The story of Fandancer

18 February 2015 | Hampshire
21 September 2014 | Mitika
26 August 2014 | Killini
14 August 2014 | Zakynthos
14 August 2014 | Katakalon
14 August 2014 | Katakalon
21 April 2014 | Oreoi
04 April 2014 | Oreoi, Evia, Greece
12 November 2013 | Orei, island of Evia, Greece
08 October 2013 | Loutra Edipsou
04 October 2013 | Chalkida
03 October 2013 | Chalkida, Evia
01 October 2013 | Karavos, Aliveri
01 October 2013 | Lavrion
30 September 2013 | Lavrion
26 August 2013 | Greece
26 August 2013 | Leonidion Plaka
24 August 2013 | Gerakas, Pelopenese.
22 August 2013

Diver down ......

01 October 2013 | Lavrion
George.
Well, that has been an exciting 24 hours. On leaving Lavrion we caught a lazy line round our propeller. These are lines which are attached to the quay, with the other end secured firmly to something in the water some distance out, so you can pick up the line and fasten it to your boat, and moor without using the anchor. It wasn't the line we had used, we always check carefully that they have sunk before the boat moves, but this was a rogue one which somehow must have got caught up with ours and we didn't spot it. The effect being that the wind caught the bow of Fandancer and blew us almost 180 degrees round so our bow was now almost touching the quay and the stern wasnt moving. Luckily or unluckily we didnt have boats either side of us, and no one to help us.
We tried our luck with a boat hook, as we thought the rope had only got caught in the gap between the hull and the rudder, but it didnt budge. I think Tim was waiting for me to offer to put on my swimming costume, mask and flippers and go down and take a look. I have happily done so before, when I discovered and removed some debris attached to the propeller(using the galley bread knife) when we were moored in the crystal clear waters of San Stefanou in Corfu, but this was a harbour, and although it didnt look too disgusting, the thought of swimming in murky water wasnt pleasant. So Tim managed to get ashore and went to the charter boat office who were very helpful, and promised a diver would be along in a few minutes after he had finished another job nearby.
Of course that was a Greek few minutes, which actually turned into almost an hour. But he did eventually arrive, was very polite and helpful, spoke good English. He was in the water under the boat for about ten seconds when we saw the rope go slack, and thought 'we are going to end up paying 100 euros for ten seconds work', but he didnt reappear. The cynic that I am, I thought, well, he's going to stay down a bit longer, have a cigarette, a cup of coffee, make a few phone calls. Just to make us think we've got our money's worth....
But it turned out he had just cut the big lazy line to ease the tension and make it easier to remove the rest of the line rom the prop. Eventually he resurfaced with a large handful of rope debris, then inspected everything on the boat underwater to check the prop and propeller hadn't been damaged. Everything was ok, and he only charged us 30 euro!
Tim decided we could still leave the same day, despite the worsening weather forecast. We should be able to make our destination before nightfall.
Comments
Vessel Name: Fandancer
Vessel Make/Model: Northstar 40
Hailing Port: Gosport
Crew: Georgina and Tim Moon
About: We bought Fandancer in March 2009 with a view to living aboard permanently in the Med.
Extra:
Our fourth year of living aboard in Greece. We have overwintered in Syros, Oreoi on Evia, and this year we have been in Ionion Marine, Preveza. We will be sailing in the Ionian Sea this summer, hoping to discover some more new places to visit.... We also have a new crew member - Artemis the [...]
Home Page: georginamoon1@gmail.com
Social:
Fandancer's Photos - Main
Photos of boatlift, and the yard.
38 Photos
Created 12 November 2013
Some recent photos, July and August 2013
34 Photos
Created 26 August 2013
Our bus trip from Paroikia.
10 Photos
Created 12 May 2013
some photos taken in the last couple of weeks, October 2012
36 Photos
Created 14 October 2012
some photos of Greek shops etc. Some you may have seen before.
17 Photos
Created 24 September 2012
Some photos around Hydra
29 Photos
Created 13 September 2012
various random photos for your perusal ...
19 Photos
Created 3 September 2012
Some recent photos for your perusal ...
25 Photos
Created 14 August 2012
10 Photos
Created 5 August 2012
more of my favourite photos
32 Photos
Created 27 July 2012
six weeks in Corfu area, some of my favourite photos
20 Photos
Created 27 July 2012
Photos in and around Corfu, and a cat comes aboard .....
15 Photos
Created 21 June 2012
Fandancer moored at the marina in Sciacca
13 Photos
Created 2 June 2012
Favignana and beyond
26 Photos
Created 2 June 2012
Fandancer moored in Bonifacio for two nights
20 Photos
Created 17 May 2012
Fandancer sailing from Toulon to Corsica
30 Photos
Created 12 May 2012
Fandancer in Port St Louis, masts lifted in
21 Photos
Created 9 May 2012
Ice, Pont du Gard, Les Baux
35 Photos
Created 25 February 2012
Photos from our bus trip to St Remy
28 Photos
Created 5 January 2012
Our day out in Avignon.
20 Photos
Created 28 December 2011
Lovely town of Nimes
20 Photos
Created 18 December 2011
More photos from trip down the Rhone
36 Photos
Created 4 December 2011
Some photos of Fandancer on the Rhone
32 Photos
Created 29 November 2011
Canal from St Dizier, and day out in Joinville
29 Photos
Created 11 November 2011
Out and about between Rouen and Vitry le Francois
20 Photos
Created 4 November 2011
Some pics taken in this lovely village, 27 October.
20 Photos
Created 28 October 2011
Some photos from our river trip from Paris to Epernay.
29 Photos
Created 28 October 2011
out and about in gay Paree!
19 Photos
Created 27 October 2011
George and Tim explore the city.
21 Photos
Created 7 October 2011
Maiden voyage, after 18 months out of the water!
7 Photos
Created 29 September 2011