Beyond the Ionian on Morning Calm

Part 4

I’ll start this concluding chapter of beyond the Ionian narrative with a real time update, its boxing day and Vicky, the dogs Milli, Molli and I are currently in Sivota. I have just watched with envy the start of the Syndey Hobart Race, the range of complexity in the starting boats must be unique in World sailing, it really tugs at my adventurous side. On the topic of tradition our Christmas cruise has become one, born from a lack of snowfall 3 years ago, rendering our normal Greek skiing holiday pointless. We have now come to look forward to knocking the cobwebs and ice from Toucan, our ongoing restoration project and getting out in the Ionian, which we have mostly to ourselves.

At this time of the year winds are mostly Easterly, which adds another dimension to this amazing cruising area. Cold morning and evening, but 15degrees or more in the day, it’s more like sailing in the UK either side of the 1 good week a northern summer produces. The little vevor cabin heater has been running non-stop for 3 days so its toasty down below and as yet in three days of sailing my oilskins are still hanging in the locker.  Anyway, I guess Debbie will post this concluding chapter sometime in the New Year, so wishing you all a great year and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

On with the story…

The blustery conditions made for a fast trip across to Hydra where we arrived around lunchtime. Before tackling the harbour we anchored in a bay for swimming and lunch, which gave a little time to investigate the source of the water ingress, which had befuddled me on the way across. Paula had come up on deck and suggested that I check the master cabin head as the floor was flooded. This was an emotional subject for us as on a previous cruise, an incorrectly closed portlight and some heavy weather sailing had caused a real mess. This time however, that was not the cause, as the bathroom was on the windward ‘high’ side. I was puzzled for a moment until I scooped up a handful of water and did a taste test. Fresh, hmm, wash basin was dry, as was the shower cubicle, which left sitting the corner, winking at me the toilet; I regretted the taste test. All Morning Calms toilets are electric and fresh water flushed, when I lifted the lid it was brimming over. The immediate solution at the time was to shut down the boat’s freshwater pump, but now with Maya prepping lunch I had to 1st isolate the toilet to restore the boats water, then fix the sticking solenoid valve, not difficult just a time-consuming nuisance which rendered the toilet out of action for a few hours.