Blog

Back in April I pledged to give 10% of the profits of my Just Lugger Joinery business to provide humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. Although it has been a challenging year for all of us, I have been able to make a donation to Swansea-based charity Mission Ukraine, who provide just this sort of relief work on the ground.

I was able to provide enough to buy a 3-5kW generator, which will help provide emergency power after so much of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed in the ongoing attacks.

I would encourage anyone who can to support this cause through the Just Giving page. You can read more about their work in this presentation.

A very warm welcome to all who follow the Dragon Drascombe website and my frequent Newsletters.

This photograph captures what sailing Drascombe Luggers in the Greek Ionian is all about.

To be able to find lovely shallow coves to anchor in, picnic and swim off the boat. To have the versatility to sail under jib or Mizen or, with full sails up, being able to sail in light winds. A boat with lots of bits of string to pull and adjust, and it has a proper boat feel rather than that of a dinghy.

Since my last newsletter in July we have seen more families than ever joining us at our base at Geni, just across the bay from Nidri.

Meet Jessie and Lugger Katerina

Jessie and her parents, Jon and Heather, had a delightful garden apartment at Geni Garden, perfect with a view of the bay, yet benefiting from the shade of the trees. This proves that learning to helm a boat can be achieved by young teenager’s as well as adults. She certainly took to it and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. At the end of their stay with us they moved on to a land-based discovery of the Pindos mountain region of northern Greece. Check out our website to see what Jon has to say about their visit.

This is the second visit for the Stride Family, and they stayed at the Villa Eleanor again, enjoying the secluded garden and wonderful pool. As well as the Lugger moored on the Villa’s pontoon, I arranged a hired road bike and 2 paddle boards, these rented from Argi at the Iris hotel. He gave a wonderful briefing on the Iris beach followed by a practice for all the family. Mum Emma did exceptionally well, however the 2 girls were in charge and the boards were taken out on their days out in the Lugger. Great quality boards that were kept at the villa overnight.

Early morning before the sunrise at the Geni Garden pontoon.

These Luggers have been given a full restoration out at my Nidri boatyard base. They were first rebuilt by my company Dragon Design between 2008 and 2011, and have been used extensively on my charters in the early days. They now needed a full restoration and upgrade, which has just been completed, so they are back to pristine condition again.

Late July saw the eventual arrival of Justin and daughter Barbara from New York. I say eventually because they had quite an adventure just getting to Nidri. My contact with Justin, who lives and works in New York, dates back to 2017. He had shown great interest in the Drascombe Luggers and has a similar open boat at home which he uses extensively with his young family. To date he has not been able to make this trip to the Ionian, however, as chance would have it his 16 year old daughter Barbara had enrolled on a summer school course in Rome to study Latin and Ancient Greek. This gave Justin jst the excuse to travel to the Ionian, and Barbara wanted to experience Greece and in particular visit the birthplace of Odysseus at Kioni on Ithica. This was the easy part: book a single flight from New York to Rome, have a hotel for 1 night for himself and Barbara. Next day get a flight from Rome to Preveza, our local airport where my taxi picks them up, and then down to The George Studio apartments within the hour.

That would be too easy, he said. Two days before leaving the US he called me with his bad news – Ryanair had cancelled his Preveza flight! Not to be deterred we sought ferry tickets for them both from Ancona to Igeomenitsa, which meant a rail journey from Rome to Ancona, with just 3 hours before the ferry departed on its 20 hour passage to Igeomenitsa. Yes, they did it, albeit 24 hours late, and my taxi arrived at Igeomenitsa and waited 4 hours for the late ferry. But they arrived at our base at one in the morning, very weary.

Their expedition started the following morning. The aim for Justin was to see the three islands, Lefkada, Ithica which is south and a part of Kephalonia, and finishing at Episkopi on the northern tip of the Eastern island of Kalamos. For those who are familiar with my past reviews this trip was done in 2018 by Dave Craig and his wife, again Americans who like adventure and travelling light. I will leave the rest of Justin’s diary for him to complete, and I’m sure you will find it very interesting; I’m looking forward to publishing this in late October, so keep checking the website.

During August the Villa Eleanor has been used a lot. The Johnston family who stayed last summer came for 2 weeks with their family visiting for part of the time. It was a special event that brought them back, so within the 2 weeks they had 2 Luggers, did a car hire for 3 days and thoroughly spoiled themselves. Elaine said “We had such an enjoyable holiday – a really good celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary. We had lots of fun in the Drascombe Luggers, and having two of them worked out very well for the five of us. Lazy days in the lovely villa Eleanor, filled with swimming and reading and sailing in the afternoons – a perfect holiday. Thoroughly recommended!”

What now has become an ongoing arrangement with Effie and Christos at the Iris hotel and beach is using their wonderful pool bar patio for late afternoon/evening group meet-ups and briefings. They produce a great table Meza for our groups along with cold beer and the use of their pool and facilities – so good of them. It means groups can call in to the beach at the end of a sailing day, pop along to Elaini’s supermarket for provisions and meet up for an end of the sailing day, so many thanks to them for this.

This summer we have had bookings of groups of four, in particular 2 couples sharing a boat. It has worked so well, with separate apartments at Geni Garden, and they have thoroughly enjoyed their days together yet having their own private space in the evenings. You will note what Valerie has written and the review from Elspeth and her family / friends group. Why not give it a try and get your own interested group of 4 together. However, do not leave it too late – apartments for small groups will get difficult after November.

This summer I have had four groups/couples that have come primarily to learn to sail, including John and Charlie from Corfu in late May and latterly Nicky and Rob in mid September. However, I had a phone conversation with Paul in July wanting specifically to learn to sail, having lapsed from dinghy sailing over the past 30 plus years. His other requirement was to be introduced to the Lugger with the intention of having his own Lugger berthed at their loch-side garden on the west coast of Scotland.

This was indeed going to be a beginners sailing course, starting at the basics and trying within the week to cover specific Lugger sailing techniques. I think we made it! We started with half-day sessions with myself being in the boat with Paul and Beth. Day 4 saw them off on their own in the Lugger, while I had my rescue tender, Dragon Warrior on the water and closely monitored their progress. It went so well as you can see from the photos, great progress. Well done to you both.

So it’s now early October. The temperature has dropped to a lovely 24C with light winds, yet as is normal some rain and storms, but it’s been a great summer. After Paul and Beth left on 2 October it was time to clean and prepare the boats ready for next summer, 2023.

Book now for 2023

From the reviews and advanced bookings to date there will be great demand for apartments at Geni Garden, The George Studio, our new venue The Iris apartments and the Villa Eleanor. Why not now take the initiative and plan for next summer 2023. A booking made now in October or November will only require a holding deposit of £200, the balance of the standard 50% will not be required until 3 January 2023.

My thanks to all of you who have supported Dragon Drascombe this summer and over the past years. We are improving all the time, with such a variety of accommodation venues in the Vliho Bay Area, and we are now able to offer groups a mixture of sailing experiences along with land-based interests. With bike and car hire on a daily basis there is so much to enjoy on the island of Lefkada.

My very best to you all,

Phil Osborne
Dragon Drascombe Ltd

Early June commencement with Simon and Philippa sailing down to Frikes for their 10 day stay. The visit was quite symbolic for Simon since it was the village that he was based at, teaching wind surfing and dingy sailing some 35 years or so ago, and his first holiday with Philippa. Very special memories and still local people remain that worked with him.

To make their sail to Frikes more leisurely, I went ahead with their bags in Warrior Spirit, our ex RNLI Atlantic 21 B Class inshore rescue boat. For their stay they had our Lugger Angie. She was already rigged with the new Genoa foresail, batten-roached main with topsail and the batten-roached Mizen, all new this season from Dick at R&J sails, Clevedon.

Simon said, “The increased sail area provided by the ‘roller-reef’ genoa, the mainsail (with ‘inbuilt’ top sail) and larger mizzen, allowed us to make good pace in the wind range Force 1 to 3. A great improvement!”. You can read more in his full review.

In our area of the South Ionian Sea the light to medium winds are the norm, so this sail configuration is perfect and beneficial to get the most out of the sails. The Lugger sails to windward better and from both Andy Dean and Simon the boat is far better balanced. There will be 3 more units of these sails to be made this coming winter by R&J. Well done Dick for your high quality of sailmaking.

Simon’s return to Vliho Bay saw the departure of 2 Luggers, manned by Colin and Lizzie in Ellie with their great pals Chris and Janey in Clara for Frikes for the second week of their Drascombe experience in the South Ionian Sea. Both Luggers had very experienced and competent crews; Chris and Janey had been to Frikes many years ago when they chartered with Activity Holidays based at the Armonia Hotel Nidri.

They had a great time, sailed every day, swam in coves and off beaches and never failed to get the sails up if there was wind in the offing. I wish them well and maybe Colin will be enthused sufficiently with the Lugger’s versatility to look around to purchase a boat.

For Tim and Judith it has been a long 2-year wait for their visit to sail in the Ionian Sea. Originally booked early 2020, they felt unsure of restrictions last year and now it has actually happened. Whilst arriving late through flight delays at the airport, we were able to monitor their arrival and ensure the taxi collected them without a wait. As is the norm, they were brought to the Gialos Taverna were I met up with them for a Meza lunch and very welcome cold beer, as we sat and marvelled at the clear blue sea against the backdrop of the rising steep mountains from the shoreline of Vliho Bay.

Tim has past sailing experience and recently moved into small yacht sailing, whilst Judith has had no past sailing experience. This for her was a great challenge to sail and start learning the basics whilst crewing for Tim. As you can see in the photograph of them sailing on just their second full day, the Lugger is being sailed well!

So with their 10 day stay coming to a close, they split their day with motoring / sailing in the mornings to a very sheltered cove to swim, and returning to Geni Garden for lunch. Most afternoons after a swim in the pool they would go back out for a late sail.

We have all noted in the press the issues with flights, and for Tim and Judith in the early hours of the morning of departure this became their reality, albeit a small issue. Their midday flight was cancelled and a new flight was offered, but in the early evening. To accommodate this and not have Tim and Judith waiting at the airport all day, Sandra at Geni Garden made their room open to them for the day and I left the Lugger for them to have an extended sail in the late morning. It was an instance of how flexible Dragon Drascombe is combined with its accommodation providers in dealing with these unforeseen issues. In Tim’s words, “That’s very kind, thank you so much. With Sandra being so accommodating too we feel very looked after.”

All’s well that ends well, their taxi turned up at the rearranged time and we said our goodbyes after a very rewarding 10 day holiday, bringing another busy month to a close.

As of 1 July we will be offering paddle board rental and training all based at the Iris Hotel beach, very close and opposite the Geni Garden apartments. Our first family to have these boards will be the Scott family in early July. They will be based at the Villa Eleanor and I will be posting a review of how this went.

We also have a new adventure and destination for keen Lugger explorers. Kioni is a must-visit to stay and sail from. This is matched with the apartments and facilities offered by Tim and Sue at Pebbles of Kioni. There is still availability for late August and early September. The Island of Ithaca is a wonderful Greek experience.

For those of you out there who are still contemplating a sailing holiday in late August and September, don’t forget we are still operating up to 9 October, and there are apartments and sailing packages still available.

If this summer for you is now already fully arranged, we have started taking bookings for summer 2023. Very good availability at all our venues, with a fully refundable deposit of just £200. Please note our terms and conditions.

My thanks again to you all for your interest and support in Dragon Drascombe, “Luggering about in the sun”.

Phil. Osborne
M D
Dragon Drascombe Ltd

Another overland drive from Wales to the Ionian Islands, with Lugger Katerina in tow, kick starts my 2022 summer season of ‘Sailing Luggers in the Sun’, with the first couple arriving on 6 May.

The drive through Europe now takes me six days, this with shorter driving days and regular overnight camping spots. For the last section on the Adriatic Coast heading south to the port of Ancona I now head into the hills west of Cessina, just a matter of 10 miles to an Agriocamping site.

I first stumbled upon the site 8 years ago. It was a terraced vineyard that Phillippe and his wife Celene transformed into a small camping site, along with the dining room as a part of their home where locals travel to for her wonderful pasta dishes. The area is 500m or so above sea level in rolling county side. The Parco Naturale, ‘Miniere di Formignano’, is well known by enthusiasts for its great cycling.

My work on the boats throughout the short season of 2021, given that we did not operate in 2020, has paid off. Within just a matter of 3 days, 4 Luggers and my day work boat were cleaned and launched ready for Gareth and Lisa to arrive for their 2 week stay at the George Studio.

I had been in discussion with Gareth throughout the winter about the possibilities of them flying into Corfu from Aberdeen with their tandem bike in bags, then getting the ferry to Igeomenitsa and cycling down the coast to Lefkada. Yes it is doable!

However, they chose to get to Preveza from Aberdeen via Gatwick and hire bikes midway through their stay at the George Studios. This small group of apartments on 3 levels is just 10 metres from the pontoon through a well cared for garden, and as you will note from the balcony view, one is looking over Vliho Bay with your Lugger moored below on the pontoon.

At the start of Gareth and Lisa’s stay the weather turned and improved daily, allowing them to walk to Desimi Bay in the early morning and swim. They used the Lugger to visit Nidri to shop at the local small supermarket, usually on their way out to swim, and were out most days and getting local walks done plus this second week of bike hire and riding south to overlook the port of Vassaliki. They never stopped and made use of every moment and opportunity over their stay. It was so good to meet them.

During the second week I had Marc and Linda visit for just 3 days from Holland. They are a part of the Dutch Drascombe enthusiast community and have a Dabber which they sail in the north of the country. They wanted to sail a Lugger in this environment and in particular in the sun with warm breezes rather than what one gets around the North Sea coast of Holland. They are now planning to return this September for 3 weeks or so and have become captivated by the area.

It is testament to what Dragon Drascombe has created over the past 9 years, starting with just one Lugger and now Katerina is number 9, and seeing familiar faces return year after year.

On 21 May Andy and Dave arrived, their third visit to sail Angie with my new rig. They are great company apart from being very competent and knowledgeable sailors with vast experience of boats. They chose this year to have an apartment at the Hotel Iris, just a short walk south out of Nidri and on the shore of the Vliho Bay inlet. A very nice twin-bedded room with a galley kitchen if required, but with all the outside pool, bar and eating facilities. It’s my first use of the Iris, but with the boat outside on a sandy beach it’s so convenient to have the freedom to sail when you want and have the hotel facilities thrown in. Yes, the Hotel Iris will remain on my website as an option for accommodation, especially with young families that want access to the town of Nidri.

So we have started our first full season since 2019 and will run through until mid October. Why not make a break and call for details and availability on our bookings for late June, July and September, or try a late break in early October. There are good packages available especially at Geni Garden, the Gialos Apartments and the George Studio. You’ll have a great time, sailing these great boats in the South Ionian Sea!

More Reviews Coming Soon

I will have reviews of our May sailing groups coming in the next week, and for those interested in the Hotel Iris, Andy and Dave will be posting a review this coming week.

The new Batten Roached Main and Mizen sail along with the full Genoa foresail have proved to be a great success. Andy will post his review of the great improvement this new rig has made to the sailing of their Lugger Angie. This is from a guy that has been around traditional boats for many, many years.

So, keep tuned into our website, it will have new reviews, good information and local knowledge weekly.

Remember, Dragon Drascombe Ltd are the people who have vast experience in Drascombes and based in the idyllic South Ionian Sea. You have to experience what we offer and these reviews tell the story.

Great News for Early Bookings for 2023

For any booking for 2023 made up to 1 September 2022, there is a 5% discount on the total package price, and only a £200 deposit to be paid now. The balance of the normal 50% will become payable on or before 1 November 2022, with the balance and final payment 10 weeks before the holiday.

In addition, Dragon Drascombe Ltd will pass on 5% of its profits to our HELP THE DISPLACED PEOPLE OF UKRAINE fund this summer. News of this will appear in our monthly Newsletters through this summer.

This is Katerina, now 49 years old and ready to charter for 6 May after a total rebuild. Would YOU like the great opportunity to sail this magnificent example of a Honnor Marine Lugger, originally built in Totnes, Devon in 1973, and now totally rebuilt with modifications and equipment suited to Med sailing by Dragon Design in South Wales. Be tempted!

What a transformation since her arrival in January! After her full refit she now boasts a navigation centre and our Dragon Design swimming ladder. There is no other like it!

Take a look at the great reviews from 2021 and call Phil for further information.

We have discount price packages for early bookings at our accommodation venues Geni Garden, The George Studios, Hotel Iris, Gialos Apartments and last but not least the splendid Villa Eleanor.

To whet your appetite, some starting prices of packages, where each package includes:

1. Private hire taxi to and from Preveza Airport
2. The designated apartment or Villa
3. The fully equipped, insured and licenced Drascombe Lugger.

Geni Garden

For May, a 2 person apartment package will start at £1390
Or try late season, September is a great month.
A September package will start at £1570

The George Studio

For May, a 2 person apartment package will start at £1285
Moving forward to September this package will start at £1500

Hotel Iris

We currently have apartments available for 2 persons in May. A package would start at £1390.
In September a package would start at £1690.

All the above are for 1 week, but there are so many other options, so please call Phil for advice and guidance.

More great news for 2022, we have commissioned Dick at R&J Sails to make and supply two sets each of:

• Batten roached main sails
• Batten roached mizen sails
• The upgraded full racing size Genoa head sails. For those wishing to sail these Luggers to their full potential, this is the best sail rig possible and so great in the Southern Ionian Sea.

To conform with current Covid regulations, the initial deposit has been reduced to 20% on confirmation, with the balance of the 50% deposit due on 1 March. Our full terms and conditions are available on the website.

At the beginning of January 2022, can you go forward in your thoughts six months and envisage sailing, swimming, exploring and having a relaxed holiday in the South Ionian Sea, sailing a Drascombe Lugger? Yes, this is more than achievable, take a good look at our client reviews of 2021 and in previous years. They are impressive! These set out the arguments for booking with Dragon Drascombe Ltd, sailing Luggers in the sun.

To summarise these recommendations I quote Katy, Stephen, Peter and many others on their findings:

Firstly, Geni Garden apartments are a perfect base, great accommodation, fantastic waters-edge environment and attentive owners Franz and Poldi to look after your every need, not forgetting their daughter Sandra. Brilliant people. Along with this Vliho Bay is a safe and enclosed area to get accustomed to sailing, with great sailing in and around the Meganissi island. It goes without saying, all groups love this stable, warm climate and the predictable winds. From the shaded apartment balconies in the morning you can venture out on the Lugger under engine to visit the bakery at Vliho for the morning’s fresh bread and Greek delights, returning to have an idyllic breakfast on the apartment balcony. What a great start to the day!

Acclaimed by our clients, there is no strict program to sail. It’s about your decision to sail whenever it suits. We at Dragon Drascombe will accommodate your program. To sum up, we offer a well regulated, safe and organised package, which enables our clients to feel looked after and given full security oversight, but without infringing on their freedom on holiday. What more can we say!

New for 2022

Yes, another Lugger to the fleet, Katerina is in the process of being rebuilt. I purchased her on the east coast in November, and she was in very poor structural condition, left bouncing up and down on a drying out mooring, hence severe damage to the hull, centre board/rudder casing. To commence, she has been totally stripped out, power washed and new Drascombe joinery has been pre-fitted prior to her total colour respray.

My rebuild blog on Katerina will be displayed every 2 weeks on the website, complete with pictures.

More great news for 2022, we have commissioned Dick at R&J Sails to make and supply two sets each of:

• Batten roached main sails
• Batten roached mizen sails
• The upgraded full racing size Genoa head sails. For those wishing to sail these Luggers to their full potential, this is the best sail rig possible and so great in the Southern Ionian Sea.

For those out there considering family, group or just single person holidays this coming summer of 2022, take a good look at our venues:

• Our base at the wonderful Geni Garden apartments
• The incredible Villa Eleanor
• The quiet and waters edge George Studio 2 bed apartments
• Our new venue at the Hotel Iris, which is just 1 km from Nidri
• Not forgetting the Armonia hotel and apartments, a great venue for groups

To conform with current Covid regulations, the initial deposit has been reduced to 20% on confirmation, with the balance of the 50% deposit due on 1 March.
Our full terms and conditions are available on the website.