37:39.35N 24:01.19E Sounio Bay, Mainland Greece

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Sun 31 May 2015 07:16

 

Sounio Bay, Mainland Greece.

 

26th May, 2015.

 

We had the most amazing sun set as we sat and watched it disappear. The wind started very late evening at Perdika and at first it felt as if it was going to be a few gusts and then it would go away.  I woke at 1.10 a.m. and then didn’t sleep after that as the wind change now put us broadside to the sea and so every roll that came in sounded in the bow thruster tunnel and with the rolling didn’t give the boat a comfortable anchorage.  Jim didn’t hear a thing until 3.36 after I had been up checking several times.  After getting dressed and having a cup of coffee we were ready to bring the anchor in and be on our way just a tab earlier than we expected.

 

At around 5.30 we saw the sun rise over Athens. A great sight.

 

Once out around the south west corner of Aigina the wind was gusting strongly and we were averaging 8 knots plus on only the genoa.  Once we left the island of Aigina behind and were out in the bay of Athens we were making excellent time as we had decided on the way to the island of Kea we would stop in Poseidon bay on the Attic coast as there is no forecast of any wind for tonight and therefore we should be quite comfortable. Two beautiful hotels across the bay from each other with perhaps two guests each have at least 100 sun beds out all in very neat rows with no one sitting on them.  They have the advantage of being able to look up to Poseidon when every they wish.

 

Poseidon’s Temple is built on top of the hill with only one road to it and it is much bigger that you first think.  Only two sides are standing with 15 columns still in place.  The views from the top look to Athens, across to Aigina, Poros, Kea and up the Ewoia channel.  The present Temple was built in 444BC on the site of older ruins. An Ionic frieze made from 13 slabs of Parian marble is located on the east side of the temple’s main path but unfortunately very eroded now.  Once long ago you could see the scenes from the mythological battle of the Lapiths and centaurs and their hero Theseus according to legends the son of Poseidon. The columns only have 16 flutings against the usual 20 thus reducing the surface area exposed to the elements.  It looks wonderful sitting high up on the top of a very steep hill.

 

We had covered 28.3 miles in just five and half hours all on one sail.

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image