The perfect sail

Amaris sails the world

39.13.26 N 20.12.86E

Under motor making way 6 knots

Nearing Lakka, Paxos Island, Greece

The perfect sail.

It was one of those moments - 15 knots of steady wind, 85 degrees, sunny, and sailing with full main and jib in the crystal clear seas with waves a mere foot high.  The boat surged through the water having harnessed the power of the wind.  Ron was napping.  Shawn was reading his kindle.  It lasted for 2 blissful hours.  Mother nature however makes us pay for what we ask for - the wind shifted and is now right on our nose - which gives me a moment to reflect and blog about our last few days.

I have to say that we deserved the treat given the first half of the day's conditions.  Twice we hauled up our "code zero," a large sail that cannot be stored "rolled up" like our jib.  Twice the wind changed within 10 minutes - once shifting an amazing 80 degrees.  Twice we then hauled the sail back down and put it away.  Fortunately, we only hauled up the main once.  Phew - We can tell Dr Daniel (our family doctor) that we got our exercise for the day.  We also had several opportunities to maintain diplomatic relations - which we felt were necessary given current global happenings.  At the conclusion of negotiating a historic canal with documented activity 2500 years ago (at one point managed by the Venetians) there is a bridge that opens once an hour - at the top of each hour.  Of course there were a ton of boats all wanting to get through at the same time-and although we were 15 minutes early, some of the other boaters felt the need to cut us off.  We did however as taught by a wonderful woman from the UK. " the proper response is to smile and wave, (with your hand) above the pearls and below the tiara."   

Prior to our blissful sail today, we spent the last two days on Levkas Island. (near the Onassis Family island-yes we got close and peaked....  and were chased off by a security guard on a zodiac.).  Once we were safely anchored, Shawn had a great idea of spending the day at a local hotel pool and ordering pina coladas-Ron and I couldn't argue the virtues of such an idea.  I had a hankering for Chinese food-a rare treat here it seems.  So yesterday was spent pool side followed by chicken fried rice.  It was of course - wonderful.