While the rest of Ireland was bemoaning the chilly start to an Irish summer, the Cruising Group was bobbing around the Greek islands, drenched in sunshine and stressing about whether to do a beach swim or tapas in a taverna for the afternoon (spoiler alert: why not both?) This year, eight yachts were chartered in the Ionian Sea for one-week and two-week flotillas, hosting a mix of regular sailors, friends, and family. As Cruising Group Captain, Susan Kavanagh, said, "It was a relaxing and sociable way to get off the beaten track and discover hidden coves and deserted beaches...Might be worth repeating next year!"
After being treated to a surprise air show upon arrival in Corfu, the flotilla went from strength to strength – fishing in the Lefkas strait, winning ouzo jellies, entering cocktail competitions, and hot-spotting WiFi in the Ionian Sea to watch the Heineken Cup final, as you do.
Read on for the travel log from Timoni, one of the participating boats, and start plotting to join next year’s flotilla!
Day 1 Saturday 18th May 2024 – Dublin to Corfu
Flight to Corfu.
All collected by Dermot Flight on time
Arrived at hotel at approx. 4pm
Had a walk about town. Couple of drinks. Had a lovely snack of savoury donuts – yuk.
Meal out. Nice meal
Day 2 Sunday 19th May 2024 - Corfu Town to Plataria (by ferry)
Leisurely breakfast.
Checkout 11am.
Planned to get 3pm ferry to Ignoumenitsa. Strolled around town – very pleasant.
Visited fort. Watched a boat come into port – little did we know!
Taxis to port. Ferry was €10 a head!
Slight concern re which Sivota we were meeting in, but Lorna (as ever) was spot on. Taxi from port to Plataria – landed just as first briefing started in Olgas at 5pm!
Name of our boat is Timoni.
Ben – Flotilla Skipper / Lead
Briefing every morning (or some evenings)
Bring charts
Harbour guides from Sailing Holidays Pink striped for first week
Orange striped 2nd week Deep water throughout Chart plotters
Navionics app 2-week free trial.
Lots of ferries, hazards. They will not get out of way
Also fishing boats - give them wide berth. If they are moving slowly, they are fishing - pass in front if possible. Fishing pots will use small markers (plastic bottles etc). Do not pick up!
Leave someone on board for swimming. Kill engine completely.
Eye weather forecast. Local weather systems. Breeze off the mountains late afternoons. Be careful! Reef early if possible.
VHF operating channel 67 - primary form of contact. Ok to chit chat on 67. Keep clear channel 16. Avoid stress button!! Only for real emergencies.
Always turn on and radio check every day. Nice and loud. Only turn off when safely berthed. Hand signals. Hand left and right. Slow speed up etc.
Anchor cross arms in air; ready to go. 2nd form contact. Boat phone if no VHF. Safety equipment.
Everything labelled; make yourself aware.
Greece House rules. No smoking down below. No bonfires on beach. Big fines!
Boat papers for signing. Put them in Chart table and leave them there. Cannot swap boats!
Ellie – Logistics and Ents Officer!
-Welcome note on board. Complete crew list. Anyone missing or name wrong let her know.
-VHF and Boat phone details.
-List of Boat contents - check and make sure everything is there.
-Lost or broken let her know.
-Boat maintenance, let her know.
-Clean Boat, happy Boat!!
-Secure everything before you leave port.
-First aid kits. Do not open. If you need something, ask lead boat.
-Mosquitos are out!
-2 sets of keys. Safe and boat.
-Morning (or evening) briefing time will vary
Barnsey – Engineer!
Contact through Ben or Ellie
Boat responsibility to fill water. Ask lead boat for hose. Diesel - 20 litre jerry can.
Check filler caps!
Batteries charged by engine and shore power.
Cool box off when under sail (!!).
Shore power, small adapter, don't forget when leaving. Toilets. Use bin for paper.
No input re those flappy things above deck!!
Ate in Olgas – meal was fine. Our waiter was odd to say the least – stole the tip!
Day 3 Monday 20th May 2024 - Plataria to Sayiadha
Briefing
From the previous evening.
Day Log
Suzanne skippered the boat.
Very little sailing today.
Intended to stop at Iggy Creek but navigator (Pat) screwed up!
Had sails up for an hour with little headway so motored or motor sailed most of the way. Anchored just outside Sayiadha Harbour for lunch – first of many prepared by chief chef Michael! Narrow entrance to harbour. Guided into berth – stern to and anchor.
Went for swim on local beach – wasn’t crystal clear!
Found a shower on the beach – nice as none available in the Taverna.
Punch party 6.30pm hosted by flotilla lead boat crew. Great fun – we were last to leave, setting our stall out from the start!
Meal in Alex's local Taverna. It was fine / OK. Coffee shite!
Drinks back in boat. Joined by our neighbours Jane and Steve for a nightcap – must have scared them off as pretty much last we saw of them!
Day 4 Tuesday 21st May 2024 - Sayiadha to Corfu Town (Corfu YC)
Briefing
9am in Alex’s
Destination Corfu YC (Mandraki) Stern to and lazy lines
South of the Fort for anchorage (suggested) 5pm arrival (latest)
Day log
Pat skippered the boat.
Beautiful crossing sailed all the way average speed 6-7 knots – max 8.4 knots!
Welcomed to Corfu with a full-on air show – 5 helicopters and (what we believe was) an F18 fighter jet doing his thing over the skies of Corfu – very impressive.
Anchored for another Michael lunch on the Northwest of island of Vido just beside Corfu Town.
Berthed overnight in Corfu Yacht Club. Ben & co had some hassle from a local boat – he manged it very well. Drink in Corfu YC.
Cocktail in an overpriced bar in the town.
Fantastic meal in a Greek tapas bar (To Tsipouradiko) Back to boat for drink.
Day 5 Wednesday 22nd May 2024 - Corfu YC to Sivota Mourtos Karvourno Pontoon
Briefing
9am in Corfu YC bar Bearing 133
Come in direct from the North. Look out for ferries
Levkimmis point has a cardinal
Suggest anchorage around Sivota Mourtos Taverna on beach with showers
Day log
Kieron skipper today! Left port 11.45.
Set course 133 (South at 11.50).
Engine off 12pm. 2.5 knots under sail. Engine back on for most of 20M passage.
One of the HYC boats had engine trouble on passage (other HYC boat). Vent valve on cooling system failed. Barnsey sorted them mid passage!
Got to sail the last 4 or 5 miles into harbour. Nice end to the passage with a sail. Beautiful little harbour near the town of Sivota Mourtos. Had a swim on the beach. Walked into Sivota Mourtos (20min). Tricky negotiating the stony steps!
Good shopping (for bits and bobs) and a great bar (Bamboo bar - Andreas). OK meal in local Taverna - Prawns were poor!!
Day 6 Thursday 23rd May 2024 - Sivota Mourtos to Parga (mainland)
Briefing
Morning briefing in local Taverna 12-mile passage.
Forecast light getting breezy 2pm
Day log Suzanne skipper Departed 11.45.
Sails up at 12.15 but not much wind
Motor sailed for 30min and then back under sail.
Beautiful sail with wind behind us. We headed a little out to sea to 'harness' the wind.
Breeze heavy when we got to Parga. Got sails down and after a minor altercation with the local rocks (thanks Mary!) we had lunch under Anchor.
Mooring was a beach landing - bow on with forward and Stern anchors as well as lines either end. Water taxi 6.30pm from boat.
Parga really nice town.
Cocktail in Veranda on the sea front - great spot (name?).
Meal in Castello. Really good - great recommendation from Ellie! 11.30pm water taxi home – last to leave again! Straight to bed!
Day 7 Friday 24th May 2024 - Parga (mainland) to Paxos Lakka
Briefing
Evening briefing in Cocktail bar!
Forecast southwest / west / northwest – i.e. variable. 12 -15 knots in the afternoon 12-mile passage, bearing 260
Hazards - rocks on way out. Longos on Paxos 1/4 East submerged rock. Also, just off Gaisos, 2 miles east. Watch out for day trip boats.
Lanka nice bay, drop Anchor before mooring. Stern to on Anchor. Also bow to. Free swing.
Latest 5pm. Leave by 11. Radio on at 9am.Harbour lights Cocktail briefing 6pm.
Day log
Pat skipper today!
Departed 11.30. Reversed off the beach with assistance from Barnsey!
Wind on the nose from the start - 260 course. Engined for a bit. Wind came up and we decided to beat to Lakka. Made towards the rocks off Gaisos (2M not intentionally!) and then tacked out. Made lay line for Lakka. Engined last mile. Really nice sail.
Anchored in Lakka Harbour. Kept an eye on one of the other flotilla boats whose engine overheated (blocked engine cooling system vent). It was Theodora! Barnsey sorted it – yet again!
Lunch on Anchor.
Handy stern on and Anchor mooring on Harbour Wall. Went for swim on local stony beach - beautiful.
Ate in Nionios with other HYC crew (Cyril, Orla, Eddie, Joyce). Really nice meal. Drink on boat and bed!
Day 8 Saturday 25th May 2024 - Lakka to Mongonisi Bay (Paxos)
Briefing.
Morning briefing (Ref pg 46) Very little wind forecast.
Passage 5.5 miles, bottom of Paxos.
Hazards; 1/4 mile west Longos, Gaisos 2 miles off rocks.
Anchor options; Lanka, Longos, Gaisos, Emerald Bay. Anti Paxos NE (harbour guide), Monganisi 5pm arrival (latest) on off by 11pm, ready by 10.30.
Very little in the town - stock up in Lakka. Group meal at 7pm.
Late departure from Lakka - planned! 45-50 mile passage on Sunday so lots of time to rest up!
Day log
Kieron skipper today!
Filled up with water, cleaned boat (mainly Lorna) and did laundry (mainly Pat & Suzanne). Stocked up with more food and drink on board!
Departed 1.30pm - last one out!
Wind from the North, very light. No sails today! 6 knots, passage 5.5M. 1 hour on the water.
Aim was to get to Monganisi early to get set up for match (Leinster v Toulouse in Heineken Cup final).
Wi-Fi crap so abandoned idea of watching in Taverna (they weren't particularly nice). Other bar in bay nicer so charged laptop.
Set up on boat as best we could - RTE player on laptop via very weak mobile hot spot. Just about worked.
A few of our neighbours joined in - 13 on board at one point. Leinster lost 31 22 in extra time - very disappointing. The boat party was much more successful - we even managed to put the briefing in the Taverna back by 45min!
Group meal was nice.
Retired to boat (eventually!) making great plans to dress up for passage through the Lefkas canal!
Day 9 Sunday 26th May 2024 - Mongonisi Bay (Paxos) to Meganisi Island (Little Port Vathi)
Briefing
Evening briefing (well-oiled after the match!). Lefkas canal transit.
Forecast 4 to 10 knots from North. 10 to 15 in the afternoon. Orange harbour guide pg 12 for entrance into canal.
6 hours to bridge from Monganisi. Bearing 130, no hazards.
Early start. Ready to leave by 6.45; aiming for 1pm Bridge opening. Port and starboard markers - do not go inside yellow markers.
Keep to starboard side of channel.
No-one gets left behind - can go through earlier if we wish (radio) 10M to Port Vathi
Once through bridge one hazard. Island of Skorpidhi - shoal of rocks. If early, can Anchor.
Taverna with Marquee outside. Karnagios pg 26. Stern to lazy line. Get in by 5 30.
Water, shore power & mini market Dress up through canal!!
Day log
Suzanne skipper today!
Departed 6.30am - handy drop and exit.
Set sails. TWS 7-8 knots. Making 6.5 knots on a bearing of 130 to Lefkas canal, lovely sail. Motored through the canal (12pm opening - 1hr earlier than planned).
Opened out and made heading of approx 165 to Port Vathi. Wind came up nicely, almost directly from the North. Sailed last 1.5 - 2hrs, made nice headway 4-5 knots.
Stern to with lazy lines. Got shore power - very straightforward. Nice Taverna – well set up and well maintained.
Had a drink and put in our order in Karnagios in advance for evening dinner. Extra bonus – hairdos for all the girls at knock-down prices!!
Swim, shower (top class!). Walked over to village. Very pleasant fishing village. Drink and ice cream on the far side of port.
Afterwards we joined our skipper Ben for a drink in 'Boom Boom' watching his beloved Southampton fall over the line in the Championship playoff v Leeds (1-0).
Dinner was good (Karnagios).
Ordered bread and stocked up on beer for a pre-bed drink on boat (for some!).
Day 10 Monday 27th May 2024 - Little Port Vathi to Sivota
Briefing
Evening briefing in Taverna
Forecast; no rain(!) wind southerly moving to the North. 5 to 10 early, 7 to 17 later. 7M passage
Few hazards; NW shallow shoal – careful. Ferries all round. Thivia Island, South section beware rocks. Head right if we like, bottom of Meganisi ok.
Anchorage: Skorpidhi no dingy (Russian!). Poros, right up. Anchor South side of markers. Or Sivota itself. Stern to & lazy line. Last bit of quay to Port side. Top of picture.
Really good Taverna - facilities if we eat at Taverna (power and water). Pirates bar - good spot.
Sailing Holiday base - replace broken stuff (we got new tea-towels!).
Finn joined the crew today – shadowing Barnsey (Engineer) for the rest of the trip.
Day log
Pat skipper.
Departed 11.00, straightforward departure, though wind blowing us back onto beach! Short passage to small inlet east side of Thilia (strait between Lefkas and Moganisi).
Anchored here - beautiful spot. Light lunch (fruit) drinks. Kieron caught 2 small fish which he threw back in – not before murdered on of them!
Engined rest of way to Sivota - Michael took the wheel most of the way. Stern on with lazy lines.
Quayside right on restaurant - stepped from boat to table! Did some shopping. Walked the busy Quay.
Cocktail, shower & dinner in local Taverna. Food was good. Celebrated Mary's birthday with a pint and a bop in Pirates! Bed but not before drowning our harbour guide in Baileys!
Day 11 Tuesday 28th May 2024 - Sivota to Port Vathi (Big Vathi) Ithaka
Briefing
Morning briefing – above Pirates bar. Initially west 5 -10 knots, 11-15 NW later. 15M passage.
2nd bay on the left.
Hazards; Ferries including big ferries (faster). Fishing pots. Arkoudhi Island, wide berth. Top of Ithaca. Nicolou reef, a little exposed.
Day log
Kieron skipper.
Departed 11.30. Sails up shortly afterwards. Sailed for 1.5hrs. Wind from W veering NW 10 knots average. Melon and Parma ham en route!
Wind dropped, engine on. Dropped Anchor in beautiful bay just before Big Vathi. Swim and beer!
Greeted by a very large Russian super yacht just outside the bay – their very impressive launch was to cause havoc! Rafted up in Big Vathi North Quay. We were on outside of 3. Handy enough to get on shore.
Cocktail competition - we won best presentation at a stroll! Ouzo jellies were the prize! We have video evidence – official launch of the Anchor Song!
Dinner at the Taverna. It was fine - service slow. Drink back on boat - we're officially cleared out!
Day 12 Wednesday 29th May 2024 - Port Vathi (Big Vathi) Ithaka to Poros (Kefalonia Island)
Briefing
Wind SE 5-12 start. NW 9-15 later. 18M.
178 bearing.
Hazards. Fishing pots. Ferries. Sailing traffic.
Anchorage. Sarachino Bay. Peri Pigadhi - great spot (highly recommended by Ben). Andrew Bay (top of bay of Poros). Stern to and Anchor. Lead boat far down.
in for 5pm. Off at 11pm.
Poros. Tavernas on quay. 15min walk to town. No shore power. No showers.
Day log
Suzanne skipper.
Departed 10.30 – first out. Avoided the chaos created by the wash from the super yacht launch as we were leaving. Minor damage to one of the boats. Ben complained to Harbour police. Damned pesky rooskies!
Anchored at same spot day 9 for breakfast (bay just before Big Vathi). Motored to Pera Pigahli for Anchor and swim (and light lunch of course!). Suzanne and Pat took dingy to the deserted beach!
Set off shortly before 3pm from anchorage for our (approx.) 2hr trip to Poros. Arrived just before 5pm. Stern-to and Anchor - handy entry.
Filled our depleted drink supplies. Slight dispute in the camp over the price of Baileys in local supermarket. The skipper won out!
Drink and briefing in Cave bar. Nice spot. Ken and Jenine stood the round of drinks as they sold their house in the states today – nice touch.
Briefing advised, free day on Friday (details to follow).
Ate at Agrapidos Taverna above the port (not to be missed - Captain Corelli's Mandolin connections!). Drink back at boat - Pat and Suzanne fell asleep at the wheel!
Day 13 Thursday 30th May 2024 - Poros (Kefalonia Island) to Sami (Kefalonia Island)
Briefing
Evening briefing.
Refer Page 41 harbour guide. Wind. 4-9 SE. 3-13 NE. Changeable!
Hazards. Ferries. Fishing pots. No shoals.
Anchor points. Andisamis. Andrew Bay on Ithaca. Also near Sami good.
Stern-to and Anchor. Aim for 3pm arrival. Day log
Pat skipper.
Had a nice walk into the town before we left – 5/10min. Nice town, nothing special but pleasant feel to it.
Met for coffee in the town even though we all left separately – wed to each other at this stage! Walked back (separately!). Breakfast on the boat quayside. Departed 11.45am.
Sailed for 1.5-2hrs making reasonable headway (3 knots) under Captain Michael!
Motored into smaller bay beside Sami when wind died. Lunch and swim. Headed into Town Quay Sami for 4.15pm. Drink on board, showers. Headed to beach for 6pm for BYO punch party and Anchor Dance reenactment!
Nice party - last to leave as ever!
Dinner in Taverna beside boat with 3 HYC boats. Not great food, red wine was nice! Bed with a baileys nightcap.
Day 14 Friday 31st May 2024 - Sami (Kefalonia Island) - Spartahori (Meganisi)
Briefing
No briefing – free day today!
We decided to make a big jump to get back close to Nidri Town – Timoni departing one day earlier than the rest of the Flotilla.
Decided to make for Spartahori on Meganisi – close to where we stayed Day 9 (Little Port Vathi). This left us with a 1hr trip on Saturday – our day of departure.
Lead boat (Ellie) made a booking for us in Spartahori – along with another couple of the flotilla boats.
Day log
Kieron skipper (with able assistant Mary!).
Departed 9.30. No wind initially but it came up a little. Sailed first hour making 3 - 3.5 knots.
Wind died as we made our way up Kefolonia hugging the coast. Motored for approx 2 hours and then sailed again for an hour.
Wind died and we anchored approx 30min from Spartahori - opposite where we anchored on trip from Little Vathi going south.
Made our way into Spartahori. Beautiful spot. Lovely swim and a couple of pints by the beach. Pre-dinner drink on board followed by meal in Port Spirlia Taverna
Joined the other HYC boat (Vonitsa – Cyril, Orla, Eddie & Joyce) Food was good, company was excellent naturally enough!
Retired relatively early but not without a night-cap.
Day 15 Saturday 1st May 2024 - Spartahori (Meganisi) – Nidri Town (and onto Corfu & Dublin)
Briefing
No briefing – still on our own. Internal briefing only! Planned to leave 9.30am (ish).
Up a little earlier than usual. Michael cooked everything left on the fridge!
Day log
Suzanne skipper.
Left at 10.15am, 45min passage.
Arrived at Sailing Holidays pontoon just south of Nidri Town just after 11am. Stern-to with lazy lines.
Packed, cleared and cleaned the boat (Lorna & Mary!). Had a final beer on board and in bar in Iris Hotel. Taxi to Lefkada Port (perfectly organised by Lorna).
Ferry to Corfu 1.45pm – again all arranged by Lorna. Taxi driver didn’t even know there was a ferry from here to
Corfu!
Ferry went back through Lefkas canal. Stopped in Paxos. Very pleasant 5.5hr journey to Corfu - even got to finish the final morsels of food from the bottomless fridge (compliments of Lorna)!
Taxi from port to restaurant – revisited our favourite Greek tapas bar (To Tsipouradiko). Taxi from restaurant to airport. 1 hour delay due to bird strike on landing.
Home sometime after 3am – not before a slight altercation with taxi queue coordinator in Dublin airport!
For more, check out this blog post from some American members of the excursion on their first ever flotilla: https://www.travelblog.org/bloggers/jlb43409
