We’re in Santorini (Vlikadha 36 20’.2N 25 26’.0E)
 
How did that happen I hear you ask? Well the answer to that one is very quickly. We rose on Sunday the 15th at a reasonable hour for a Sunday. The Captain was munching his cornflakes, when Captain Ian came along and said the weather was changing. We had been planning to leave on Wednesday, but when the weather changes so do your plans. Good job the Captain serviced the steering yesterday. Luckily the weather was calm and we were able to put the Genoa sail back on. Moli also had to get sailed up for the following day. It was ‘Go Go Go! (with as you can see a capital G). That Sunday morning I thought we’d never be ready, but as the Captain said ‘you go for it and if your not ready you don’t go! (wise man the Captain). We’d decided to go to Spinalonga (37 17’.85N 25 44’.3E) first for a bit of a shake down, just to make sure everything was working o.k (that includes the crews). At 14.25 hrs16/4/07 Stella and Moli left the marina. We had thought coming into Agios Nikolaos had been emotional, nothing had prepared us for leaving. Our marina chums did us proud, they were out in force with fog horns in hand, waving us off (we were all pretty choked up). We are looking on this as Au revoir not Goodbye, as most of the marina is going to be cruising the Aegean this summer. So we will hopefully bump into them (not literally) at some point. Congrats to Jerry and Caz who are tying the knot (and I don’t mean a bowline) have a fab day, fair winds for the future. You marina folk (and you know who you are) have been fantastic, you made our first Winter of ‘sailing the dream’ mega! O.K enough of the mush. At 17.25 hrs 16/4/07 we arrived in Spinalonga and met up with some chums who had left the marina the previous day (see what I mean about it being Au revoir). We had a drink and some food. Then early to bed. At 03.10 hrs 17/4/07 (yes that is the right time, now you know why we went to bed early) we left Spinalonga. It was dark, raining and cold. Perfect conditions for setting off on a 77.2 mile journey! Now for those of you who are sailors, you will know that a wind of 20 knots on the nose, in a 3 metre swell is not good. For those of you who are not sailors, our journey was pretty hideouso! The captain and myself got into a routine of helming, napping and feeling sick! Captain Autohelm didn’t make an appearance (don’t get me started on that one). The crew of ‘Moli’ were pretty much in the same boat (being at sea has addled my sense of humour). After what seemed like a week, we arrived on Santorini (Vlikhada). It had taken ‘Moli’ about 14 hours (that’ll be the go faster stripes). It took us 17 hours (that’ll be the weed grass skirt Stella grew over the winter). We were shaken but not stirred, our final hurdle was to get into the marina. We’d heard all sorts of rumours about it being a bit of a nightmare. When we’d told the local Greeks where we were going, they had merely shook their heads a lot (when has head shaking ever been good). Our concern had been to get their before dark (Rod the God Heikell, says don’t attempt entry in the dark) it was about 19.55 hours as we approached the harbour entrance. Despite some confusion about where we should be going (to avoid sandbank and a rather unfriendly rock) we made it. Thank toffee for that! We came in along side ‘Moli’ and crew. The waves had been coming over the bow of Stella throughout the journey, so we really were salty sea dogs when we moored up. Captain Ian and First Mate Mandy. Then uttered the words that will make me love them forever. Hot (yes you heard right) hot showers on Moli for us and if we wanted Mandy had made a steak and mushroom pie for the journey that they hadn’t eaten (can’t think why). Did we want to come over for dinner? I think it took us all of 5 minutes to shed our wet weather gear, have a shower and be sat at the table, knife and fork in hand. It was pietastic (and you know how we are about our pies). I say ‘phooey’ to Fray Bentos, let’s just keep Mandy in our locker and she can be our special pie maker. Cheers mateys!! That night we slept like the proverbial logs. We have visited Fira (main town) and Oia (smaller but lovely town). Santorini is lovely you must must visit it. Yesterday we had anchor anarchy (welcome to the Aegean) when a big Gin palace managed to take up all our anchors (it was quite windy). We spent most of the day trying to sort this out. As the Gin palace had to keep going out to relay it’s anchor and each time it would catch either ours, Moli’s or both. Captain M went out in the dinghy 5 times to put out 2nd anchors for us and Moli. I think we provided some good entertainment for the local fishermen!! Our plan is to head North in the next couple of days (weather permitting) to an island called Ios (34 43’35N 25 16’43E). I will finish now, I can see your getting tired. Love & fair winds Captain M & K XX
Thursday, 19 April 2007