So, we have six days to see as much as possible and go as far as we can. To explore the Greek islands heading south from Samos, visit new places. The crew consists of two people—my guest also holds a skipper’s license, a Day Skipper, classified as a daytime sailing captain under the RYA system.
Unfortunately, we only have six days, less than a week. After that, we already have a flight ticket, so there’s no room for delays. But the plan remains unchanged—just like during the week-long tour—to reach the island of Kos.
Day “minus one,” not quite the first yet. A thorough check of the engines and everything else. Fixing anything at sea will be difficult, so we need to prepare. More precisely, double-check that everything has been properly taken care of in advance.
Checking the engines. Everything is in order in the engine room. No leaks, and both Volvo Penta engines undergo the standard Wobble procedure: coolant, oil, belts, trays, and electrical systems.
Meeting my guest, and together we go shopping for a week’s worth of supplies.
According to the list: butcher shop
Fruits and vegetables
Supermarket for everything else. Don’t forget the water!
Preparing supplies for the journey. We’ve decided to bake pies—that’s what my British friend knows from Russian cuisine, and of course, I can make them. Three trays: two with cabbage, one with mushrooms. Plus, a large pot of creamy mushroom soup. We’ll add croutons on the way.
Reviewing the route again. Electronic chart plotter navigation is good, but not enough. We also sketch out the plan on a traditional paper map. I’m all for safety, and this is my “backup.”
We have dinner and go to sleep in our cabins, hoping to set sail early in the morning. Ahead lies a cruise through the Greek islands.
