2010 season

After delays due to ash cloud over the UK, David finally flew to Marmaris and I followed a month later.  We left the marina late April and headed for Simi, before sailing to Tilos and Nisyros - new Greek Islands for us.  They were lovely, as was Astipalea where we stayed for a week.  Then it was across to Santorini where we met Sally and Tim Wadworth from Marlborough.  Santorini was magnificent, albeit very touristy, and we escaped the crowds by finding a mooring at Oia, at the very top of the island from where we watched some magnificent sunsets.  We sailed to beautiful Folegandros and then Milos where we dropped the Wadworths then had a lovely sail across to the mainland.

Jerry and Jan Ford from Timaru joined us at the east end of the Corinth Canal and we motored through this amazing piece of engineering before spending a few lovely days in the Sea of Corinth.  Navpaktos was the highlight - a semi enclosed ancient harbour within spitting distance of the new and magnificent Rion bridge that joins mainland Greece with the Peloponnese.  Soon we were back in the Ionian - what a lovely area it is.  We dropped the Fords in Sami Kefalonia where we met up with old sailing buddies Frank and Kati from Antares.  Had a few lovely days with them on the south of the island before David's goddaughter Bridget Morton joined us for the sail across to Syracuse in Sicily.

Fantastic to be back in Italy - gelato, spada, Parmesan, proscuitto, mozarella, ricotta, lemoncello....all those wonderful foods.  We loved Syracuse and spent more than a week just enjoying the ancient city and taking bus trips to inland towns.  Time to head away though and we sailed the south coast, stopping off at a couple of interesting ports.....very Sicilian......before crossing to Sardinia.  Lovely to be back in the clear turquoise waters of Villasimius and we spent a few days here doing chores.

Pete and Chick Anderson joined us in Arbatax and we sailed up to Olbia with them - had only a day between them and our nexdt guests - the Hileys from England.  Sailed to Bonifacio with them and back to Olbia where we picked up Amy and Corry from Rutland and Amy's parents Barb and Glen from Fielding  - whew....busy time.  We sailed up to Ajaccio with them and what a great time we had - such fun people.

Annabel and Sally Wigley then joined us briefly - Annabel had just competed at Burghley and managed to squeeze in a quick Med trip.  We dropped them in Olbia where Mirabella was tied up - she just happens to be skippered by a Kiwi who knows the Wigleys!  Fantastic to see on board this magnificent yacht.

Time to head into Marina de Olbia for the winter - a nine month contract.  Brigitta from Switzerland came down with her friend Monica for a few days and they enjoyed swimming - although it was too cold for us.  Time to shut down Bandit for the winter and head to London.