Sailing Calista9 October 2022 – 11 October 2022
We arrived in the picturesque fishing harbour of Kilada and found an anchorage spot in 6 metres where we would be preparing Calista to be lifted out on 11 October 2022. We chose Basimakopoulos Shipyard as we were very impressed with their professionalism and organisation in the boat yard. It is large and can accommodate about 600 boats. Quite a few Amels have chosen this particular shipyard so it is reassuring.
The anchorage was very protected and calm.
We were very fortunate with the weather as we took down the Genoa and staysail for storage. We decided to leave the main sail up this time, as it was protected in the mast and prevents the main furler rattling in the mast.
We had the VHF on and were instructed by the boat yard to keep a listen on the morning of our lift out. At 8.30am boats were being called, when Calista was called we answered straight away and we were told to make our way in to the travel lift area. We started the engine, lifted the anchor and motored slowly in through the narrow and shallow channel to the hoist.
The 120 ton travel lift made easy work of lifting Calista.
Calista was then lowered down onto her selected steel cradle on the transporter, and the guys made sure she was well chocked.
Once Calista was secure on the cradle, Calista was transported across the road on a self propelled transport trailer with a guy driving it by remote hand controls.
The cradle was then lowered into the final resting place in the yard where Calista would stay for six months. All done within one hour.
A ladder was propped against Calista and we climbed up onboard to finish the last items and then lowered our suitcases to the ground on a rope. We went to the Shipyard office and dropped off our Transit Log that the office was arranging to courier to the Custom’s Office in Nafplion. 30.00 euro cash was paid for the courier costs. We arranged for a taxi to collect us at 2.00pm to take us to Erimoni as we had booked a ferry to Athens. When we got to Erimoni we were informed by the ticket office that there was no ferry sailing that day and to go to Porto Chelli. We messaged our taxi driver who was very obliging, came and picked us up and drove us to Porto Chelli. Porto Chelli ticket office also said no ferry was sailing to Athens that day. What a disaster! Our taxi driver offered to drive us to Athens for 220.00 euro cash (2 hour drive) so we took him up on the offer, but informed him we would have some lunch first and he was happy to wait around.
We visited our favourite restaurant “Ostria” and enjoyed our last meal in Porto Chelli. Paul had a steak and I choose the lamb shank. Both meals were succulent and delicious.
Once we were finished with our meal we sent a message to the taxi driver and he came and drove us up to our hotel in Athens where we were spending one night before flying out to Izmir, Turkey for a two day stop on our way back home to New Zeaaland.
