Off to Nisos Kea

Persevere
Pat and Bruce
Sun 10 Oct 2010 18:36

37:40.02N 24:19.48E

 

OK so we began our journey for Turkey in earnest.  Having sat out in Olympic Marina a storm we had no winds to work with on the trip to the north end of the island Kea.  We therefore motored along at a relatively slow speed to save fuel.  Since we have about 380 NM to go to Turkey we do not plan to buy more fuel.  So with running the generator and engine fuel economy is essential.  Motoring is not saving fuel but in this case we had no choice.

 

We picked the harbor because it was well protected from winds, especially now with the winds coming more from the east and south than in the summer months.  In the harbor there are two places to anchor.  We chose the one to the east because it was further away from the ferries.  The eastern end is occupied with mooring for local boats but there is still plenty of room to anchor in 10-15 meters of water. 

 

At first we picked a spot in 15 meters and dropped anchor but the small town.  After about an hour we realized we are just too close to the boats having to drop anchor and back into the town quay.  Not that they were going to hit us but just something that makes you think about it.  So I decided to move further away after a smaller sailboat left and gave us more room to move.  Of course I dragged Pat away from lunch to move, not a good idea.  We set anchor, gave some rode and I then realized we were too close to shore.  So up anchor and moved back half way to where we were.  Again dropped anchor and let out 35 meters of rode.  Now we were good, away from the town quay and in good mud for holding.

 

We watched the charter boats berth stern to along the town key.  Always fun to watch.  Most got it right without an issue.  One, I think they were American based on the cursing at each other, was totally worthless and during futile attempts at berthing caught a moored boat’s anchor chain.  Much discussion went on but eventually it worked out okay and the managed to berth without bloodshed.

 

We learned that the ferried here actually slow down and create almost no wake so it was a pleasant place.  In the past it was an important coal bunkering port (loading coal into steamships).  Now it is a boaters tourist place but nice.

 

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Town quay during the day when all the charter boats berth.  We are at anchor at a safe distance.  Waterfront is pleasant with many Tavernas

 

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It looks better at night