Road to Damascus?

[Observer]

Or, rather, Cephalonia.

I'm off with family for two weeks from Tuesday on Sunsail holiday (shorebased not flotilla) with nary a mobo in sight (except the odd ski-boat). First two days I'm enrolled on a course, completion of which, as I understand it, will mean I can skipper one of their day cruisers.

With all the exposure to rags/sticks/strings, will I see the light and return converted from mobo idolatry to the true religion? Perhaps sell the Nimbus and order a new Bav? Perhaps sign up for Yachtmaster (sail) on return?





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[sailbadthesinner]

aaah
you will get the holy grail of yachting

the Sunsail certicicate of competence

my friend actually showed this to his YM examiner saying he was only doing the YM only as a back up to his Sunsail certificate. To be fair the chap did smile.

ooh top tip
the boats will have a holding tank


thought you were selling the nimbus anyway?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[tcm]

I certainly hope you enjoy sailing. I think it is fab. But the idea that one must be either one or the other is as silly as the idea that one could only enjoy watching professional rugby OR soccer but not both.

Doing both gives you much better appreciation of the likely problems sail/power might be having. So, sail-only types do not know that mobos sitting quietly in middle of solent are almost certainly broken down. Likewise, many power-only types in chich harbour frexample never have a glance around at the masts cos to see if someone is at the top and know to creep past with utterly zero wash, nor that flapitty flappity sails all over the place means pretty much anything could happen so keep well out of the way.

Not sure about greece, but sailing here in southern france wd be crap and motory drone drone in summer as it is always flat calm with occassional F8. Solent is prevaily F4, and carribee is utterly relaible f3-5 in our winter, perfect sailing conditions.

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[aod]

The heats gone to your head

You must be mad chartering a [ah em!] boat.

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[jhr]

Sailing conditions

<<Not sure about greece>>

Cephalonia is in the Ionian Sea. Sailing conditions are usually great for learning, 'cos there's a bit of a breeze but not too much. Better than round the other side of the Greek mainland, IMHO, tho' many here will have more experience of the area than I do!

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[sailbadthesinner]

Re: Sailing conditions

cephalonia
when i go i either have lots or none
best wind is the afternoon

in reality its 2-3 morning building 3-4 afternoon as you say ideal learner conditions
but you can have a few days of no wind followed by a big blow
which is what has happened to me a few times
to be fair you need to get out a bit offshore to find the breeze
its a bit tame for dinghies need to be yachting or have something that has an engine





<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[jhr]

Weird coincidence

Interesting - SWMBO has promised me a "big blow" if I let her have "a few days of no wind".

Spooky.

)

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[MUS]

Do you know where Sunsail are based on Cephalonia?

It's just that I'm going there on Sunday with the family and was preparing myself for two weeks without any sailing, but perhaps there is hope afterall!

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[sailbadthesinner]

Terra Mare to west of Argostoli and Spartia to the East
Flot base Agios Euphemia in North east
you used to be able to turn up and book into the club for a week if there is room not sure now but could not just do the day (insurance)
fairly sure there is no bareboat base just flots


<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[zefender]

Agree with what others have said - it's a great place to learn to sail because you can basically choose what time to be out, depending on your experience - earlier for novices and later for a bit of a blast (but not always!). Watch out for stronger winds between Ithaka and East side of Cephalonia. If you plan to visit Fiskardo, arrive early and be prepared to have a morning of crossed anchor fun. Great swimming on south side of Island to the East of Ithaka (rockdive/jump) - maybe called Atokos (or maybe that's the one to the north!)

Enjoy it.

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[Evadne]

It could get worse. Take along "Riddle of the Sands" for your holiday reading and you'll be hankering after a 25' leaky wooden centreboarder with a primus stove and no engine.

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[Observer]

We're at Terra Mare - had no idea where it is geographically (only just found our where Cephalonia is) but Sailbad has kindly obliged. If you see a novice sailor swearing at his crew/sails/ropes/boat etc you'll know it's me.

Maybe we'll bump into each other - if so, "It wasn't me Guv, honest!"

Hope you enjoy yours.



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[MUS]

Sod's Law appears to apply!

We're actually staying in Agia Effemia. (I hadn't realised it was frequented by yachts!)

Looks like it will be two weeks of looking but no touching!

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[sailbadthesinner]

of the two i think terra mare has the better winds
i think there are more kids there too
have fun


<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>

 

[Neraida]

Re: Sailing conditions

Meltemi wind kicks in at the end of the month, can get pretty swelly/windy in afternoon, especially on west coast. Have a great time!

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[Davy_S]

IF you are staying in Agia Effemia and you get fed up, you can hire a 15ft boat with a 25hp 4stroke yam from Johnie at the hotel near the jetty. We have used it to go to Sami Fiskardo and Ithaka. IT does about 15 knots two up. have a good time.

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[ecudc]

erm...I think they're supposed to give you RYA keelboat level 1 maybe 2 when you complete the course so not completely useless.

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[qsiv]

We had a wonderful holiday there a few years ago - the bys (who were probably 6 & 7 at the time) still rate it as one of the best, certainly they preferred it to either Turkey or Corsica.

Terra Mare was great, and the staff welcoming - the boats were a little tired (it was end of season). Do hire a car and see the island, there is more to see. Dont forget to read Captain Correllis Mandolin!

Fiskardo was still pretty, if a trifle over touristy with some very serious megayachts (both mobo and sail) of about 130-160 feet. You know theyre big when they dont bother with a tender - and just pop ashore in the helo...

If you're not spooked by claustrophobic spaces the relics at the monastery (in the center of the Island) is quite an experience.

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[Mr Cassandra]

I remember running from Gaios to prevasa,Gusting 54 kt boat speed 8.5kts
bare poles ,great place to learn to sail .cheers bob t

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