Limnos Island, Greece

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Fri 24 Jul 2009 08:46
39:50.5N 25:07.8E

Wednesday 22nd July
50+ miles to do today and a full meltemi blowing force 6 & 7, forecast to
continue from yesterday for the next few days. Today seems to be a better
bet than tomorrow so we cast off at 6.00am and headed into 20 knots of north
easterly.

The wind and seas quickly built up but as we were on a broad reach we were
able to make really good time, surfing at times down the sides of the larger
waves. By the halfway mark we were probably carrying too much mainsail and
the seas were getting more than uncomfortable and very much bigger than we
had expected.

At midday we swept into the bay that was our destination having averaged
7.69 knots for the trip. The wind was blowing 25 knots still and the bay was
very pretty with a long sandy beach but fairly stark as this island has
hardly any trees or bushes; and unfortunately offering no protection from
the wind! Dropped anchor and had lunch, then needed to re-anchor as the
swirling, gusting wind had caused the anchor to break out. Got it down on a
patch of sand the second time and hopefully that will do the job for the
next few days. We then tried a few experiments to try and improve our
anchor holding and to reduce the way Serafina 'sails' around her mooring.
Initial trials suggest that a very lop-sided bridle leading to the bow and a
centre cleat might hold her in position better, but we need to buy a longer
length of suitable rope - it's a never ending wish list for this boat! So
we settled for a makeshift 'angel' made up of a carefully 'tangled' length
of chain (whether we will be able to undo it again is another matter!) which
we lowered down the anchor chain to help weigh it down where it meets the
sea bed and so make it more efficient. If nothing else, the boat will have
to drag this across the bottom which should help a bit.

Casual afternoon followed by a very refreshing swim, the first since we had
sailed up the Dardanelles a month ago. (The Sea of Marmara is not an
inviting place to swim!)

In the evening I decided to try a bit of fishing from the boat and caught a
fish with the very first cast. Then for good measure caught a second a
minute later. For those sad individuals: a Saddled (or White) Bream and
two Painted Combers. Sadly the total haul was just three (and very small at
that) and so not enough to justify keeping so they were all released back
into the sea.

Wind died down finally in the evening, but the forecast is for it all to
start up again around midnight.