Eleven intrepid sailors from the club flew out to Corfu for a week’s charter between the 7th and 14th September. Two yachts were chartered: Irini, a Sun Odyssey 440, and Pinot Gris, a Bavaria 46 Cruiser Style (the crew thought that ‘Style’ referred to the fact it had underwater lights … ).  The home base for both yachts was Gouvia Marina, just north of Corfu main town.  Everyone flew out a day or two earlier, and some stayed on for a few days after the charter to relax and unwind after, what turned out to be an eventful week, certainly weather-wise.

The week started on Saturday night after we had taken over and provisioned the boats, with a club meal at Takis Taverna in Gouvia, with good food and plenty of beer and wine. 

Once we got going on the Sunday, both boats made way south and across to the mainland to a bay just north of Igoumenitsa for a lunch stop and swim.  This was a short cruise of about 15NM under engine as the wind was very light and all over the place in terms of direction.  It was also very hot with temperatures hitting over 30 degrees.

The night stop for both boats was a bay called Plataria Harbour.  This turned out to be a lovely stop with the boats anchored just off the beach, and a short dinghy ride to the quay, which we took advantage of with a meal ashore that evening. 

Unfortunately, in the morning, Pinot Gris reported that their batteries were not holding charge.  Mind you, they had a big fridge/freezer on board and the heads were electric, so this was somewhat critical.  In the end it was decided by their charter company that they should make for Petriti, across the strait on Corfu Island to get the batteries replaced. 

While Pinot Gris made for Corfu Island, Irini headed further south to the harbour town of Syvota.  This was another fabulous spot tucked in and safely anchored in a sheltered setting between two islands.  It was also an ideal spot for the crew to get some swimming and snorkelling in, and visit the local town. However, once settled we received a severe storm warning (on our phones!) with rain, thunder and lightning, plus strong winds heading our way. But the wind didn’t pick up that much where we were and for Irini, it turned out to be a really pleasant evening, and the crew enjoyed G&Ts or Metaxa and peach juice pre-dinner cocktails, and a meal aboard washed down with plenty of wine. Pinot Gris was safely in harbour in Petriti but did suffer with very heavy downburst of rain and strong winds.

This was to be the way the weather was to develop for the rest of the week. 

The next day, Tuesday, normal service resumed with Pinot Gris making its way south and Irini southwest to rendezvous at Gaios on Paxos Island.  This was another lovely setting, with both boats moored side by side in the main approach to the town quay, with anchors out and stern lines ashore in typical Mediterranean style. This offered the opportunity for both crews to eat together ashore.

Wednesday, both boats made their way back to back across to the mainland, with a lunch stop at the Blue Lagoon close to Syvota, with more swimming and snorkelling, after which it was a northerly passage to Ormos Valtou Bay for the night stop. This was a striking bay set in and around a National Park.  Both boats anchored near each other in a very quiet bay, with only a couple of other yachts anchored.  It was also an excuse for your Commodore to invite the crew of Pinot Gris aboard for after-dinner drinks, which rolled fairly late into the evening.

 On Thursday, after breakfast, both boats motor-sailed north towards Corfu Town.  Winds were again light and the weather very pleasant.  We decided that we would call into Gouvia Marina, our base port, to fill up with fuel to avoid the usual end-of-charter rush.  Then we made our way a little further north and finally anchored in Kalami Bay, about 7NM from Gouvia, directly adjacent to the approximate 2-mile-wide strait between Corfu and Albania.  Unfortunately, the weather turned on us and started blowing in from the SE leaving us a little exposed.  As a result, the swell in the bay also picked up making it tricky to use the dinghies to get ashore to dine in one of the tavernas.  The crew on Irini elected not to attempt this as we had some food left onboard.  However, the crew of Pinot Gris did manage the crossing – a case of need must at this stage, with nothing left in the larder.

The night wasn’t too pleasant and anchor watches were the order of the night given we had nothing behind us except for beach and rock. Conditions did settle down over night but started to pick up again in the morning.  There was thunder and lightning around, which appeared to be over the highland of Corfu Island.

At this point Irini decided to make back for Gouvia to try and find some more settled conditions.  After clearing the bay, the weather really deteriorated, and despite trying to make for clearer skies further south, visibility dropped to virtually zero, the rain started lashing down and we experienced some very strong gusts, which I estimated to be at least F8, which combined with very heavy rain and spindrift being lifted off horizontally, did make for some very unpleasant conditions.  This went on for about 5 to 10 mins but felt a lot longer, and was certainly the worst conditions I have ever been at sea in.  Fortunately, the storm passed as quickly as it came and I managed to get back on track for Gouvia.  I have to admit that I am downplaying what actual went on and how I felt at the time, but we got through it in one piece with no damage to boat or crew.

In the end we crossed the bay in beautiful conditions and headed  back to the marina, a little earlier to give everyone on board a rest. 

Meanwhile, back in Kalami Bay, they did experience some strong winds and rain but then things went very quiet and calm as if they were in the eye of the storm, before they left the bay.  In the end they enjoyed quite a pleasant day before making for Gouvia and return to the marina.

According to our Greek Contingent – Andreas, this was typical of a mini Medicane weather system!

Once back in the marina, we all enjoyed the obligatory end of rally dinner, where stories and tales of seamanship were swapped. It was a fabulous way to end the week before heading for home, or in some cases staying on for a few extra days on Corfu.