Mykanos 31/05/12
Open Blue
Tim & Manfreda Penfold
Thu 31 May 2012 20:17
Thursday, After breakfast we headed off to Mykanos, which was about 25 miles East of Siros. No wind for the first hour or so, but then we had a nice fetch on port all the way (top speed 7knts). We knew that our friends Simon and Ingrid Hunt were on holiday on the Island so we dropped them a text warning them of our arrival and arranged to meet up for a late lunch.
They were on the quay when we arrived in the old harbour and Simon caught our lines as we backed up to part of the quay that already had 3 large stinkpots moored there. I wasn't sure if we should moor there, it was quite shallow and rocky, but we tried our luck anyway as it was a prime spot close to town.
Anyway we soon found out that we couldn't, as a very irate lady from the port police came and shouted "you must go away now" at us. When I asked for a reason why, this seemed to make her more angry and she just kept shouting "go away now" at us.
As it was getting late and the girls needed some lunch, Fred, Giu, Alessia and Mia jumped ship to go and get a table with Ingrid, whilst Simon came on board with me to move the boat to the marina the other side of the bay. We motored about a mile over to the north side of the bay and found the 'marina' behind the ferry and cruise ship docks. We moored up next to an Oyster 56 we had met a couple of times already and jumped in a taxi back to town for our lunch.
We loved the Island of Mykanos, and stayed for the best part of 5 days, but it's the first time in Greece I have felt un-wanted in a yacht. Tourism is huge in Mykanos, with an international airport and cruise ships and super yachts visiting every day, they really don't care about yachts (and why would they) so you get dumped in the worst bit of town in a 'marina' where nothing worked and there were no toilets or showers. The other side of the 'marina', where there was power, water and loos, was reserved for the big stinkpots, we weren't allowed over there. Everywhere else you go in Greece the tourism brought by yachts, mainly the charter and flotilla yachts, is welcomed and you are treated extremely well.
Anyway, we only stayed two nights in the 'marina' and then we moved round to anchor in a lovely bay on the south side of the Island, which was much better.
It was great to see Simon and Ingrid, and Fred and I took turns to go out. The first night I went out with Giu, Simon and Ingrid and we got very drunk and partied 'Mykanos style' till 3:30 AM. This resulted in me having a 2 day hangover! The next night Fred and Giu went out for dinner as it was Giu's last night with us. On Saturday she got the Ferry to Athens and flew home. We explored the Island a bit by hire car, did some shopping and generally had a lovely time.
The picture is of the bay we anchored in for 2 nights, and the boat in the distance is Shamrock. We moved round there the following day and I was hoping she would still be there but she had moved on.
