From my stunning summer office / home on the water’s-edge overlooking Vliho Bay, I can watch as boats enter and leave. My Luggers and workshop are close by, so in between introducing groups to Lugger sailing I am on hand to clean and maintain the boats before launching. All the boats were cleaned last October before being covered and left in winter storage, but to maintain the high standard of the woodwork it requires constant attention. On average each boat will be on the water for 60 days each season, a lot more use than ones own boat in the UK.
I am now into the beginning of the 4th week of charters and 7 groups have visited. The weather has been mixed, a hot start in early June with sunshine and showers since, however, it has not stopped groups from getting out in the Luggers to swim and snorkel in bays. The bimini’s again have come in for praise, a must when anchored for lunch and even when under engine they can be used.
Group members constantly ask how I manage to get all the Lugger kit and spares back and fore from the UK and Bengy my dog. Yes, it’s the drive overland in my newly completed Camper. For the past 12 years I have dropped down onto the eastern Adriatic coast to Ancona and got the overnight ferry to Igeomenitsa. For a change this year I took the route via Austria, Slovenia, into Croatia, having campsite stops overnight, staying near Dubrovnik for 2 nights. I continued then into Montenegro, briefly through Bosnia Herzegovina and into Albania; this is the Greek northern crossing point near Ioannina, and from there Lefkada is only 3 hours drive.
The first couple arrived at the beginning of June, arriving on a flight from Bristol to Corfu. From Corfu port they had the delightful ferry across to Igeomenitsa, where I was waiting to take them for the 2 hour drive down to Lefkada. Richard and Cheri Crosley were the next to arrive, again landing in Corfu. You will note from Cheri’s testimonial that they had a great time.
Gordon and Francis MacDonald then arrived, again via Corfu, having departed from Heathrow. Corfu is becoming a very popular point of entry to Greece; there are flights from so many regional airports and they are far less expensive compared with the flights into Preveza, so it’s a good idea for those interested to look at the Corfu point of entry into Greece.
Melvyn and Jane Walker leave tomorrow on the Easy Jet flight into Gatwick. They have been here for 10 day, making it a nice break. For the past 3 days they hired a quad bike and set off to explore the mountainous region of central Lefkada. There will be some photographs to follow of their adventure.
Last week I received the newly made Batten Roached Mainsail from Dick at R& J sails. Due to his illness this winter it was late being made, however, it was worth waiting for as all his work is to a very high standard. This sail will be rigged within days ready for David and Pamela from Prescott Arizona in the US. They will have it on Ellie for their 3 week expedition, taking in the eastern Ionian Sea towards Patras, heading south to Ithica and the Cephalonia area before returning to Lefkada. It will be a very flexible itinerary for their stay. This will be documented in the Mid-Season Blog in early August
For now its goodbye to all, there are still available dates and Special offers to grab and seriously look at coming to the Ionian via Corfu.