Ionian islands

Our final day began in the calm harbor of Vathi, where a quiet breakfast was interrupted by a less elegant discovery: the toilet had stopped working. Before departure, we chatted with our kind British neighbors, who suggested a scenic spot on the way north: Vathiavali Beach, just before the Lefkada canal. We paused offshore for brunch and soon found ourselves surrounded by fish, clearly appreciative of our shared crumbs. Then came the Lefkada canal and its floating bridge, where we timed our passage amidst strong winds and a bit of traffic. Once through, we raised the sails for the final stretch back to Preveza - a long glide over open, sunlit water. The sea shimmered, the wind held steady, and the boat felt perfectly in rhythm with the day. It was a fitting end: peaceful, wide open, and full of the freedom that brought us here in the first place. It’s been a week of beautiful places small surprises, and plenty of sea time. Thanks for sailing with us. We will see you again on our next ...

We started the morning in Kalamos at a leisurely pace, only to discover George, our friendly harbor master, is also a chef! He created  what  we jokingly call "anchor spaghetti," where the anchor lines get entangled with other anchor  lines. That happened for half the boats in the harbor. This meant our departure took a bit longer than planned. In the process, we witnessed three anchor releases and picked up some useful techniques in case we ever find ourselves in a similar situation. a Once we finally set sail, we headed toward Vathy . We enjoyed about an hour of pleasant sailing before the wind decided to take a break, and we switched on the engine for the rest of the journey. Just before reaching Vathy, we stumbled upon a lovely lagoon that seemed to be the secret hideaway of the rich and famous. We had a relaxing breakfast there, with Vivian even feeding the fish, before continuing on to Vathy. In  Vathy , we found a convenient public mooring spot, and Vivian exp...

We left the serenity of Kioni in the morning, guided partly by the weather—and partly by the recommendation of the Swiss pediatrician we’d met along the way, who pointed us toward Kalamos. With a steady north wind behind us, we initially set out with both sails, but as the breeze grew stronger, we decided to play it safe and kept only the front sail open. It turned out to be the right move: the boat remained balanced, and we enjoyed a smooth, calm ride with the wind at our backs most of the way. We reached Kalamos around mid-afternoon, where the legendary George was waiting on the dock to greet us and help us tie up. It's a small gesture that makes all the difference after a day on the water. After settling in, we headed for a short walk to the beach. One of us dove right in, the other took it easy with a gentle swim. Later, we wandered through the quiet village, even joked about the local real estate potential, and returned to the harbor in time for a relaxed dinner at George’s t...

We began the day in the bustling harbour of Sivota, where a friendly guy from the taverna helped us out by towing us out in his dinghy—part of the unspoken full-service package. As soon as we exited the harbour, the wind picked up sharply. We shifted from motoring to full sail and enjoyed a lively stretch on the water. Our original plan was to anchor in a small lagoon for a swim, but the increasing wind - and a depth meter that decided to take the day off made that feel too risky. We initially aimed for Frikes, but Vivian’s research showed it could be too exposed in these conditions. Based on her reading (and excellent judgment), we changed direction and headed for Kioni. It was absolutely the right call. Although the small harbour did not have electricity, the setting was perfect—calm, scenic, and full of character. We dropped anchor and tied the stern to the dock, a classic Med-style setup that gave us  a stable and peaceful berth. Later, we took a short hike through the cha...

We started the day in Nikiana with a relaxed morning  coffee on deck and some knot-tying practice to prepare for the next docking. Around mid-morning, we left the marina and motored south along the coast. Our first stop was the Papanikolis Cave   on Meganisi. During World War II, the Greek submarine Papanikolis used it as a hiding spot. We approached by engin and took in the impressive view from the entrance, but we couldn’t anchor,  so we moved on. Soon after, the wind picked up to about 15 knots, and we raised the sails. It was our first proper sailing stretch, and it felt great. The boat handled well, and we finally had the chance to enjoy real sailing conditions. In the afternoon, we reached Sivota , a quiet and sheltered harbor. Docking went much better this time, which was prompted by growing confidence and a friendly local on the dock . After securing the boat, we walked to a small rocky beach, where we swam in clear, calm water.  We had dinner at a taverna by...

Our first day of sailing started with a relaxed morning after a good night's rest. We set sail northeast, hoping to see some dolphins, and we were thrilled to catch a glimpse of a few! After our dolphin-spotting adventure, we anchored in a lovely spot to enjoy a classic Greek breakfast on board. Our meal included fresh Greek salad, fluffy omelets, savory halloumi cheese, and olives—a perfect start to our sailing day. As we continued on, we had a bit of excitement navigating some shallow waters, but we managed to get through safely. We then made our way to the Lefkada floating bridge, arriving just in time for the scheduled opening and crossing smoothly. By the evening, we reached Nikiana around 6 PM. It was quite crowded, and we faced some challenges anchoring the boat due to strong headwinds. After some effort and a bit of stress, we successfully  anchored with no damage to the boat.  To celebrate our successful day, we head beachfront taverna where we enjoyed a wonderful din...

Day 1 – A Dramatic Start and a Leisurely Welcome  Our journey to Lefkada began with a bit of unexpected excitement. Mid-flight, a fellow passenger fainted, and Amnon, along with two young army medics, quickly stepped in to help. After making sure everything was stable and consulting with the captain, we decided there was no need for an emergency landing We touched down in Preveza around 11 a.m., and immediately felt the shift in pace. We took it easy, enjoying a relaxing stroll along the beach and even fitting in a quick nap before lunch. By the time we arrived at the marina and saw our boat, the "Andriana," we were thrilled. She's 34 feet long, perfectly suited for us, and equipped with everything we need, even if she's a bit older with a more old-fashioned navigation system. The evening was peaceful, with great Greek soflaki and some yummy Saganaki cheese.