November had arrived, and with it the final chapter of the season. I’d left Ian in Greece at the end of August, but now he needed a hand to get Elvire 3 safely back to Ermoupoli, where she would spend the winter out of the water for a small refit.
The journey began with a flight to Athens, then a ferry across the Aegean to Syros, all seemed so quite after the rush of summer, the ferry was empty only cats for company. I met Ian in Ermoupoli, where he had been resting in a hotel after months of boat life, before we headed across the island to Finikas Marina to find Elvire 3.
The plan was simple but exciting: sail for eight days, enjoy the last moments of the season, and then gently lay Elvire 3 down in Ermoupoli for the winter, ready for her next adventures when spring returned.
The sailing felt different this time — the easy warmth of summer replaced by a brisk November wind that picked up as we left the sheltered cover of Syros. Heading toward Rhenia Island, we remembered the mooring we had taken during that sudden downpour back in the summer. The island’s contours, once sunlit and welcoming, now cut sharper against the choppy sea, and the waves had a livelier rhythm. Elvire 3 responded to the wind like a thoroughbred, leaning into the gusts, sails taut, as if reminding us that autumn sailing had its own character — brisker, fresher, and just a touch unpredictable.
Then — bang. A sharp metallic crack rang out over the wind and spray. The stainless steel bar holding our rotating mast piece had bent, not broken, but at a harsh 45-degree angle. It wasn’t a total failure, but it was serious enough to demand immediate attention. Furling the sails and securing the bent bar became our top priority — a temporary fix to keep us moving safely toward Rhenia, and to make sure Elvire 3 could still carry us through the channel between Dilos and Rhenia.
written : 2023
