Past Yachts

1971 -1972 ‘Mistral’ a 22 foot clinker built Kestrel yacht, jointly owned with David Goldin. We crossed the English Channel to France and the Channel Islands on two occasions.

Here seen weathering a gale in Braye Harbour, Alderney

1972 ‘Nomada K’ A 36 foot wooden boat built around 1954. Crossed the Channel once. Jointly owned with David Goldin.
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1974 A Bonito dinghy sailed in Bermuda.

A Laser sailing on White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas.

1979 – 1981 International Dragon D2 racing in Hong Kong Harbour.

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1982 ‘Francette’ a wooden, clinker built Folkboat. it had sailed in a Single handed Transatlantic Race but we were less successful being dismasted on the first major trip.

2001 ‘ Kirribilli’ wooden International Dragon class. racing on Sydney Harbour.

2002 – 2011 ‘Senta’ a Bavaria 34 cruiser. Racing on Sydney Harbour

2011 ‘Senta’ A new Beneteau First 35. Our current racing boat on Sydney waters.

Our last three days at anchor on Exotica in Bathyobali, just seven nautical miles from Lefkas Marina, could not have been nicer. We were even had a short sail to our destination ending with a close reach right up to the anchorage. We could see the anchor in the sand through the crystal water, swam in the heat of the day but noticed the weather was turning autumnal, time to go home.

The final anchorage – Goat Bay

This bay gets busy with tourist boats during the day but towards sunset they all clear out and leave only a few yachts at anchor.

A clear, still morning.

How close Goat Bay is to the Lefkas Channel

Leaving the last anchorage.

Our final swim in Greek waters on the early morning of Saturday September 2nd was in still, warm, velvety water. It was a bit of a wrench taking up the anchor and motoring back to the marina…… motoring up the Lefkas channel for the last time.

Entering the Lefkas Canal for the final time.

Stripped and cleaned for the new owner. Note the picture frames.

So we thought we’d broken the back of packing up but it was then a frenzy of activity for the last two days. The washing machine worked overtime, thankfully, the weather was warm and sunny so so sheets, pillows and cushion covers dried happily on the foredeck. Cleaning the boat from top to bottom, throwing out unused items, food and drink and preparing the boat for sale. The idea being to leave it in readiness for a prospective purchaser to sail away immediately.

We’d bought the biggest suitcase we could find and filled it with the treasures we couldn’t bear to leave behind. Sadly, our expandable hose was just too heavy and bulky to make the journey to Sydney.

All the covers on.

We were too busy and exhausted by the end of it on Sunday September 3rd to be too sentimental about leaving Exotica. We struggled with the three suitcases and all the near empty bottles of booze to the marina hotel. Fell into the pool and watched the sun set from our balcony while making sure we emptied the bottles.

A few final photographs and a ten year adventure has come to an end.