3 Days on Dry Land … Enough to drive anybody crazy

Aegean Air, pickup the bags and walk to Cleopatra

Removing the old batteries

Getting the boat ready is always a bit of a whirlwind punctuated by surprise problems, lack of sleep, and anticipation. Ross and I arrived at Aktio airport at around 2pm and walked from the airport to the marina – about 2-3 Kms, made slightly more difficult because we each had 50# bags full of boat parts and a computer as well as some books and stuff. Nonetheless, Ross shamed me into walking to the airport so we hoofed our way to Cleopatra, then we visited  Tara and deposited the boat parts, and proceeded to our room and turned the aircon on full-blast.

Cleopatra, the big marina across the bay

Mid-day is not a bad day to have a nap so Ross headed to the air-conditioned room while I hooked up the electricity on the boat so that we could start testing things and reinstalling them.

On my way to Port Police and Customs in Preveza -- good
thing that they're only a mile apart!

Loading the new chain

Basically the idiom that the better job we do putting the boat away, the better the re-commissioning in is accurate. Good news is that we have putting the boat to bed down to a bit of a science. I generally have the engine serviced a few days before we haul out. Our system of hauling the halyards to the top of the mast and boxing the ends works like a charm saving the expensive running rigging from wear. The first year we needed to buy about $1,000 of line as we had destroyed three halyards as they whipped themselves silly. Putting the sails on is a bit of a crap shoot. The main is easier than the jib (1/3 the size) but it cannot be too windy … and while we were up in the boatyard it was way too windy.

The batteries Ross carried down the ladder

We had most of the systems ready to go by Saturday and the boat was mostly together by Sunday. We had ordered new batteries and new chain, so these needed to be installed before we could hit the water. Fortunately, on Saturday afternoon they delivered the batteries via very tall forklift. Ross the gomer didn’t wait for them to come pickup the old ones. He carried them down the ladder – I guess to prove how strong he is. I had visions of him falling and having the battery crush his chest. Oof, what a way to go. For the last two batteries (after I caught him doing this by himself) I belayed the batteries with a strong line … so we had a modicum of safety (or at least the illusion of it).

Another breakfast at Food & More. Ham and Eggs with
coffee for me, Scrambled eggs with tea for Ross

By Sunday we were ready to put in ... but they don’t work Sundays in Greece so another Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Food & More, a great restaurant but you simply cannot eat one place for 11 meals in a row and not hate it.

Beginning of another season

Monday brought electrical storms and 25 knots of breeze with sideways rain. We’re not launching until this gets better. By 14:00 it started to clear up and in we went. We pre-cranked the motor a few times and then lit it … first try. I LOVE YANMAR ENGINES! We then backed into the slip still in strong wind tied up and began to relax as Tara is back where she belongs … in the water.