Rich & Paula meet Stella.
 
We were all excited about Rich and Paula coming to visit, especially Stella. She’d heard that Rich was a bit ‘racy’ and was looking forward to getting tippy with him! The plan was to meet our new ‘racy’ crew in Pythagorio on the island of Samos. The weather had been very unsettled, so when we heard rumours of a Southerly gale coming we decided to move from the town quay to the marina. Unfortunately we hadn’t told Rich and Paula so there was a slight moment of panic when they arrived on the town quay and Team Stella were no where to be seen! After a quick phone call we met up, caught up and discussed team tactics. We were unsure whether we’d be able to leave the next day as the forecast was not good. Luckily the rain came early and things looked much brighter the next morning. So we set off for Arki, a teeny weeny island just over 20 miles South of Samos. All was going well and we were sailing along nicely, then the wind died. Engine on time! After about half an hour of motoring, one of the engine alarms started to beep. Always a little bit worrying as ‘alarms’ by their very name are ‘alarming’. Engine off time! Luckily we were quite a way off the shore, unluckily there was a bit of a roly swell! The Captain went to inspect the engine whilst Stella slapped up and down in the waves. After consulting the manual he established that the alarm in question was letting us know (in no uncertain terms) that the engine was not being cooled. On closer inspection he found that the impeller had split (all you need to know is that without it, the engine, it no work). Luckily, oh so luckily (the captain calls it being prepared!) we had a spare so we were soon back in working order. At this point the wind had picked up which gave us a good sail the rest of the way to Arki, we even managed to bag the last spot on the quay for the night! The next day the sky was grey and the clouds looked menacing. So we weren’t surprised when thunderstorms were forecast. Working on the premise that they usually happen at night we set off for our next stop Lipsi. We had a slow steady sail there in the drizzle. Coats on time! We arrived in Lipsi to find it was rather busy. Lady luck was shining down on us and we spotted a space on a pontoon which meant we could park Stella alongside. Rich was on the helm bringing her in nice and slowly, the captain and myself were ready to go ashore with lines. All was going well, when Lady Luck decided to stop smiling down on the Captain. Stella was nearly alongside the pontoon the Captain went to step off but slipped on the wet deck. The result he landed with a loud thud not in the water, but not fully on the pontoon either. He managed to get up and out the way as Stella came alongside, once she was all tied up. Attention turned to the Captain who despite being winded, battered and bruised was O.K! The clouds loomed overhead, the sun did not have it’s hat on, the beach was deserted, so we decided to go for a quick fresh dip. Emphasis on fresh! That night we could see thunder and lightening in the distance but it seemed to skirt around us. The next morning we woke to blue skies with a smattering of fluffy clouds. Next stop, Lakki marina (hot showers) on the island of Leros. We were able to sail most of the way there. Rich and Paula (keen as mustard) did most of the work as the Captain was sore from his fall and I was just being lazy!! That night we dined on board (no we didn’t have tuna pasta, new signature dish is chilli) it’s becoming a ‘Stella Maris’ ritual that is all part of the endurance, I mean experience! The next day we set off for the island of Kalimnos. There was very little wind so we had to motor most of the way. We arrived and managed to find a good spot on the town quay to moor up. A quick trek up to the castle, followed by a quick dip as the sun was setting, followed by an even quicker cold shower on the beach as it was getting dark! The days were flying by our final destination with our ‘racy’ crew was to be the island of Kos. We’d booked into the marina there as it is renowned for being busy. All was going very well Rich and Paula were taking it in turns to get tippy with Stella, she was having a ball with her new chums. As we approached the marina the wind was dying off and we started to get ready to head in. We radioed the marina only to be told that there was no space, didn’t seem to make any difference that we had a reservation. At first we weren’t too concerned as they’d told to head around to the town quay and someone from the marina would show us a space there. We duly did this, there was no one from Kos marina to be seen. So we radioed them again, only to be told the man is coming. Well he didn’t come so we went to moor up in a space, only to be told we couldn’t park there. I went off to try and find this ‘Kos marina magician’ who was going to magic up a space for us. I was then told that we had to go out of the town quay area onto a pontoon outside, which offered no real shelter. You know the story about ‘the straw that broke the camels back’, well that was the one! Back on the radio to Kos marina and within half an hour we were mooring up in the marina. Bring on the alcoholic lemonade and hot showers! The next morning we awoke to black skies, I kid you not. It didn’t look good at all. The time had come to say a very sad farewell to Rich and Paula, who had been a crewtastic crew! They were heading off to get a ferry back to Samos and we were heading to Bodrum (where the darkest clouds were hanging out) to meet the ‘Seadog Seniors’. Rich and Paula it was fab and you were fabber. Stella’s ladder will always be lowered and waiting for you. Till next time mateys Love and positive thoughts to you and all your loved ones. Team Stella XX
Friday, 3 October 2008