Astipalia and Levitha
Arwenofbosham
Rob and Jacky Black
Tue 4 Oct 2011 06:14
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36 37.1 N 26 23.7 E
Astipalaia Vathi Bay Tuesday 20th
September
We left Thira just after 0800 and soon had the main
set but with not much wind the engine was the main source of power for most of
our trip.
We passed close under the cliffs of south east
Thira and noticed a couple of larger yachts anchored off a small fishing harbour
about 3 miles to the
east of Vlikadhia marina some thing worth noting
for yachts with too deep a draft for the marina. We had an uneventful passage to
Astipalaia
with only a couple of ships and two yachts seen. We
decided to head for the bay on the north east side reputed to provide excellent
shelter and for us
the best jumping off point for Levitha our next
island. The bay was really good and when we arrived there were already a couple
of boats at anchor at the head
western end. To our surprise we also noted that
there is now a small quay where 4 boats were attached 'stern- to, in front of
the taverna. Later 2 more boats one a catamaran
also managed to squeeze in here. By dusk there were
another 4 or 5 boats at anchor so a popular place. This bay is lovely - clean
water for swimming and very sheltered.
We had a very peaceful night here the holding was
excellent and there was no noise apart from the
odd goat bleating and dog barking!
The following morning we left early - 0700 and set
sail for Levitha a journey of about 20 miles. We wanted to get to our
destination early as the buoys in the bay get full
and we were advised by a very nice Dutch couple to
ensure we were there before mid- day (they were proved right as we discovered
later).
37.00.1 N 26 26.1 E
Levitha Bay Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd
September
The morning was dull with almost total cloud cover
- the first day like this we have had for months! However it was still warm and
the wind gave us a quick passage with the genoa
fully set and a SE breeze around a force 3 to 4.
The entrance to the bay on the SE side of Levitha is hard to spot but eventually
we found our way in and dropped the sails in the entrance.
there was a fair swell running outside but once
into the almost land locked bay to the east of the entrance the sea was calm.
There was only one boat on our arrival - tied to the first buoy.
We were soon fast on the 3rd buoy in to the bay. By
1400 there were only 2 buoys left (out of 10) as this is obviously a
stopping place for charter boats! It proved to be a very quiet and
pleasant place to be
and we stayed for two nights - with just the sound
of the goats to disturb us. The cloud cover lifted late in the day and the stars
that night were spectacular as of course there was no artificial light
here.
There is a tiny community that live on this island
- a small taverna some 15 minutes walk from the jetty which we didn't visit but
reportedly has good locally caught fish! One of the residents has laid the buoys
and charged us
7 Euros for the use - this was for 1 or 2 nights.
The water was clean and clear for swimming and the bay was very sheltered from
the fairly strong winds that were blowing outside.
Our only disturbance on the first night was
the arrival of a large fishing boat (at least 20 metres) around 2300 which
proceeded to pick up the buoy ahead of us.We were
very concerned that we would touch if the wind went light and the boats swung
awkwardly. Fortunately this did not happen but the following evening when it
arrived it didn't stay as there was only one buoy left at the far eastern end of
the bay and we guess he couldn't see it in the dark through all the masts of the
other yachts here.
We left on Friday morning set the main and sailed
for Leros.
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