Cruising Helmsman - July 2018

42

Cruising Helmsman July 2018

PRACTICAL

OUT THERE

Several group dinners were organised by

our lead crew, but at other times we made

our own arrangements.

Our itinerary also included a free

sailing day where we could choose our

own port for the night and the lead crew

assisted by providing local information

and advice about the various options. We

ended up joining another f lotilla boat and

overnighted in a port they had visited and

loved on a previous sailing trip.

WEATHER

Generally the mornings were still and

calm and, after the briefing, we would all

set off for the day and often not even catch

sight of each other until the evening.

After a bit of motoring, a bit of lunch and a

swim, the afternoon breeze would come up.

Even in the relatively benign conditions of

the north Ionian there was plenty of it to give

us a good sail and local phenomena could

mean the wind was considerably stronger

than the general forecast. Some afternoons

we had two reefs and were still f lying along.

Early June was also a great time to go,

before the crowds and the more intense

heat of later in the season, although the

water was still on the cooler side.

Apart from Sivota, we visited

Spartochori on Meganisi, Kalamos,

Frikes on Ithaca and Vassiliki, also

on Lef kas. Each destination offered

something unique, but our favourite was

an anchorage at Palairos, a small village

on the western Greek mainland fringed by

strip of pebbled beach. We rowed to shore

and dined on freshly grilled snapper at a

pretty beachside taverna and watched the

sun slowly set on another perfect day.

Flotilla sailing is not for everyone.

I am sure there are many hard-core

sailors out there who would never

consider it. However, depending on

your circumstances it can be a great

way to build cruising experience with

the advantage of knowing there is an

experienced crew on hand to render

assistance, if required. ≈

Arna Radovich took up sailing in her

40s, first on a Beneteau 38 and now on

a 42’. She and her husband, who grew up sailing with

his Croatian Dad, sail out of Sydney Harbour and plan

to cruise some more, either in Greece or Croatia.

ARNA RADOVICH

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Sunsail offer flotilla sailing in Greece,

Croatia, Spain and Italy.

http://www.sunsail.com.au/flotilla-sailing.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Rafting

in Frikes; Lila at anchor in

Palairos; Lila stern-to with

lazy lines, Spartochori.