We waited out the high winds of Wednesday and sailed down to Preveza on Thursday in a still sporty breeze, with both the main and genoa reefed. We managed to sail right into the harbor, and had a scary moment after dropping sails, when the engine wouldn’t engage in forward gear. I was about to roll out the jib again (we were starting to drift uncomfortably close to a rather large and expensive yacht), when Trip got the engine in gear and we were able to anchor safely.
Then the anchoring excitement started for the others around us. We watched one couple anchor five different times and drag each time, no matter where they were. It didn’t help that the water isn’t clear (you can’t see your anchor) and it was blowing over 20 knots. But the real excitement was watching another boat not only drag, but pick up another boat’s anchor and chain! Luckily the dragging victim rowed (rowed!) forward and got a line around the fouled anchor and chain so that they could release it. Another cruiser came by and held the dragging victim’s boat in place so that it wouldn’t start moving across the anchorage. I was really impressed at the lack of shouting and overall civility between everyone. I was particularly happy that the dragging boat did not anchor in front of us.
Preveza doesn’t look like much from the anchorage, but it’s a charming town and a fabulous place for a cruiser with all the laundry, chandleries, and shops for provisioning. While Trip went to get our transit log for the boat stamped by the local authorities, I took two massive bags of laundry down the quay to have them done. There’s no self-service laundry facilities in town, but those two huge bags only cost 20 euro and were washed, dried and folded in less than 3 hours. Time for me to peek around and get new sunscreen supplies against the brutal Greek sun.
We knew from a group chat that fellow cruisers from our winter berth in Montenegro were in town, and we managed to catch up with Eric & Vandy on their s/v Awildian, together with Heath & Pookie from s/v Sawasdeekat.
Pookie was kind enough to leave me a bag of Thai goodies: galangal, chiles, and kefir lime leaves. I made a simple syrup out of the lime leaves & galangal with local cherries, and then added lemon, seltzer water, and a splash of gin. Just the thirst quencher needed for these hot days!
We had come to Preveza at just the right time as the local choir was hosting the 42nd Annual International Choral Festival. Every night when we came ashore for dinner we would stop and enjoy one of the many performing groups in the town square.
It was to be a musical few days, as we also had music with dinner one night. We had seen posters for the Makari Trio performing at Villa Ferrari. A few blocks off the main drag, the restaurant had a beautiful courtyard half covered by bougainvillea. Dinner was good, but the musical trio was spectacular. A group from Sicily and Naples, they travel during the summer playing Greek/Italian/Syrian music. All the music was wonderful, but our two favorites were Misirlou (covered famously and used in Pulp Fiction) and Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (so you want to be American?).
We were debating when to leave, and Trip had gone over to the fuel dock to fill up the jerry cans, when he called me to tell me that m/v Sally Forth (more friends from Montenegro) were in town. Mark and Sally were in the marina for the night, and were kind enough to invite us over for cocktails to catch up. Small world!
Recent Comments