37:23.60N 25:15.74E Delos
Delos
17th June, 2015.
We had a quiet night on anchor in South Bay once the noisy day trip boat went away at 7.30 p.m. There was a big thank you from everyone as they motored out of the bay.
Uninhabited Delos is the next little island about 10 minutes motoring from South Bay. It is famous as the birth place of Artemis and Apollo. The Ionians arrived in about 1000 BC bringing the worship of Apollo and founding the annual Delia Festival during which games and music were played in his honour. By 700 BC Delos was a major religious centre. First a place of pilgrimage and later became a thriving commercial port particularly in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. It is now an open air archaeological museum.
I didn’t get ashore as the charter boat behind us went on the move moving towards the rocks. The people on board had only been ashore ten minutes when it started on its way. We pumped up the air horn and motored up towards the entrance to the ancient site making as much noise as possible in order to attract their attention. No use and by this time the boat by the name of Frixos from the charter company Paralos Yachts was now making its way sideways off down the bay.
It was no good we couldn’t do nothing so we motored towards it and managed with all the fenders on the starboard side of Ariel and lines ready catch it and strap it to us just before it disappeared out of the bay making for Paros or North Africa. A Danish guy who had been watching came down the bay in his rib which was now back from the ancient site to give a hand. He knew the Bavaria didn’t need a key and helped bring up the anchor which only had about 15 metres of chain down. Jim then motored the two boats up the bay which took about half an hour as the wind was now beginning to blow even more. We anchored Frixos with about 50 metres of chain and untied her and motored away now we were happy she was safe.
After leaving a written message and our boat card we heard nothing from the charterers who turn out to be Cruising Association members until 17.00 when they had berthed at Tinos probably prompted by an email to their charter company who said they would contact them. Mrs. Hanna Stone phoned to apologise. Not sure she has any idea of the problem she would have if the boat had continued on its way.
Jim couldn’t see a boat be damaged without trying to help. We had tried to get their attention with the air horn, tried to get a fishing boat which had tied up on Rinia but we think the two chaps had gone ashore and even tried calling the coast guard to no avail.
Therefore, as the wind was picking up all the time we decided to sail on for Siros and hide in the harbour as the weather is forecast to blow strongly on Friday. This is the Cyclades where the wind blows more than anywhere else.