Meganisi - Full day link

Day 5 - Sail to Fiskardo on Ketalonia - Full day link

Day 6 - Sail to Sami and my birthday- Full day link

Day 7 - Monastery tour on Sami, sail to Vathi on island of Ithaka - Full day link

Day 8 - Sail to Kalamos, wild pigs on a beach, and 'white dinner' - Full day link

Day 9 - Untangling the chains, Sail to Meganisi - Full day link

Days 10-12 - Return to Lefkas, then Athens and home - Full day link