From Serifos to the Dodecanese and back to Tourkolimano on an anticlockwise circle
Armenistis
Sat 2 Aug 2008 10:59
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Had decided to sail from
Serifos, where the boat was taken mid July2008, to the Dodecanese
islands taking advantage of the strong meltemi.
A summary of this summer
trip is given here with the weather faced on the way to the
islands:
On the 2nd of August 2008
we decided to start was a great day, force 7 a downwind sail with first
stop Despotiko anchored in this beautiful sandy bay with wind on the instruments
at night 25-33 knots.
Next day Schinousa
where we stayed for couple of days, then Astypalaia with force 6-7, Tilos the west coast where we
arrived and anchored for the night in another sandy big beach. Unfortunately the
swell was to big so couldnt sleep so Christiana and myself very quietly we
hoisted sails with course Chalki. Beautiful night sailing with strong wind
on a broad reach. The night was so dark that we decided to furl the genoa
and sail slower to Chalki to arrive at the right light. On arrival we
realised that there was a floating pontoon (very unusual in Greece) so we docked
nicely for a whole day. Next day we went for a swim in Isle Alimia for a
nice swim and returned to Chalki.
Next day we motored and sailed to the port of Tilos
drove around and saw the beautiful deserted 'Mikro Chorio' and then
sailed to Nisiros (Palee-Πάλοι) and satyed for two days visiting the
volcano and the port of Nisiros. Then we had a nice day spent in Nisos
Yiali and in the evening we sailed to Kos arriving at dusk in the nice KOs
marina.
From here George and Ada flew back to Athens and we
continued north to Patmos.
We tried to stop in Kalolalymnos but the Greek
Army there made various signs and we understood we should leave. A nice
northerly was blowing around 20 knots wind speed but luckily the waves
hadnt developped yet so we had a nice sail beating to Kalymnos norteasterly
bay on the west of Akra Pounta.
Next day sailed passed Leros and stopped in Isl
Archangelos for a swim and in the evening sailed to Patmos Skala with a nice
northeasterly beating all the way and tacking plenty of times.
Two days in Patmos and then sailed in a beautiful night
with very light wind to Donousa where we arrived when the wind had picked up to
20 knots speed so we had a nice sleep in the northeastern bay of the island just
southwest of Skylonisi.
Next morning at 11:00 the sea was like a mirror so
we had to motor to the north side of Naxos and then continued to Syros where we
had met with Dr George Charissis our great friend who was dreaming of sailing to
the Caribbs together.
Arrived late evening in Syros and spend three days
there. Christiana, Michalis and Spilios took the ferry from Syros to Pireaus and
Katerina and myself sailed to Serifos with a force 6. Great
sailing nearly on a dead run with full main and genoa but later when we
were abeam of Piperi island we had to furl the genoa nad opened the cutter
foresail.
We finally ended up in Ganema in Serifos where
Christiana came a day later to meet us.
From Serifos we left for Spetses and had a mix of
sailing and motoring since the wind was blowing with intervals and arrived in
Spetses late afternoon same day.
Spetses as you have read before in Armensitis Diary
is very important for me more because I learned how to sail
rather than the fact that is my father's birthplace. We spent couple of days
there and we sailed all the way to Korakia and Kryoneri in Peloponese with
Michalis, Antonis and Spilios.
When we returned back in Spetse it was time to
return...school was starting very soon so we sailed to Poros, Aegina and
finally to Tourkolimano where our IΟΠ berth was waiting for us and lots
and lots of work to make
Armenistis ready for the
long voyage.
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