Paros 14/06/2012
Open Blue
Tim & Manfreda Penfold
Thu 14 Jun 2012 15:28
We had a very windy but fun sail across to Paros, with a nice fast reach between Naxos and Paros. As we motored up the narrow channel between Anti-Paros and Paros we passed a kite\wind-surfing beach and then headed for the main harbour at Paroikia. We wanted stay there because the forecast had strong northerly winds forecast for the next few days and we wanted to be in a nice secure and sheltered bay. What we didn't realise at the time was that this was the beginning of the summer Meltimi winds and we were going to be stuck there for a while.
As it turned out Paroikia was a good place to be and we dropped our anchor near the beach in the NE corner of the bay and didn't lift it again for another week.
When we realised we were going to be there for a while we rented a car and explored the Island. On the second day we went to the kite surfing beach to check it out and enquire about some lessons for Fred. It was really blowing, gusting 35 knots and this was the first time we had left the boat at anchor and gone far away, previously we had always just been at the nearby beach or town and could still see she was safe. Eventually I couldn't take it any longer and called time on the beach to go back and check on the boat. Visions of her disappearing backwards out of the harbour towards the cliffs in my mind, I tried not to panic and speed all the way back. Of course she was fine and remained so all week, by the end of the the seven days in Paros we had gained a lot more confidence in our anchor, and the expensive anchor I had invested in probably paid for itself that week alone.
Fred and I both ended up doing some kite surfing lessons which we really enjoyed and I also went windsurfing on the kit we have on board which was great. We ended up buying some second hand kite surfing equipment from centre where we had our lessons in the hope that we will get good enough to go on our own when we find ourselves in good spots.
The other thing to mention about Paros was the 'Butterfly Valley Experience' that we visited. The girls totally loved it, but I found it hilariously misleading. The first thing you find out when you get there is that there is only one type of butterfly to look at, they are all exactly the same. Then you find out that they are not actually butterflies, they are moths, that look a bit like butterflies when they fly about! But the icing on the cake is that because they are Moths they are all asleep during the day, and you are not supposed to disturb them and make them fly about, which is when they are prettiest. I think if it was in the UK it would get shutdown by trading standards for false advertising!
Some pictures of the Girls at the 'Butterly Valley' and the kite surfing beach.
