Koinonia Sailing and RVing

Vessel Name: Koinonia II/III
Vessel Make/Model: Hunter 41DS/Winnebago Navion
Hailing Port: Jacksonville, Florida
Extra: Previous owners of a Hunter Marine 41DS sailboat
09 February 2019 | Salt Springs Ocala National Forest
23 December 2018 | Jacksonville, Florida
04 June 2013 | Jacksonville, Florida
17 May 2013 | Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas
15 May 2013 | Yuma, Arizona
09 May 2013 | Many islands
10 April 2013
05 March 2013 | Nanny Cay - The Boat Yard
28 February 2013 | Virgin Gorda, Salt Island, and Peter Island
27 February 2013 | Virgin Gorda BVI
26 February 2013
15 February 2013
10 February 2013
Recent Blog Posts
28 February 2019

South Florida, the Everglades, and Southwest Florida

This was Our first real RV travel experience as we headed to South Florida and the Everglades! Our travels took us all the way to Flamingo Campgrounds and the Florida Bay, then across to the Cypress National Forest on our way to visit Linda's cousin Debbie and Aunt Mickey who is 99 years old! Along the [...]

09 February 2019 | Salt Springs Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest

Linda and I visited the Ocala National Forest Salt Springs campground for 2 nights. We hiked the Bear Swamp Trail several times and swam in the Salt Spring! We also did some low level biking around the campgrounds.

23 December 2018 | Jacksonville, Florida

Next phase of life...

It has been awhile since we returned from cruising aboard Koinonia II and since then, much has taken place in our lives. Linda and I are now planning to spend some time traveling around the US and Canada in our RV motorhome "Koinonia III".

05 May 2014

Koinonia II has new owners

Well I guess it wasi bound to happen Koinonia II has found some new owners...

04 June 2013 | Jacksonville, Florida

Home Again

Linda and I were planning to depart Nassau first thing Sunday morning June 2 with the option to spend the night in a Berry island anchorage or continue on to the West End of Grand Bahama island before crossing to Florida. However, the weather update Saturday morning showed a weather window that was [...]

17 May 2013 | Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas

Linda returns to crew in Bahamas

With Koinonia anchored off of Stocking island, one mile from the dinghy dock in Victoria Lake, Geoegetown, and the wind blowing 15 to 20 knots, I headed to the airport to meet Linda upon her arrival back to Koinonia after a month of shore leave!

Paxos and Levkas, Greece

16 May 2012 | Paxos, Greece
Linda
Paxos and Levkas Greece

The conditions were perfect for a beautiful sail to Paxos. At one point we were sailing at eight knots. The threat of rain ahead in the distance faded as we got closer to the island. Don and I anchored on the back part of the island. The water was deep and the bottom was rocky, which are less than ideal conditions for a secure anchorage. After the usual sanity checks for ensuring the anchor was holding, we decided the holding was good enough for us to make a quick dinghy run into town to check in with the port captain. We went through the exercise of lowering the dinghy from the forward deck and into the water, got the dinghy engine mounted, and headed into town. However, the port captain's office was closed. Before returning to the boat, we walked along the waterfront and chatted briefly with other sailors who were docked at the quay. With available space at the quay, we decided we would bring the boat around and dock there for the night.

Another dinghy ride we were back in the anchorage to find the wind had increased, shifted from another direction, and Koinonia II was slowly leaving without us. We got on board and found that she was in 125 feet of water, which meant the anchor was not holding, but still touching bottom enough to slow her attempt to relocate. She was heading in the direction of much deeper water where the anchor would no longer be on the bottom. It was a good thing we returned to the boat when we did.

We enjoyed being on the quay that evening, which was in the heart of the town's activity. Our stern faced a line of shops and outdoor eateries. We shopped at the market and enjoyed conversations with fellow sailors along the quay. I inquired about a self service laundry facility and was informed that the owner of one of the restaurants had a washing machine and would permit us to wash our clothes for five Euros. With a backpack of laundry, we went to the eatery where we were able to wash our clothes and have a delicious dinner. Apparently this combination of eating and washing clothes was not that unheard of here. We were grateful to have been able to do both, especially the laundry.

The weather forecast called for high winds for a two day stretch. The next morning, we left the charming island for the protection of an anchorage further south. This passage took us through Lefkas Canal which had a swing bridge. After a three hour sail, we arrived fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled opening. We were joined by several other sailboats, queued in the small channel awaiting the opening. Each captain took care in the narrow area to avoid all of the other boats and the shallows which flanked the channel. At the top of the hour, a small section of each end of the bridge raised freeing the bridge from the roadway. Then the entire bridge structure swung away to one side of the channel, allowing all of the boat traffic to pass. It was quite an impressive site.

We arrived at our next anchorage off Levkas island, where we waited two days for the rain and high winds to stop. We were on the boat for the duration of that anchorage. The opportunity for a shore excursion would have to wait until the next anchorage.
Comments
Koinonia II/III's Photos - Main
Flamingo Lodge Campground Florida Bay
51 Photos
Created 18 March 2019
15 Photos
Created 20 February 2019
Recent pictures of Koinonia II, a Hunter 41 Deck Salon, as she is outfitted and ready for you to start cruising the Caribbean immediately!
81 Photos
Created 29 August 2013
30 Photos
Created 14 August 2013
Linda's Mom Joins the Crew
14 Photos
Created 25 April 2013
Pete and Debbie Join the Crew
18 Photos
Created 24 April 2013
Olivia Joins the Crew
23 Photos
Created 24 April 2013
Victoria and Trey Join the Crew
53 Photos
Created 11 April 2013
9 Photos
Created 31 March 2013
10 Photos
Created 13 March 2013
18 Photos
Created 6 March 2013
19 Photos
Created 4 March 2013
18 Photos
Created 3 March 2013
24 Photos
Created 3 March 2013
50 Photos
Created 2 March 2013
25 Photos
Created 1 March 2013
27 Photos
Created 13 February 2013
45 Photos
Created 2 February 2013
32 Photos
Created 24 January 2013
Pictures from St. Lucia
44 Photos
Created 16 January 2013
Pictures from the crew of Koinonia II (Captain Don, Doug Rosen, and Charlie Para) 26 days at sea starting from the Canary Islands to our first Caribbean landfall in Barbados.
17 Photos
Created 4 January 2013
Pictures of Don and Linda cruising through southern Italy, circumnavigating Sicily, and through the Aeolian Islands and on to Rome.
82 Photos
Created 30 August 2012
Pictures from Don, Linda, Patty Chambers, and Mike and Debbie Lindell cruising from Athens through the Corinth Canal, the Gulf of Corinth, the Gulf of Patras, and the Greek Ionian islands.
38 Photos
Created 26 August 2012
Pictures of Don, Linda, Victoria and Emily Jones cruising through the Cyclades in the Aegean sea.
71 Photos
Created 8 August 2012
Pictures from Don and Linda cruising through the Ionian islands of Greece, the Gulf of Patras, Gulf of Corinth, and the Corinth Canal on the way to Athens where we were joined by Rick and Sandy Elbracht. From there we cruised the Aegean sea all the way to Turkey and back including many of the Greek islands.
60 Photos
Created 30 July 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda visiting the Greek Island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf
6 Photos
Created 11 June 2012
Pictures of Koinonia II traversing west to east towards Athens through the 3 mile long Corinth Canal
12 Photos
Created 10 June 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda's shore excursion to Delphi by bus from Galaxidi
14 Photos
Created 26 May 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda sailing from Ithaca to Galaxidhi through the Gulf of Patras and the Gulf of Corinth
6 Photos
Created 26 May 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda sailing to and cruising around Ithaca Greece
2 Photos
Created 26 May 2012
Pictures from Linda and Don's visits to the islands of Paxos and Levkas and through the Lefkas Canal.
16 Photos
Created 22 May 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda in Cavtat, Croatia, our port of exit from Croatia.
10 Photos
Created 14 May 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda touring Corfu Greece
15 Photos
Created 14 May 2012
Pictures from Don and Linda's cruise through the beautiful Gulf of Kotor, Montenegro.
18 Photos
Created 13 May 2012
Pictures from Don and Linda's visit to this very special and historical town.
47 Photos
Created 6 May 2012
Pictures of Linda and Don cruising through the Croatian Islands and Mainland
19 Photos
Created 3 May 2012
Pictures of Don and Linda returning to Zadar (Sukosan Marina Dalmajia) and Koinonia II which suffered through the cold European winter on the hard.
7 Photos
Created 1 May 2012
Pictures from Linda and Don touring Zagreb Croatia.
16 Photos
Created 25 April 2012
Pictures from Linda and Don touring Paris in April 2012
20 Photos
Created 25 April 2012
Pictures of family land touring around Italy.
11 Photos
Created 28 March 2012
Pictures of the Gilbert family in Croatia
20 Photos
Created 20 March 2012
Pictures from Don, Charlie, and Scott cruising around Croatia mainland and its islands. See sub-Albums.
1 Photo | 4 Sub-Albums
Created 19 August 2011
Pictures from our 4 days in Montenegro which includes the towns of Tivat, Kotor, Budva and touring around in a rental car.
19 Photos
Created 14 August 2011
Pictures from a very small resort town on the heal of Italy.
18 Photos
Created 10 August 2011
Pictures from around the port town of Crotone, the old Fort, and the archeological museum.
39 Photos
Created 10 August 2011
Pictures from around Sicily including Palermo
17 Photos
Created 28 July 2011
Pictures of our train ride through the country side of Sardegna.
37 Photos
Created 28 July 2011
Check out the photos in the Sub-Albums.
5 Sub-Albums
Created 15 July 2011
Pictures from the Spanish Enclave town of Cueta in North Africa. This town had lots of interesting architecture, statues, history and was very lively late at night.
20 Photos
Created 15 July 2011
Pictures of completing our Atlantic crossing and our stay in Gibraltor and our tour of the top of the Rock.
27 Photos
Created 12 July 2011
The second leg from Bermuda to the Azores and the Islands of the Azores
57 Photos
Created 13 June 2011
The first leg from Jacksonville to Bermuda and the Island of Bermuda
80 Photos
Created 13 June 2011
Koinonia II
10 Photos
Created 6 March 2011

About & Links

Photo Albums
18 March 2019
51 Photos
20 February 2019
15 Photos