Friday 13^th May – Aigina, Nísos Aigina – Ák Sounion

37:39.319N 24:01.116E

Aigina is a bit like the Greek equivalent of Cowes.  Ian had warned us that Aigina becomes a party town on Friday and Saturday, with boats from Athens arriving and rafting stern-to up to three deep.  He had been here last week and not enjoyed it at all.  So, this morning we were up early and set off east, along with four of our neighbours, which included Northern Lights.  We motored to the south of the island and stuck our nose in at Perdika, a harbour we had been considering visiting.  It was small and tight but we might consider it rather than Aigina another time.

As we went along the south of the island, we pulled out the sails, along with the other four boats, and sailed as a flotilla across to the mainland.  We were able to sail for about half the distance with a lovely beam reach before the wind disappeared, probably the most pleasant sail this season.

The two Swedish yachts headed north to an anchorage further up and one of the British boats headed on to Kea, one of the islands; Northern Lights and Pyxis headed for the anchorage below Ák Sounion. 

As we crossed the TSS, the two yachts just missed getting mown down by a fast Greek ferry – we both had to stop and let it pass in front of us and then leap like dolphins from wave to wave in its wake, even though it should have passed behind us.

We arrived at the large anchorage at Sounion and found our German friends from Epidavros already there and having set our hook we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and evening with beautiful scenery around us, though it’s not quite warm enough for a swim for me.

We look out onto the Temple of Poseidon, a temple built around 444BC.  It makes a spectacular sunset view and it lit up at night.

Ák Sounion

© Pyxis 2011