21 & 22 May 2025 - Kilada and home

The morning of the boat lift was very frustrating.  Despite asking several times, the yard would only say that all lifting operation occurred between 08:00 and 13:00, and that we must be ready and listening on the radio for their call.  So we were up early to ensure that the remaining tasks, were completed before 08:00.  Then we waited, ... and waited, ...and waited.  Other boats were being lifted into the water, but there was no call to us. The food had been emptied, the gas disconnected and the water tanks emptied, so it was not possible to have refreshments during this time.

Eventually, at about 11:30 we started to have contact with the yard, and the boat was lifted at about 12:15. The time while they cleaned the bottom and moved Equinox to its summer home was taken having a much needed coffee and then lunch.

The only remaining job was to put the deck cover on, which always takes ages.  It is quite disconcerting to be walking around the deck at this time. Firstly, one is a lot higher up than the usual distance to the water level, and secondly, as you are accustomed to the boat always moving slightly when it is in the water, your senses tell you that it is still moving .  I have never worked out if it is actually moving slightly in the cradle, or if it just feels as if it is.

Once this was completed, a short taxi ride back to Porto Heli, where there was accommodation for the night.    


Our transport arrives

Great views of the islands as we fly past

It is usual for us to choose a summer location for Equinox which is close to an airport, but this year was an exception. The options to get to Athens were a bus, a 4 hour drive in a hire car, or a 2 hour ferry ride. Having had the experience of a bus journey on this route in the past, we chose the ferry.  These do nearly 40 knots and a very smooth and comfortable. They dock in Piraeus,  and it was an hour and a half metro ride across Athens from the port to the airport.

The plane was an hour late arriving, so it was later than planned when we got home.  A long day, but all of the logistics worked perfectly.

Signing off now until we return in late August or early September.

Distance today -          0 miles

Distance this year - 718 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 

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