Sunday 7 July 2013

Sailing The Ionian Islands, Part One- About The Boat



 
Just back from Casting Off on another sailing adventure.
We have been sailing around the beautiful Greek Isles again. Our boat this year was called Mintaka. She is a Beneteau 361 and as you can see in the photos she is a lovely yacht; 36ft length with a wide beam (twice the size of our little yacht at home!).With a saloon area, 3 cabins, galley, navigation table and seating, showers and heads there was plenty of room for just the two of us.
 Her name Mintaka  means belt in Arabic hence she is one of the 3 stars in Orion Belt Constellation.

 
Saloon seating and table

 
Galley with double sink and large fridge

 
Mintaka is wheel steering, it was a real treat to have this instead of a tiller

 
And there were plenty of ropes to pull!

 
We raised our own little MMA burgee to proudly fly as we started our voyage 

 
and here we are sails filled creaming along making 8knots on a hot sunny day on the deep blue Mediterranean sea.
 
We love sailing flotilla holidays. We were a small group of  yachts accompanied by a "Lead crew boat" on board the Lead boat is a Skipper who plans the route, collects information on weather and books us into the harbours each day, an Engineer to maintain all the yachts and a Hostie who keeps us informed on good places to visit, facilities available, where to buy bread etc. 
We have a morning briefing every day together and then we are free to do what we want on our own yachts, sail, anchor up somewhere for lunch and a swim. We navigate our own way to the next harbour and when we arrive the Lead crew is always there ready to take our mooring lines and welcome us to each new exciting place.
Next blog will be about the voyage...

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