Bright and early we set out for Asprakis boatyard to haul out the boat. After a short but very bumpy and windy trip round to the North of the island we were in the travel lift at 10h00. The lift out went well and after a pressure wash we were chocked up and in place on land by 11h30. The Greeks can be efficient. We organised the work to be done, hired a scooter and by 16h00 we had painted the first coat of anti fouling. We both then enjoyed a good shower on land (our first since we had left Mesolonghi). Another first was that we connected to land power for the first time since our departure. The solar panels and wind generator supply all our needs but to boot up the main computer takes a little too much power so whilst we are here we will do the work that we have been putting off.

The next morning Svein put on the second coat of anti-fouling before he went into Aegina to get our lift out permit from the port police. Whilst he was in town Caryn caught up with the washing and on his return set to scrubbing down the dinghy in preparation for the revamping. During this time Svein worked on repairing the top sides and sprucing them up with some paint. As the temperature was steadily rising and it was very hard working in the current heat we took a break and went off for a deserved swim. On our return Svein began to repair our spare water pump (you never know) and then proceeded to work on the dinghy by giving it two coats of primer and then the first coat of Coelan. The dinghy is now bright yellow (to match the anchor). Tomorrow the next coats will go on. All in all a great deal of work done in a very short time.

30^th July 2010

We rigged up a shade to cover the dinghy so that we could carry on painting in the heat and sun. Over the course of the day 2 more coats of Coelan were put on. It really makes a difference and hopefully will extend its lifespan. Late afternoon a French boat that we had seen in Aegina harbour came to the boatyard for their liftout. They will be spending the winter there. After a discussion it was decided that they would take over our scotter hire so the owner and Svein drove into town together. The first stop was the port pollice so that we could get an exit stamp and the French could complete their formalities. Too much for a Friday afternoon so they must go back the next day. They then visited the scooter rental and Svein also had a quick session on internet to send out some urgent emails. They got back to the harbour to discover that all our papers had been left in the port police so Svein quickly returned to get them back.

Bright an early Svein proceeded to change the toilet pump that had started to play up seriously. Caryn woke up to find the toilet in pieces so the only solution was to stay out of the way and go for a long swim in the crystal clear water. Everything was eventually put back together and we now have a properly working toilet! We eventually left the anchorage late morning and started motoring towards Aegina (our destination for the day). The wind blew up but unfortunately was very fickle so we were only able to sail for an hour. We motorsailed past Poros and arrived in Aegina around 17h00. There was room in the harbour but as luck would have it the wind blew up from the North making it very difficult to anchor. After several attempts , where we were consistently blown off track, we found a spot where we were able to moor. Sortly after settling in we had a visit from the harbour authorities and for the first time since we set out we had to pay a mooring fee (€11,77) that consisted of an arrival fee and a mooring fee. “If you stay longer it will be cheaper tomorrow”. Svein had spent several months in Aegina in 2006 refurbishing a boat for a Norwegian friend so he was anxious to contact old friends and see the changes in the town. We wandered around the streets and he found his marks – there have been very little changes since his last visit. We dined in the restaurant that he always used and where he was remembered. The next day he wandered off to see the local chandler (who also remembered him) to order some additional products for the Coelan system that we have used on the deck. We now want to use it on the dinghy and some other equipment on the boat. We then shopping and found a present for the latest addition to the Vigne family – Arthur who arrived on 21st July and was born in Kalamata. Svein bought some bits and pieces from the chandler so that he is not idle whilst we wait for the delivery of the Coelan products – hopefully on 27th but all depends on the current strikes in Athens. Nobody knows how long they are going to last!!!!!! After a lunch in town and a snooze and a very brief rain shower Svein installed the new hour counter for the engine. He also replaced the broken buzzer and key on the engine and installed a new switch to enable us to remote control the anchor wince from the cockpit. Whilst mooring we discovered that the remote control button to lower the chain was not working.Everything is now installed and working. An invasion of Dutch charter boats arrived during a strong gust of wind so it was fun and games to get them moored. Two were moored near us but the rest (6 in all) dropped their anchors over ours and then backed into a nearby quay. We are convinced that we will have problems tomorrow when they leave. After a very early start to the day – we were up at 5am to lay out another anchor as ours was dragging (thanks to the charter boats) – we went into town and faced the post office. This was very efficient, clean and quick. So with our package posted we hired a quad and went on a tour of the island. Svein met up with old friends on the North of the island where he had worked previously and we enjoyed a good lunch in Souvavli. We even visited some old ruins as the photos will attest. It is not in our habits to visit old stones but this monument was well worth the trip. It is the sanctuary of Aphaia above the headland of Ayia Marina on a hill offering a spectacular view of the sea, and as the guide book says ”worship on the site goes back to prehistoric times around 1300BC when it a was associated with a female fertility deity as is clear from the finds brought to light by arcgaeoligical excavations”. Aphaia, the daughter of Zeus and Karme, fled to Aegina and hid in a cave to avoid the attentions Minos who was in love with her. She was only worshipped on Aegina. We finished off the tour by visiting Agia Marina. A horrible place that was no longer the deserted town that Svein knew but had become a busy holiday resort with lots of noisy hotels and a beach full of parasols and sunbathing beds. On our return to the boat we discovered that the charter boats had gone but inevitably had pulled up our two anchors. There was no choice but to change moorings which we proceeded to do whilst the wind was calm. Hopefully in our new spot we will be well away from the charter boats as we are tucked in among locals. We collected our products despite all the strikes in Athens and Caryn treated herself to a visit to the beauty parlour. We have also had a serious change of plan. Tomorrow we go to the North of the island to take the boat out for a serious clean of the underside and to antifoul her. In fact we have had such a good offer from the shipyard that it is too good to refuse and it will also save us money in the long run as we will save on fuel for the next stage of our trip. We should be there for a small week which also coincides with a bad weather front coming over the area where we would have been sailing so instead of being holed up in a harbour waiting for it to pass we will put it to good use and work on the boat.

After stowing away the bicycles and filling with water we left the mooring in Monemvasia with the intention of sailing along the coast to Kiparissi. However after a short time motoring the wind blew up from the South South East and we had the perfect wind to take us further North towards Hydra. It blew between 12 and 14 knots steadily all day and on reaching the island of Dhokos it started to gust so we reefed and started the engine to round the island; We sailed at a steady 6 knots all day and late evening we reached the anchorage of Ormus Skindos on the island of Dhokos. We anchored in deep water and on the third attempt the anchor took but not before we had raised a plastic doormat that had hooked itself onto our anchor, After a light meal (cooked by Svein) we sat on deck and enjoyed the tranquility of the evening whilst watching the full moon rise over the bay.

As very strong head winds are forecast for today we are staying in Monemvasia for the day. This will also enable us to see the rest of the celebrations in the evening. We spent the morning cycling to the old restored town of Monemvasia and wandering through the narrow streets appreciating the scenery and the view from the terraces. It was hard work getting there battling against a head wind (as always) and cycling uphill but the reward was worth the effort.

We are planning to leave tomorrow (weather permitting) to proceed North so more to come later.

As the winds to round the last tip were forecast for later in the day on waking up Svein again dived to check the keel and found the water cooling intake for the engine nearly blocked. This he cleared and he also finished cleaning the keel.

We raised the anchor around 10h00 and headed for the dreaded tip of Maleas. We had light winds and round the head with no problems at noon and headed into the Aegean and up to Monemvasia. We arrived early afternoon and were fortunate to find a mooring in front of the coastguard boat.

We had arrived in time to see the celebrations for the independence of the town. On 23^rd July 1821 the town was the first to be freed from the Turks at the start of the war that ended in 1827.