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The Ionian
Travel, yachting and lifestyle magazine for the Ionian Islands and adjacent mainland Greece. Vol. 5, Issue 1 – May 2014 Publisher and Editor Barbara Molin Advisory Board Yannis Dimopoulos Justin Smith Layout Ryan Smith Advertising advertising@theionian.com www.theionian.com
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of each issue. However, we cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions. The contributors' opinions are their own. Printed in Greece.
Spring Squall
Sometimes, the unexpected happens. You might be sailing along on a broad reach with a warm breeze teasing your hair, when suddenly the sky turns steel grey and before you can douse the sails, a fierce squall is tossing your boat dangerously close to rocks. And just as quickly, the clouds disapppear and all that remains is the mess to clean up down below and the ripped sails to send in for repairs. Something similar happened to me earlier this year, but I'm back on track and looking forward to another fun season of producing The Ionian. And so, we welcome you to read why Lefkas is one of the nicest towns, according to Rich and Nancy Sequest in "Our Visit to Lefkas." Also, if you have ever wanted to sail but were afraid to start, Sarah Nash tells you how she did it in, "Come Sailing." And we hope that, "An Encounter with Marcos," by Gordon Knight will have you chuckling. Our cover is of Lefkas waterfront by Kamila Zadora, who comes from Poland, and for the past two years, has been living in Vasiliki on Lefkada Island. Wishing you always squall free sailing. Happy reading... ≈≈_/)* Barbara Molin
Our Visit to Lefkas
BY RICH AND NANCY S EQUEST
Editorial
We’ve been to many marinas and towns in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe, and one of our favorite places is Lefkas, Greece. In many ways it’s a perfect place for cruisers: the town is relatively small, has plenty of services for boaters, and a great variety of affordable restaurants and night life. Perhaps more importantly, it is in a part of the world rich in history and culture. A short hike and you can find yourself in the middle of ancient ruins. A day trip car ride and you can be in the land of Homer or walking the ancient lands of Delphi. And did we mention the friendliness of the local people? Being shoulder-season travelers, we were able to visit Lefkas in early fall, a time when the weather is fair and the number of tourists has dwindled. Granted, there is something to be said for being in a marina at the height of the season with the hustle and bustle and dock parties and raft-ups, and we’re sure Lefkas has its share of excitement during these times. But, for us, the tranquility of Lefkas in early fall was ideal. Plus, we had our friend Barbara to show us around. Having local knowledge certainly improves ones experience. Lefkas is a good bragging point too. Just a few weeks ago we were in an obscure bar in a remote part of the northern California coast. Lo and behold, the man sitting next to us was a Greek and he and his girl friend had just returned from a wedding in, of all places, Lefkas. What fun we all had comparing notes and congratulating ourselves on having been in Lefkas.
Come Sailing
sailing career on hold for several years. But then club sailing holidays came on the horizon and I was back on the water and we were all in paradise. A holiday where everyone could do what they wanted and yet still all holiday together as a family was the best news ever. I was able to start again and was very happy to be back on the water sailing at my own pace without having to worry about anyone else’s safety at the same time. From then on we mixed and matched – dingy sailing holidays and camping – club holidays – flotilla holidays – all brilliant because they offered us the opportunity to holiday as a family and as individuals. Even when my BY S ARAH NASH daughter was diagnosed with diabetes at age When I was 15, my boyfriend and his father six we continued to sail and realized the benefits of had built a Mirror dingy in their garage and he did his having a self contained environment where we could best to turn me into a sailor. It was slow going – I hated live and eat in a way that suited her needs while still the cold and the way the boat tipped but one thing I did being able to enjoy a holiday with other people and do love was being outside, going somewhere and seeing what we enjoyed most. the world from a different perspective. The reassurance of having a lead crew and fellow When I got married my husband admitted to a desire to sailors who were always ready to support us when we learn to sail. Anyone can learn, I assured him and duly needed it was invaluable. We met some great families signed us up for a dingy sailing course on the local who have remained friends over the years. reservoir in November. It probably wasn’t the best start When my husband and I parted company, I felt unsure as it was cold and grey but he took to it like a duck to about my sailing future. It was hard being on my own water. We progressed to dingy sailing in Turkey and again without the protection of a partner, but slowly I then took a rather ambitious step of signing up for a worked my way through from competent crew to Yachtmaster theory course! Our instructor offered coastal skipper. I discovered the pleasure of navigating practical sailing weekends from Ipswich (that's in the as skipper of a yacht and of mooring in deserted bays U.K.) and our big boat sailing careers were launched. only accessible to a boat with just my friends as Flotilla sailing was the next lure. A holiday in the sun company. Over the years I have sailed with lots of on a yacht with friends and a helpful back up crew was people from all walks of life - people of different ages everything it claimed to be and more. Great fun and and backgrounds brought together by a common totally absorbing. We came back tanned, relaxed and interest and love of sailing. I even met my new completely hooked and remained so for many years. husband on a sailing holiday. When we started our family, the pressures of looking Sarah Nash provides tailor made sailing holidays in the after babies and young children meant putting my Ionian: www.zephyrsailing.co.uk
An Encounter with Marcos
after the emotional bruises have faded. After a glare that would curl lettuce, I applied myself BY GORDON KNIGHT but deep inside) to my wife’s It all started with a scream and ended with a desperate (still chuckling, predicament. Marcos (for what else could one swim for survival. Sandwiched in between call mus Hellenicus?) was no slouch. Running was a comedy of errors to which one could in his little made-to-measure groove around the have sold the TV rights. cockpit he was uncatchable by even the It was a hot and lazy Monday afternoon on smallest of hands. Put a blockage in his way Athene of Lymington, our Oyster 435 ketch. and he’d o’erleap it with one Spiderman bound Soophy, my ever-patient crew of 40 years, and continue his hurtling. Baseball hats, was sitting dripping in the cockpit. I was towels, broomsticks were risible obstructions to down below, hunched over a hot laptop his progress. following the start of the one-day cricket By now, we had attracted an appreciative series against Australia. audience of neighbours. This was obviously Bopara had just carved an uppish square cut much better entertainment than watching through point and gulley and silly mid off cricket on a hot laptop. was appealing vociferously (answers to what It was then that inspiration came to me like a this means on a postcard, please) when a scream so loud thunderclap in still air. Visions of fairground ferrets it would have curdled milk, pierced the still air. My and otters at play were running through my mind as I wife, Soophy was dancing around the cockpit, skirts went below for a rummage. When I emerged, it was clutched around her thighs, gesticulating wildly at the with the simple invention that I now wish to release to cockpit floor. Curious neighbours were craning their the unsuspecting world – the humane but easily heads out of their own boats. fabricated Marine Mousecatcher Mark I. Our cockpit floor is thoughtfully equipped with a First take a length of sanitation hose (preferably unused, drainage channel all the way round its circumference. mice aren’t fussy). With a sharp knife, cut to a Hurtling round and round the channel, for all the world though manageable Suspend a generous chunk of like a demented clockwork toy, was a small, hairy and chocolate (orsize. cheese) at one end. Place the other end at clearly very frightened rodent of the species mus an appropriate angle to the trajectory of the intruder. Hellenicus. Once the victim enters the clamp a hand on both Now here’s a fact: uncontrolled laughter is tinder to the ends and repair to a suitabletube, release site. flames of spousal terror. What’s more, as I now know, the memory of such ungallant behaviour lingers long ...continued at back
Marcos continued... Pleasurable it was to bask in the applause and congratulations of the crews on neighbouring boats as I marched up our passerelle and along the pontoon, to deposit Marcos gently on the grass in front of the marina office. Gasps of amazement and muttered imprecations (not loud, but deep) accompanied what happened next. Marcos was evidently the Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps rolled into one of the mus Hellenicus species. Without a moment’s hesitation, he leapt from the end of the hose, cleared the grass verge in two enormous leaps and sailed in an impressively large arc over the edge of the quay. Breaking the surface in what seemed like a microsecond, his little legs then proceeded to propel him at unfeasible speed along the line of moored boats. Figures rose from cockpits in wild concern. Bow lines were shaken as a deterrent in case Marcos was also the Chris Bonington among mus Hellenicus. Skirts were hastily gathered and hatches slammed shut. From hero to hangdog in the shake of a mouse’s whisker, I retired below, past my wife, who was only now chuckling in the cockpit. But it got worse. Bopara was out, given not out but on review the ball would have gone on to hit middle and leg and as on this occasion it was not umpire’s call he had to go. No, I don’t understand it either … Gordon Knight headed a London public relations company until 'work got in the way ofsailing.' Now, he and his wife Soophy cruise the Mediterranean in their Oyster 435 Athene of Lymington while updating the World Cruising & Sailing Wiki, the world's biggest online cruising guide.