The Meltemi may have kept KORA tied safely to the dock… but it wasn’t about to keep us there. With sailing off the table, we looked for another way onto the water and settled on one of Greece’s most enchanting islands – Hydra. One of the closest Saronic Islands to Athens, Hydra sits far enough west that it’s...

In my last post I forgot to mention that when we cast off from Olympic Marina, we had absolutely no idea where KORA would spend the next week. The Meltemi had tightened its grip on the Aegean, charter companies were keeping their boats in port, marinas were overflowing, and one by one every berth...

Somewhere between Ikaria and Lavrio, KORA developed a rather expensive appetite. Three snorkel masks. Several snorkels. A wetsuit. And a handful of other bits and pieces mysteriously vanished. Whether they quietly slipped overboard during the rough seas or an industrious passer-by decided to upgrade their own snorkeling collection, we’ll probably never know. Curiously, all...

After several days of rough seas, Kea gave us exactly what we needed. A day off! Tucked into a sheltered bay, KORA became less of a sailboat and more of a floating holiday home. While Amanda and Evan disappeared beneath the surface with their snorkels, Doug (still giving his recently gashed shin a well-earned...

Not every day on the water is about exploring picturesque villages or ticking off another historic site. Some days … you’re simply looking for somewhere safe to spend the night! Our passage from Ikaria on this day covered about 55 nautical miles, and the Aegean certainly made us earn every one of them. The...

There are Greek islands… and then there’s Ikaria. Named after the mythical Icarus, who is said to have fallen into the sea nearby after flying too close to the sun, Ikaria is famous for something rather more down to earth these days – its remarkably long-lived residents. It’s one of the world’s five original Blue Zones, where...

After a wonderful reunion in Kos, KORA was once again underway with Amanda and Evan aboard. There’s something special about sailing with fellow sailors who are also close friends. Doug finally had someone sitting beside him at the helm who genuinely wanted to spend hours discussing wind shifts, sail trim, weather models, anchoring techniques, and whether...

Every crew change aboard KORA brings mixed emotions. This one was no different. We were saying goodbye to Kaitlyn after a wonderful week together, while eagerly awaiting the arrival of two very familiar faces. Amanda and Evan. If you’ve been following KORA from the beginning, you’ll remember Amanda the and Evan from our 2024 maiden...

Guest blog by Kaitlyn I arrived in Greece expecting sunshine, swimming, and a relaxing week aboard KORA. Instead, my second full day at sea began with what felt like a practical demonstration of fluid dynamics. The sail from Schoinaoussa to Astypalea (some spell it Astypalaia) was about 50 nautical miles and took roughly ten...

After two wonderful weeks with Steve and his family, KORA suddenly felt… quiet. No more cousins playing cards around the table. No more chatter coming from every corner of the boat. And for some reason, the absence of our extended family made us miss the only one missing from our family of four even...