Platarius

We could have lingered longer in Paliokastritsa but we needed to plug in. We hadn't had shore power for a long while and although it looked really promising at on the wall with power and water points all along it, none of them were working and so on the 28^th May we headed out bound for Platarious on the Greek mainland adjacent to the east coast of Corfu. It did mean sailing south around the southern tip of Corfu and then a short way north for the longest trip so far, but it would be the last stop before we headed south and a stop that promised shore power and water. 

The yachts that were rafted to us and one behind all took off before us, all headed south too. Thanks to the fact that we have no keel to drag us back, we very soon hauled all three in and by the time we reached the southern tip we had left them far behind . That is with the motors ambling along at a leisurely 2000rpm. 

We did get the headsail up for the short trip north which helped conserve fuel and we arrived in Platarias at around 5:00pm. Through the binos it looked really promising until we got right inside the harbour. All the powered moorings were full, mostly of Flotilla boats. 

Not sure if I've spoken about these, but they are destined to piss us right off on occasion. 
If you are inexperienced at yachting, but fancy sailing in the med, you can rent a boat and sail with a group of boats lead by an experienced skipper in his own boat. So far we have come across a flotilla of 10 boats, we don't know if they get any larger but imagine how much space they take up and more importantly, how much more important they are to the local economy than individual boats like ours....

What was confusing was the fact that the season hasn't even got under way and here they all were! We were comforted when told that it was because the season hasn't started that they were still in port taking up all the space with no customers.

Med Moored on the town wall. Taken from outside
Stephanos' place

We Med Moored on the wall and introduced ourselves to Olga. Town mayor, close friend of the flotillas and has the whole business sewn up to the point of a conflict of interest given she is the Mayor. We had heard that a shower could be had at Olga's and that water was available. When we asked about this Olga was very non-committal saying she does this only for her customers (read flotillas). So we ate at her restaurant for the worst meal yet, but she was forthcoming with the showers. The water tap on offer was 140 meters from the boat! 

The Harbour chocka's with Flotilla boast

The following morning I went in search of a closer tap. Sure enough a neighboring restaurant had a locked tap with a very long hose attached to the outside of his establishment. I simply waited until he opened and hit him up. Stephano is a very nice chap who was instantly forthcoming with his water and only 40 meters from the boat. I did offer to pay but when, after checking the menu I said we'd probably eat at his place that night , he said the water was on the house.

We filled the tanks, had long showers and enjoyed a splendid meal surrounded by locals. We do hope that Stephano clicks to the business opportunity that Olga has had to herself until now.

The old fisherman selling his wares

A thunder storm kept us a day longer than we'd wanted but there was just no point in heading out in the rain. Sal did come across an old bloke selling fish on the town roundabout and in order to get a shot we thought we'd better buy a fish off him. We did, his biggest Sea Bass which Sal fried up and it really was worth the 8Euro.

This is what delayed our departure. Just on its way in