The Doldrums
We have spent the last two days anchored in a beautiful bay on Meganisi. Abelike bay. We are nice and secure having mastered the lines ashore techniques. There has been no wind, and a bit overcast but a lovely temperature.
Reading a bit, occasional swim, evening film. All is good.
The dynamics of the surrounding yachties makes an interesting tableaux. Many of them are just doing much as we are, and make occasional pleasantries. They are mostly engaged in similar pursuits as ourselves, watching us as we watch them.
A catamaran of Scots arrived today and parked about 100 yards from us. They have livened the place up no end. We have been treated to a continuous diet of hilarity which would be very annoying were it not for the fact they are having such a good time. We have been treated to continuous whoops of laughter and various events like the synchronised buttock diving championships off the top of the cat. The rules seem to involve various bodily gyrations but both buttocks have to strike the water simultaneously. Oh and of course a pink inflatable flamingo is involved.The competition involves a Glaswegian and an Edinburgh team...serious stuff.
In total contrast has been the ultimate in curmudgeons.
An elderly English bloke who has obviously been a fixture for several years, judging by the dark brown leathery hide he wears-a bit reptilian to be honest. This guy obviously gets his pleasure from yelling at Johnny Foreigner. He is single handing (not surprisingly) on a big stink boat (again not surprisingly).
In the bay we are in, it is recommended that anchors are dropped and lines taken ashore. In this way many more boats can be safely anchored. This advert for fair play however has anchored at the head of the bay, right in the middle, with a scope on his anchor extending almost out to open sea. This means that any other boat trying to anchor in the recommended manner might cross his anchor. This allows him to stand (mostly) naked [ posing pouch] on the bridge of his ship and pour invective on the hapless crew.
"Go Away, Bugger off, you will cross my anchor" "Where ees yor anchoor, Monsieur?"
" Over there, right over there, can't you tell, 100 metres of scope your're going to cross my anchor...Fxxx off !!'
I suppose there is some therapeutic value in standing railing at the universe like this. Perhaps this is where I am heading, or maybe I will just continue writing a blog, which has similar merits.
The other characters are an old fellow in a little rowing boat who has spent the last two days, and presumably many others, slowly rowing round the bay with a fishing line tied to his arm. I have not seen him catch anything.
Another is a guy who swims around the circumference of the bay twice a day. Obviously a very accomplished swimmer he does this apparently effortlessly with a metronomical stroke of one per second. Very impressive.
There are also several super-yachts in the bay, one of which is the ugliest thing I have seen at sea. It has an enormous down turned proboscis a bit like an eagle's bill. There are a crew of dozens and a couple of wealthy owners who spend all day playing with water toys and sitting in the fold out patio drinking expensive (presumably) wines. It flies the Georgian flag and one can only speculate as to the source of the opulence. Probably best not to know.
One of the nice things about a meteorological low in Greece, is that rather than high winds and torrential rain, you get less fierce heat and interesting cloud formations. Some of these come stright from Roger Dean's graphics for Yes, others are just interesting. Who can see a plastic duck and who can see a set from Flash Gordon.
You do of course need special equipment for non sailing days and this works a treat.
Reading a bit, occasional swim, evening film. All is good.
The dynamics of the surrounding yachties makes an interesting tableaux. Many of them are just doing much as we are, and make occasional pleasantries. They are mostly engaged in similar pursuits as ourselves, watching us as we watch them.
A catamaran of Scots arrived today and parked about 100 yards from us. They have livened the place up no end. We have been treated to a continuous diet of hilarity which would be very annoying were it not for the fact they are having such a good time. We have been treated to continuous whoops of laughter and various events like the synchronised buttock diving championships off the top of the cat. The rules seem to involve various bodily gyrations but both buttocks have to strike the water simultaneously. Oh and of course a pink inflatable flamingo is involved.The competition involves a Glaswegian and an Edinburgh team...serious stuff.
In total contrast has been the ultimate in curmudgeons.
An elderly English bloke who has obviously been a fixture for several years, judging by the dark brown leathery hide he wears-a bit reptilian to be honest. This guy obviously gets his pleasure from yelling at Johnny Foreigner. He is single handing (not surprisingly) on a big stink boat (again not surprisingly).
In the bay we are in, it is recommended that anchors are dropped and lines taken ashore. In this way many more boats can be safely anchored. This advert for fair play however has anchored at the head of the bay, right in the middle, with a scope on his anchor extending almost out to open sea. This means that any other boat trying to anchor in the recommended manner might cross his anchor. This allows him to stand (mostly) naked [ posing pouch] on the bridge of his ship and pour invective on the hapless crew.
"Go Away, Bugger off, you will cross my anchor" "Where ees yor anchoor, Monsieur?"
" Over there, right over there, can't you tell, 100 metres of scope your're going to cross my anchor...Fxxx off !!'
I suppose there is some therapeutic value in standing railing at the universe like this. Perhaps this is where I am heading, or maybe I will just continue writing a blog, which has similar merits.
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| The Monster of Meganisi |
The other characters are an old fellow in a little rowing boat who has spent the last two days, and presumably many others, slowly rowing round the bay with a fishing line tied to his arm. I have not seen him catch anything.
Another is a guy who swims around the circumference of the bay twice a day. Obviously a very accomplished swimmer he does this apparently effortlessly with a metronomical stroke of one per second. Very impressive.
There are also several super-yachts in the bay, one of which is the ugliest thing I have seen at sea. It has an enormous down turned proboscis a bit like an eagle's bill. There are a crew of dozens and a couple of wealthy owners who spend all day playing with water toys and sitting in the fold out patio drinking expensive (presumably) wines. It flies the Georgian flag and one can only speculate as to the source of the opulence. Probably best not to know.
One of the nice things about a meteorological low in Greece, is that rather than high winds and torrential rain, you get less fierce heat and interesting cloud formations. Some of these come stright from Roger Dean's graphics for Yes, others are just interesting. Who can see a plastic duck and who can see a set from Flash Gordon.
You do of course need special equipment for non sailing days and this works a treat.
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