And that’s a wrap …

It is funny how a shift in the weather, indicated by the need to find the blankets that have been hidden away for 4 months, changes your thoughts and you realise that the season is coming to an end. A couple of storms made sure the message got through – including medicane Zorba (a new word coined by the press for Mediterranean Hurricane Zorba). The planning and gathering of materials for  wintering the boat and all the maintenance jobs started. The big question was where were we going to leave the boat?

We spent a week waiting to haul-out at a new boatyard in Poros. The day before our turn we found out that the hydraulics on the lifting trailer failed and this would take a week to fix. We would be flying home in a week’s time so this wasn’t going to work for us. Plan B – another shipyard called Almira, 65 km from Athens near the Corinth Canal. They could lift us out the following Monday. All organised in 25 minutes! What a relief.

JOHN….

During the week in Poros we meet other Aussie and Kiwi sailors and dined out at the various tavernas and bars. We even managed to watch an internet live stream at one kindly bar to watch the All Blacks win over the Springboks in a dramatic comeback during the final 18 minutes. After the match we dinghy-ed to a taverna for dinner and got to use our new dinghy navigation lights as demonstrated in the photo.

On Sunday it was off to Almira Shipyard 35nm away where we picked up a mooring overnight right off the travel lift bay. Forget about a formal booking time for our Monday morning lift. After the operators had finished their coffees and fags on the quay they just whistled us to come into the travel lift dock. A travel lift is just like a big steel spider with two slings which they drape under the boat (missing the keel and propeller) and then simply lift the boat out of the water and “walk” it onto the hardstand. A quick pressure wash and then we were maneuvered onto another trailer (a little more substantial than the garden trailer) for the short journey to our place in the yard.

Now for the fun part. We spent five days wintering the boat and in part getting ready for next season. The short version : the motor has had a full service with glycol pumped through the seawater systems, all the water is drained out of the tanks, diesel tanks are full to prevent condensation, started the anti-foul strip, loosened the rigging and removed all the opened and perishable food. Then it is the big cover-up of the decks with UV plastic sheets and tarpaulins all tied down against the coming winter storms and the soot from the oil refinery next door. Fingers crossed she’ll be all OK next year when we return.

That’s the short version but it all makes the turn around next year so much easier one hopes.

Almira shipyard is in and industrial area with an oil refinery next door. The nearest stores/ restaurants etc were located  a 7 EUR taxi ride away in Agi Theodorisis where we could also catch the train to Athens in about an hour. This yard was filling up fast as the season closes and most of the charter boats come out of the water over winter. We did have a few cat friends, 8 in all, but the bravest was a ginger smooching machine we called ginger megs. No feeding until the end of time (they didn’t need much encouragement) and had no problem climbing and descending the 4m ladder.

Now we are down to two soft bags and off we went to Athens by train for a two day recoup before departing for Sydney. We now feel quite relaxed in Athens and find it easy to get around. The area we stayed in was Central Athens – must have been central some time ago but was quite run down and a little dodgy late at night. Despite this there were very good bakeries and coffee shops. See photo taken in Victoria sq of one of the many amazing pastry/bakery shops which are everywhere.

Random observations that may be interesting

• Greece is a very pleasant place in which to live. Their general disregard for rules can be good and bad (wear a helmet but it can be on your arm not your head) They love the paperwork and stamps which is good for us and keeps more employed
• Many pharmacies and the drugs would be 40% of what we pay!
• Many bakery’s specialising in pastries and always with an espresso machina
• Best way to get around is by motorbike – helmets optional
• Greeks smoke a lot and drink much coffee
• The general demeanor of people in the streets is quite dour. Many are suffering from the EU fiscal impositions. The divide between rich and poor is great
• Obviously that the EU restrictions have hit hard and the cut backs in services generally are evident
• As a consequence of the EU directives and the 24% VAT there is a healthy black market – read cash economy
• Noticeably few police enforcing traffic rules although there are plenty of Delta force on motorbikes – these are the guys who guard the politicians.
• The Greek people we talked to all consider their politicians to be corrupt and on the take.
• The Olympics in 2004 gave the city of Athens a new Tram/Metro/Train together with some great stadiums and facilities. Many of the venues have fallen into disrepair through lack of maintenance although the transport systems are still far better than most major cities.

… JOHN                      

We had a very uneventful and pleasant flight home with Etihad via a 90 minute stopover in Abu Dhabi, arriving into Sydney at 7pm. We both managed a decent night’s sleep and found the jet lag none existent- how lucky is that.

The journey – Part 1 – is now complete. I hope you have enjoyed reading and sharing on our experiences and perhaps you will follow us again next April when we launch the boat for Part II of the Greek Islands adventure (Greek Northern Sporades and Turkey). Stay tuned ………..

Robyn and John,

S/Y MacSea