Milos & Monovasia

Since leaving Olympic for the last time we have had a comprehensive cruise down through the Cyclades Islands. We have visited old favourites and many new places including going further East to Amorgos.

Paros old town

We have had quite unusual weather for this region. The Cyclades are infamous for strong winds. Recently we have had very little wind and have had to motor a lot of the time.

It has been amazing to see the transformation from what was initially a very quiet area to a bustling and busy sailing and tourist region.

The ferries become more frequent disgorging droves of Island hopping back packers

The end of our Cyclades tour was the southern  most island of Milos.

Milos is a sizable extinct Volcano crater formed many millions of years ago. Over a period of time the sea eventually broke through into the central crater and formed what is now a large and well protected natural harbour.

We decided  to stay for several days and generally chill out mainly at anchor although the marina/harbour here is very good and reasonably priced.

After a few days we decided to circumnavigate the island over a few days. it was an excellent way to see the island and appreciate its size. One of the highlights of the trip was the amazing rock and cave formations at Kleftiko on the SW corner.

A selection of the many photographs below.

 The entire circumnavigation lasted three days and two nights and a total distance of fifty miles. The last leg involving a brisk sail in 25Kn winds and a big sea until we reached the calmer waters of the crater.

A LONG DAY ON THE LONGEST DAY.

Constantly monitoring the weather forecasts it seemed that the winds were steadily falling to nothing and so we decided to make a break with an early start to travel seventy miles west to Monomania on the E coast of the Polyponise peninsular.

The weather forecast was surprisingly accurate almost to the minute. starting with a brisk NW wind which lowly fell to zero and then by mid day starting to fill in from the South.

We left the Cyclades to avoid the anticipated winds and ceartainly got what we wished for.

We have now for some time had virtually no wind. Temperatures are continuing to  rise and are daily in excess of 40 degrees. The local Greeks tell us that we are heading towards a serious heatwave.

We have therefore decided to return home for a few weeks in mid July to avoid the heat.

Monovasia

Known as the Greek Gibraltar this harbour and town situated near to the southern tip of the Peloponese is well worth visiting.

An ancient and fortified village on the rock has been tastefully restored.  Wandering through the narrow alleyways lined with multi coloured shrubs and bushes islike going back in time.   





Having travelled north up the coast we are now at anchor and caught in the midst of the predicted heat wave. Tomorrow is predicted at 45c and possibly 47 -49. Serious heat.

RAY & MANDY
KHAIDHARI
   

LEAVING THE SPORADES

HEADING SOUTH. THE PASSAGE BETWEEN

SKOPELOS & ALONNISOS

We have had an enjoyable few weeks cruising around and exploring the Sporades chain of islands.

These attractive and very green islands are a pleasure to visit and we would strongly recommend them to fellow sailors.

One of the highlights of our stay was meeting up with Joe and Phil Wagg, who were holidaying on Skopolos at the same time that same time .

Phil & Joe.

Phil and Joe were staying in a stunning Villa
which had beautiful elevated views over the south coast of the island towards Evia clearly visible some thirty miles away. 


As you would imagine a few drinks were shared together with a laugh or two.

We hoped to take them sailing but unfortunately a strong gale came in and we were confined to staying on the Skopolos town quay for some days, with salt water spray and waves coming over the wall!



leaving the Islands we decided to again stay outside of and to the East of Evia.   We travelled south to Skyros and then had an exciting long passage downwind to Andros and then returned to our base at Olympic Marina, Lavrio.

New chain flaked on

the dock

The reason for our return was to collect  70 meters of new anchor chain. Our existing chain had severely rusted over the winter.  We are totally reliant on our anchor and so did not hesitate to change it.

We now have a total of 100 meters of 10mm chain which really is worth having when sailing in this area.

Yet another gale detained us in Olympic for a few more days.




We have now left the marina and are exploring the Cyclades  islands. Our hope is to visit new harbours and islands, and then returning back to Milos which we first visited last year.

We also have the advantage of a new hard bottom dinghy and a outboard motor crane. We have put them into good use, often anchoring off to avoid the turmoil and crush that can sometimes occur when visiting popular harbours.

RAY & MANDY
ORMOS NASSOU,
PAROS

THE SPORADES

For some years we have hoped to travel North to cruise the Sporades Islands and have been frustrated by the normal strong N Winds.

Whilst in Siros a unusual window of opportunity occurred with literally no wind forecast for a number of days. When  being asked" where are you going next" ?  we often reply "we will wait and see which way the wind blows". This time we saw which way the wind wasn't blowing and went for it !

The journey involved three long days of motoring. The first leg Siros to Andros, the second day Andros to Kimi on the Eastern shore of wild and rugged Evvoia and then on to Alonnisos the island situated in the midst of the Sporades chain.

Was it worth it ?  Undoubtedly. The islands,  lushly covered with green forests of trees, are stunning. we have in particular fallen in love with Skopelos.  this is the island where the movie Mama Mia was filmed.

We have so many photographs that we have taken and so we decided to just print them out and let them tell the story of these beautiful islands.  

        Until next time Mandy and Ray    

THE SPORADES

We had often looked at the chart and the pilot and wanted to visit The Sporades but the northerly winds prevented us, so this year when we found ourselves becalmed we put together a passage plan to visit the northern Aegean.

The View from Loutraki to Skiathos

on Skopolos

The church at the end of Skopolos town quay

The weather was lovely and the scenery beautiful we have spent the last 2 weeks cruising this group of islands. Skopolos is where some of the outside scenes from the film Mama Mia were filmed and Skopolos harbour is where they had the pontoon that they all jumped into the water it has been removed.

The hill top village of Loutraki

We have met up with a couple from home who are out here on holiday and have enjoyed Jo and Phills company.

the internet is very slow today so I shall sign off and tell you more next time

Mandy and Ray

SUMMER OF 2017 BEGINS

We left the UK on 16th April to start our sailing this summer. The winter at home seemed to be long and wet.

Josephine in Olympic

at the end of Winter

It was pleasant to return to this  crisp but dry atmosphere but ironically for the first week the weather at home was warmer than Greece ! 

Having arrived late on Easter Sunday we spent the first two days putting the boat back together and then left the marina on the Wednesday and motored (due to lack of wind) across to the Island of Kea, the most northerly of the Cyclades.

Sailing again & all wrapped up.

After a couple of days in Kea, we sailed down to Lutra, on the Island of Kythnos.  This harbour was pleasantly quiet on our arrival with only Josephine and one other boat moored in it.

Josephine in a "Quiet Lutra.

Twenty Four hours later the small harbour was jam packed full with more boats arriving, and being stacked up on the outside wall with long lines ashore.

The always pleasant and helpful harbour master Stavrous had his hands full with boats struggling to squeeze into small spaces in a strong wind

Josephine crammed into a full Harbour.

       

The Aegean had seemed really quiet and it was a big surprise to see all these boats arrive as if from nowhere.


It was literally like the United Nations with a multitude of nationalities. It was noticeable that we were the only Brits. 








After a couple of nights we were the first boat to leave we left early on purpose to avoid the inevitable later turmoil with crossed anchors etc..

We set off for Siros 25 miles to the East, and the wind soon filled in to a perfect 20/25 Kn. beam reach and our first full sail of the season. With two reefs in the Main and Genoa we were hitting
8.5 Knots and had an invigorating passage to Finikas.

We are presently anchored in the very pleasant Ormos Villas on the SE corner of Siros. Unusually for
this area there is NO WIND FORECAST, and so we are going to chill out here before setting off again. Our destination ? we don't know . We will just wait and see which way the wind blows !!

Hello we are still sailing

March 1st 2017.

   Well it has been along time since we have blogged and that is laptop problems but we are back.
   Last year we came home for July and August as it was very hot and crowded. So enjoyed some British summer which was lovely as we had not spent a summer in England for 4 years!

    So Josephine was left in Olympic Marina in the water, so last month we went to visit her and see she had wintered and it was all good. So she is already for the sailing this year, we are to return 16th April and start this adventure.
  Looking forward to telling our tales as the season progresses.
      Mandy and Ray from england