39:24.0N 20:13.7E

 

29 September Get off early. Breakfast on the go. Reach/broad reach all the way to Mourtos (where we hoped to get to yesterday). Lazy afternoon

Depart Gaios 0815

Arrive Mourtos 1145 13nm

V heavy dew. Sunny, till some high cloud late afternoon. E then ESE becoming SE f3

 

Everything damp first thing, including some salty cushions down below, as tho foggy. Hoist duck outboard onboard. Bit tricky in the short swell.Greek yoghurt with honey as D`fly again sailing herself with rare hand on tiller. Only doing 3 or 4 knots today, but no shadow from sails. So that’s three consecutive days with loads of good sailing and hardly any motor. Now having to tilt PV cells to get as many amps as poss into batteries as sun lower, and little input from engine. Warm enough to go topless (Skip) 0930. Sail over 2m sand bar between island and mainland with half keel to anchor just beyond. Keel sticking. Needed a manual start – first time for ages. Anchor in 12ft well in bay just to SW of Mourtos harbour, S of Nisos Ay Nikolaos. Frenchy already there further out. One other arrives later. Swims. Still ok temp, but now “refreshing” Decide to roll up bimini. Has been providing shade for must be 4 months. Now need sun for after swim warmth. Much reading/ su doku (Jane has downloaded loads more on ipad). Black bag shower quite warm enough without top up from boat’s hot water system.  Am topping up black bag from bladder under stern cabin berth. Bit of a rubbery smell, but fine for end of day shower.(Fresh water cooled engine, so provides scalding water when have used motor, and keeps hot for at least 24 hours.) Paddle ashore. Seems head of bay is private beach for gated villas/taverna. Staff v friendly and provide directions to port. See big Bav with yellow mast stripe arrive. Another large yacht is drifting mid harbour. Has hooked lines for local craft with anchor. Gets untangled, but leaves caiquis moored mid harbour! Swanky port and extensive harbour. Looks fairly new. More EU grants? Beer at posh taverna on private beach. Spot fw shower and tap for ships water. Top up 6 litres as ships water about to run out. Three lovely golden white rough haired labrador type dogs about – head and eyes give polar bear look. Enjoy moved on bol. Mozis about. Light a smouldering spiral which keeps them at bay. Bat not working (laptop says USB port malfunctioned). But get wifi signal onboard without. Poseidon gives lots of S wind on way tomorrow, and passage weather gives rain – arriving from N. Interesting. May have to put bimini up again as rain shelter.