We have Dutch friends Piet & Clara who have been based in Samos Marina for a number of years. We have bumped into them on a few occasions during past sailing seasons, the last being a lovely time we spent in a favourite wee taverna of ours up in Loutra village on Lesvos.

Loutra Village August 2023

Very sadly at the end of last season Piet died. He had bravely tried to remain strong & well enough to get the boat & Clara back to their berth in Samos where she & the boat would have some security. It was not to be and in the end they had to leave the boat in Evia.

Piet & Clara returned to the Netherlands to be with his family. He had just became too weak.

We had offered our help to bring the boat back to Samos the following year.

In the end it was Louise who did the delivery trip along with Clara.

Girl power !

Friday 7^th March 2025

Louise flew to Athens and was picked up by Clara who had rented a car to take them back to Kimis n Evia.

The trip through Evia I’m told was lovely and Clara took the scenic route during which they stopped off for a few photo shoots.

It is beautiful, almost Alpine.

The delivery crew.

Interior of Evia Island.

They had to wait for a decent weather window to get away but in the interim Clara got the hull clean & checked the prop.

Kimis Harbour, Evia.

Cleaning the hull.

A few filling meals on the boat & ashore before departure.

Klara even managed to find a Union Jack to welcome Louise.

What no Saltire ?   Hmmmph!

It is a fair distance from Evia to Samos and at this time of year can be very unpredictable, not least having to wait for relatively calm weather to be even able to get off the quay! This delay meant that their planned departure and therefore arrival at Samos Marina would be also be delayed now not until after dark about 01:00 in the morning.

The overall passage of 150nm+ and over 30 hours passage planned.

Start ……….

and finish.

Finally we are off !

Sunset and the watches begin.

A friendly visitor the next morning.

Samos way off in the distance.

Tuesday 11th March 2025

It was a cold delivery but with 4 hour watches and having completed 155 NM & 31 hours at sea they berthed at the fuel dock to be welcomed by me and some fizzy plonk.

Well done indeed !

As told in the final post of last year’s blog, I spent nigh on two months in the boutique hotel East Kilbride.

The corollary of which was that on my return to Samos the normal fit out & maintenance on the boat had now to be squeezed into less time and, into the bargain, an insurance condition survey was booked for 23rd March.

There was a fair bit of work to be completed before that.

I did have some help, at least in the short term, before  the  “Delivery Skipper ” was off on a mission to Evia ………….

bilges cleaned & painted

new thru hull

checking keel bolts in good nick

painting gas locker 

installed ” better”  Volvo Penta shaft seal

installed new deck clutch

All the above plus the normal annual maintenance –  far too much to bore the blog with.

In the end however Camira was ready for her survey on the 23rd March.

final preparation – polished & antifouled

Kalliopi , a highly qualified naval architect and engineer, came from Leros with her husband Manolis (who helped with the electrical part)  to carry out the survey.

Camira passed with only the couple of expected issues, namely:

Our windows are desperately in need of replacing but as this was a cosmetic issue no formal recommendations included in the survey. She did suggest we might consider having our rigging inspected as it is now over 10 years old.

Overall she loved the boat & praised it’s condition which she attributed to me  being noikokýris – a good housekeeper.

They were a lovely couple, and Kalliopi insisted we call her to meet up if we got to Leros during the summer. We will be sure to do that.

So we are now ready to go back in the water and set sail in April for this season’s adventures.

Perhaps our last in beautiful Greece ?

On returning to Scotland I went straight to the A&E department of the new Queen Elizabeth hospital. Now it’s not far from the airport about 5 minutes but the taxi fare was an eye watering £26 and he didn’t even let me off at the right department!

After about 5 or 6 hours I was declared infection free and put on the NHS waiting list for an appointment with an Orthopaedic Surgeon for further investigation. I had however already set up an initial appointment with Bob Carter, who it turned out was the surgeon who had repaired my Achilles rupture 13 years ago !

Diane picked me up from the hospital on a very cold day and we headed back to the boutique hotel EK which as it turns out was going to be my billet for the next two months ( lucky her eh?).

After a day & night in Ross Hall I headed back to my couch to recuperate. A few days in I got far too eager and set off down “the centre “ and ended up hurting my Achilles . I was worried but in the end it was just a strain & a warning to rest !

Good as new …. well almost

The food & “bunnery” was fantastic and not easy to resist.  A bigger shirt will be required at the end of all this as will a cardiologist !

Very soon Christmas day arrived and Harry came up to Diane’s as usual for the festivities and loads of presents from his mum, but as usual his main interest was the sweets ! LOL.

Xmas East Kilbride                                                           Xmas Samos

Diane & I managed to catch the flu & a cough from hell and we spent a lot of the time going to bed early. In the end my doctor prescribed antibiotics for me just before I returned to Greece in February. It was the worst and longest bout of “lurgie” I have ever had. Even the news started reporting the effects on the NHS.

However the cold weather & the flu didn’t stop Diane from plunging into her ice bath that I got her for her Xmas or going wild swimming in the Scottish lochs or walking with her various clubs.

After two months of stuffing my face and following a bit of physio it was time to return to Greece and thankfully warmer weather, and leave Diane in peace!

The nursing staff all glammed up off out for a Xmas night.

A heartfelt thanks go out to nurse Ratched, LOL.

Back in the warmth of Greece & a coffee in Vathi, with a bigger shirt !

Wednesday 23^rd October 2024

Lunch at Nektarios’ Taverna in Ireon with Gabby & Joseph

Sunday 27^th October 2024

Good -bye dinner(s)  with Mark in Pythagorio – two of rather! – the latter quite merry !

Wednesday 30^th October 2024

Having all the gear off the boat and stowed in the wee house, the boat was ready for her annual maintenance, which I actually enjoy but I thought before I stated on that I would square up the garden at Paradise for Corinna & Ton. Little chance of Christos making an appearance which seems to be down to one or two 10 minute visits between October & April, LOL.

I had really gutted the place and it was looking good. My intention was to to little and often to keep it under control over the remainder of the winter.

It was not to be!!!

Friday 1st November 2024

We also had our now annual Paradise BBQ with the usual gang .

Nicolas had brought along some very dubious “testicle” type things that in the end turned out to be something’s kidneys – not for me thanks

There’s a lot of eating going on .

Thursday 7^th November 2024

Camira lifted out today. She’s not looking to bad

Monday 18^th November 2024

I had been getting some inflammation & pain on my erstwhile repaired Achilles and now two definitive lumps had emerged.

To cut a long story short after an initial visit to an orthopaedic guy in Vathi, he recommended me to a specialist in Athens, who immediately advised getting the weight of it so I bought some crutches having carried a set for years on the boat.

I visited him in Athens & he recommended a debridement & a big toe tendon transfer. Not cheap but all was arranged.

The ferry trip was interesting visiting some of the places we had sailed to earlier – but a lot quicker .

Approaching Piraeus Athens

Hotel views in Athens

The night before departure to Athens it emerged he had changed venues for his operations from one hospital with excellent reviews to one that was downright worrying. So we agreed I should cancel and return to Scotland for treatment. Turns out to be the same surgeon that initially repaired the original rupture and, although just as expensive, the surgery was going to be less invasive to clean out calcification that had attached to the old sutures and replace them with dissolving ones.

So my garden plans went by the wayside and flights were booked for Scotland.

Sunday 24^th November 2024

Nicolas had invited us all to Aghios Konstantinos for a farewell lunch. He had now sold his boat to another French guy who has a house on Leros. Only the final agreements and insurance works to be carried out and a hand over in Kleanthis’ yard next year at the start of the season.

It was a lovely but sad day saying goodbye (for now) but added to which his mother was extremely unwell and not likely to see the year out.

At the end without us knowing he had paid for everything !

This marked the end of our catch up with sailing pals for the winter

Danny & Stella off to Switzerland, Nicolas to France and Mark & Sonia to Karlovassi.

And I would be off to Scotland for about two months – not the actual plan for the winter!

Sunday 20^th October 2024

We picked up Dany & Stella and drove to Ormos to meet Nicolas then go for lunch in Christo Petro Taverna.

Its a tad expensive but usually very good food and fabulous views

Each year Dany & Stella have a cheese fest on their boat.

This year it was raclette .

As usual very very tasty – quick get a cardiologist, LOL

Somehow we wangled an invite to the German contingent’s Oktoberfest at the marina.

Wolfgang was meant to be wearing women’s clothes as he does quite a bit, but his wife wouldn’t let him on this occasion

Had to stop Rudi stealing my beer – he had already stolen everyone else’s not bothering to bring anything, Grrrrrr !

A few heel clicks and it was all over for another year

Sunday 29^th September 2024

In advance of adverse weather starting tomorrow, we headed back to Ormos to make sure we were somewhere on Samos to pick up Sheila from the airport when she arrives for a weeks sailing holiday. It had always been our intention to have Baz & Sheila out but sadly it was not to be.

So it was good bye to Silvie who had a few more days left on her sailing trip with Nicolas. It had been fun meeting her. So 28 miles back to Ormos half of it sailing saw us tied up around 17:00

Gabby & Joseph were here, our Austrian friends who have a boat & a camper van.

Sundowners on Camira  with Gabby & Joseph on a lovely still night in Ormos.

Thursday 3^rd

We hired a car to pick Sheila up at the airport at the other end of the island. Stocked up with provisions from Lidl and headed back to Ormos for her 1^st night aboard Camira , since Craobh Haven all those years ago !

The “holiday route”

Friday 4^th October 2024

Heading to Arki and anchored in “Blue Bay”.  Waypoint 2. We dinghied ashore and walked in to the port for lunch. Dani & Stella were also in the bay just behind us.

Arki Pictures

Sunday 6^th October 2024

We headed to Blefoutis bay on Leros  Waypoint 4  to hide from the south winds, a good we sail, Sheila helming. Only use of engine was leaving & arriving.

Captain Sheila

Monday 7^th October 2024

Now headed for Lipsi, Kouloura bay anchorage at the south. Waypoint 5. A lovely spot and again we walked over the hills into the Lipsi town in the evening to go to first to my favourite Ouzeri then up to Manolis’ Tastes

Kouloura anchorage , Lipsi

Cat Hotel & Diner , LOL on walk over to Lipsi town

Lipsi harbour

Ouzeri pre dinner drinks

Lipsi dusk & evening

Manolis, Tastes Taverna

Tuesday 8^th & Wednesday 9^th October 2024

The wind had picked up, 15 knots from the NE gave us another nice days sailing, again underway 4 hours a little engine used. At 15:30 we dropped anchor in Vagia bay, Patmos. Waypoint 6.  where we would stay for two days to let Sheila explore Scala Patmos & the Monastery.

Views from the monastery, Patmos

Nicolas was here too, now alone on Syeni, Silvie having returned home to France.

Ormos Vagia anchorage Patmos. Syeni & Camira alone

After quite an uncomfortable night it was so calm that the boat was sitting beam on to a small but annoying swell. An unusual southerly of 17 knots started around 11:00 and gave us a good sail to Posidonio for Sheila’s last night. It was not ideal the bay being open to the south but in the end wasn’t too bad a night , certainly better than the previous one.

Friday 11^th October 2024

The last passage for Sheila all of  5 miles to Samos Marina and in fact the last for us as well. We were moving into the house today.

So farewell to Sheila , hope she enjoyed herself, and farewell to the sailing season 2024 for us.

Total miles clocked up this year 1,109

Tuesday 24^th September 2024

After 19 days in Ormos we set off on a mini cruise in the company of Niciolas and Sylvie.

First to Patmos …………

 

This is the first time we anchored in Ormos Vagia, normally we go the the bay a little down and to the right in the chart. This stop however had been tried before by Nicolas and it had the added advantage you could get the bus into Scala Patmos just over the hill. There was a small taverna as well for a stop off.

Vagia Bay, Patmos

The Yung ‘uns on their phones !  waiting for the bus into Skala Patmos

The bay one over from Vagia – on the way to the bus stop

Scala Patmos

……… followed by Lipsi.

Guess what we love

and BEFORE aperitifs

Lily in the dinghy for a hurl in the dinghy in Kouloura bay, Lipsi. Not sure what she thought. LOL

Wednesday 4^th September 2024

Heading south towards Samos, ultimate port  Ormos  but initially heading Limonias around the west end of Samos through the Fournoi channel..

The wind blew from the NE all morning switching to the NW at lunchtime . It still allowed us a very nice downwind sail and although some swell not too bad, the forecast was lower than the actual swell I think more 0.7 or 0.8 when the wind picked up at 14:00 . Strangely in the Fournoi channel the wind started to disappear.

At 18:30 , 11 hours and 52 miles we anchored in the lovely Limonias bay. Nicolas was here, a nice surprise. Aperitifs then a quiet night.

Thursday 5^th September 2024

Both boats headed for Ormos Marina about 4 miles east. We were baby sitting Pita , Nicolas’ cat while he went home for his nephews wedding. He was best man.

Sunday 8^th September 2024

We invited Eric & Beatrice a French couple we had all met before to join us up the hill for Sunday lunch in Marathocampos. Its a bit of a trek , but great views and a very good traditional taverna

Wed 11^th September 2024

We hired a car and met up with Ton, Corinna and their cousins in Pythagorio for a meal.

Thursday 12^th September 2024

Baby sitting one cat while trying to cater to the other one was interesting. We were having drinks on Jan & Ules “new” boat they had just purchased to celebrate when Lily decided to make an appearance and join the party.

She knew something was going on and kept an eye on us , LOL

Sunday 22^nd September 2024

This was the planned return date for Nicolas. His friend Silvie arrived then too. She was out for a weeks sailing / holiday on Nicolas’s boat. WE had them around to Camira that night for dinner.

nig