Porto Kheli 3rd June, 2013.

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Mon 3 Jun 2013 17:11

Friday morning 31st May started with the wind blowing and by lunchtime it was gusting 30 plus knots.  We couldn't leave Ariel as the wind got stronger and stronger and we watched one German boat drift several hundred yards although they had been quite still for the last two days.  There was no indication in the weather forecasts of any serious problems with the wind for this area. We took down the extra sun panel, folded the bimini away and laid more chain.  The thinking being it is safer on the seabed than in the anchor locker.  We had had lunch, dinner and after dark decided we had to go to bed.  What would be would be. I got up in the middle of the night to check we had not moved.  No, we were still in the same spot and our new anchor of last year was holding us in the same position.

 

The power boats around us were rushing back and forth on their anchors and there was nothing anyone could do but wait for the wind to subside.

 

Luckily, around 5 a.m. it suddenly calmed and the howling stopped. 

 

On Saturday, 1st June we went shopping and had a very pleasant day on anchor enjoying the scenery around us.  We made use of our spare time and started a few little jobs.  The night was very quiet and still.

 

Sunday we started the morning with breeze and then it stopped for a while but it has come back with full force from the west coming earlier than the forecast report said. The bimini which went up in the morning was now folded away again.

 

I have had to help Jim get up the mast as well this morning in between gusts to have a look at the wind speed which has packed up working.  5 years for Raymarine is apparently more than most so expect we will be fitting a new one very soon. The gold contacts were good and it was fully in position but it is not working.

 

I had to stop this report as an old galleon with a flag “Royal Rangers” (we are not sure what country the gentleman is from as he appears not to understand English or German) which had been on the quay for a few days and was anchored ahead of us started in the gusts to slide backwards.  After a little shouting we managed to get the man on deck and he appeared useless on what to do.  He moved his dinghy from the side to the stern for what reason we don’t know and then proceeded to try and jump from the dinghy up onto the high transom on the back but he fell back into the dinghy.  The second time of trying he managed to grab some rigging and managed to crawl his way up. No engine went on and no anchor chain went out but he kept disappearing below.  A few minutes (not seconds) a woman appeared with a small child with the chap and she just wandered around the deck with the child in tow.  It was all too much for Jim he couldn't have him bumping into us especially when the west wind moves to the north west and it starts getting dark.  So engine on, instruments on and anchor up. So we are in a new position hoping life will be not a problem here. This is all the fun of sailing!


Monday morning is back to wonderful scenery, no wind as such and bright warm sunshine.


Moving tomorrow to Poros as the wind forecast looks favourable.

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