a family sailing blog
Having arrived in Greece on Monday, we launched Vega on Thursday. There is no travel hoist at Planaco, so the re launching is undertaken by tractor and a large trailer. It is always alarming to see the supports for your 10 ton yacht knocked clear as she balances on just two chocks while the trailer positions... Continue Reading →
After late nights packing and a couple of long flights we arrived back at Vega to find her looking a little folorn after her 8 months wintering on the hard at Planaco boat yard on the small island of Aegina. She was covered in a layer of grey dust and although we had stripped most... Continue Reading →
We are busily preparing for another live aboard season in the Mediterranean. This years plan is to leave the island of Aegina (where Vega is wintered) near Athens in Greece and head East through the Cyclades and then South down to Crete, where amongst other things we hope to do some whale watching (the deep... Continue Reading →
The Red line shows our approximate route from Spain to Greece. Here are some brief trip stats: We visited Spain, France, Italy and Greece. The main islands visited on route where; Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Sardinia, Corsica, Capri, the Pontine Islands, the Aeolian Islands, Sicily and lots and lots of Greek islands... We travelled just under... Continue Reading →
As we travelled towards Greece in July, we met many boats heading away from Greece and toward Italy and Croatia. We were advised, by fellow sailors, not to go. We heard tales of corrupt port officials. We were told you couldn’t buy bread and milk. There was no diesel fuel, oh and by the way…bring... Continue Reading →
In the old part of Corfu town we had our first experience of Greek tourist prices...1 beer, 1 orange juice and 2 ice creams…wait for it…30 Euro’s!!! We were none to happy and after a frank chat with the bar owner made our way off to look around the old Citadel. We left Corfu the next day... Continue Reading →
The trip to Greece was 250NM and as we thought we would be motoring most of the way, we decided to break the trip into two, calling into a fishing town called Crotone. Leaving Taormina, late in the afternoon we had a visit from a turtle at sunset and a lovely night passage, with a... Continue Reading →
My guide book informed me that Reggio di Cabrili is a Cosa Nostra (read Mafia) hot bed and recruiting ground. This little fact was foremost in my mind when the kids and I were walking near the port and a car pulled in front of us, effectively blocking our path. The driver jumped out and in... Continue Reading →
The Straits of Messina separate Italy and Sicily and they had a formidable reputation amongst Sailors of old. Greek Mythology talks of Scylla, a monster and Charybdis a whirlpool on opposing sides of the narrowest part of the Strait where only a mile separates Sicily and Italy. Boats trying to avoid Scylla would be sucked... Continue Reading →
a yacht more to life 