Our last sunrise across Vliho Bay In mid October 2021, and still enjoying the warmth of swimming off the Luggers. With groups still enjoying the more temperate weather of late September and early October in the South Ionian Sea, in the daytime it’s around 26 degrees, a perfect time to explore the islands and harbours of the Meganissi area.
However, it’s getting time now to fully clean and prepare the Luggers for their winter storage. Look back on the website at my early blog of the rebuild of Angie in April this year. Angie has been used by groups for the past 3 months, all commenting on her great looks and stunning rebuild. This is how she has cleaned up and refreshed ready for the winter storage, yes she has retained the high standard of rebuild despite the many hours on the water and in this unforgiving Mediterranean environment.
Before leaving Wales 
After a season in the sun
Despite our late opening on 4 July due to Covid restrictions, we have had a number of 2020 clients who rolled forward bookings plus several new bookings, some still opting to join us next summer when we hope to see a more free and open environment.
However, it has been very successful, the reviews posted by clients on the website paint the picture and outline the salient points of their wonderful holiday:
- Great weather and a perfect sailing area
- Iconic Luggers presented in top condition with great features for Med sailing
- Apartments and Villas in the quiet hamlet of Geni, all presented to a high standard and wonderful environment
- Very local to Geni Garden are great tavernas , accessible in the evening by boat or on foot, just 15 minutes away
And so many more, but also great comments on our organisational processes, sailing introduction to the Luggers and overall oversight of their well being during their stay. So many thanks for that.
The highlight of the summer was our Kids Summer Sailing Programme in late July and August. For the kids it was a real Swallows and Amazons adventure, sailing to a beach across the water, lunch at the small seasonal Kantina, and having great fun mixing and making new friends.
With the weather in August getting into the upper 30s, swimming was great and when out on the water there was always a cooling breeze, this is where our Lugger biminis came into their own. You could sail under jib and Mizen with it up, perfect to hide under when having a picnic lunch and then a swim in a bay or cove.
September arrived and the temperature dropped to a modest 32 degrees, wow what a change! This is an extremely popular month for use, along with May and June. Our bookings for these months have already started to come in for next summer, we open the first week in May and conclude at the end of the second week in October.
To conclude this memorable sailing season, on 10 October I was very honoured to have been invited to the Greek Orthodox Naming Day ceremony, of Nikos and Nasia’s daughter, Katerina. This is similar to the Christening of a child in the Anglican Church.
Nikos and his family own the boatyard where the Luggers are kept and where I operate from as a land base when yacht Dawn Dreamer is not in the water on anchor in Vliho Bay. The family have become very close to me, they help organising my boat work during the winter, all my sails and delicate equipment are stored in their hotel and they keep a watchful eye on the winterised boats during bad weather. True and trusted friends.
I really did not know what to expect of this occasion. However, very pleasantly surprised. A full family event, so informal with children from small babies to teenagers, galloping around, the Priest oblivious and not bothered by the noise and chatter and the 2 hour ceremony just flowed.
Indeed a memorable afternoon and what a way to end the season, on a high and now planning for an earlier start next year in early May.
Please, if you are giving ‘Luggering about in the sun’ a thought for a 2022 holiday, then don’t delay making a booking, it’s going to be a sought-after holiday experience.
Take a good look at the updated website for more news. We will be using the Iris Hotel on the shore of Vliho Bay for family groups and our new sail training courses for beginners, although of course all our apartments are also open for these groups.
For the Winter Newsletter (published in mid November) I will be outlining my new and exciting scheme for you to become involved with a Lugger syndicate group in the Greek Ionian. Have an ownership within a small group of a fully rebuilt Lugger. Be able to use that Lugger for up to 5 weeks a year by yourself or with your family. More details in my Winter Newsletter.
To all those who I met with this past summer, had a few beers with or dined together, my sincere thanks for making the choice to ‘Lugger about in the sun’.
Phil. Osborne
MD
Dragon Drascombe Ltd