Speaking too soon...

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Fri 21 Aug 2009 18:13
Friday 21st August

We had intended moving up the east coast of Leros today to a bay that has
been recommended to us, but the forecast last night indicated a north east
wind which would have made it fairly bouncy in there, so we decided to stay
in Xerokambos bay for a second day and night.

Having been so industrious yesterday, Sarah spent a chunk of today drawing.
She has rather neglected her art so far this season and so today she
concentrated on a self-portrait which rather bizarrely involves cramming
herself and an easel etc. into the forward heads (bathroom) where there is a
large mirror. To get out for coffee breaks etc. she has to crawl under the
easel to get out of the door. Not sure she wants me to publish that photo on
the website somehow!

Got lots of jobs done today which is always satisfying and in the afternoon
we were sat on deck watching the new arrivals when a large and particularly
impressive gold coloured yacht (yes, even the mast) came and anchored behind
us. Sarah was very taken with its appearance and commented on how hard it
must be to look after the gel coat and how awful it would be if it got
damaged. It was at this point that a 45ft ketch (a Hallberg Rassy) with its
anchor part way down appeared to be drifting in the 20 knots of wind rather
too close. The crew of the Hallberg (Italian) were in discussion about
something, but this did not seem to include taking action to avoid contact
with the gold yacht. Suddenly the crew of the gold yacht were on deck
rushing to their bows, whilst the Hallberg crew seemed frozen. The drifting
yacht came down on the bows of the bigger yacht and then lay pinned by the
wind against the starboard forward section. A good deal of shouting ensued,
but little happened until one of the gold yacht's crew, who had leapt across
their own deck, jumped into their rib and whizzed round and towed the
Hallberg clear of them. This might have been the end of the incident had it
not been for the minor fact overlooked by everyone that the Hallberg's
anchor was still trailing on the seabed and it was now obviously caught up
on the bigger yacht's anchor chain. Suddenly this all became horribly
obvious to them all as the smaller yacht now swung round in the wind and
unable to go anywhere else, smashed broadside onto the bows of the gold
yacht. The crunch was quite sickening and it is something of a huge relief
that no-one was hurt as the crew were all trying to fend the boats apart.
Finally the anchor was retrieved and the Hallberg got clear and seemed to be
heading off into the sunset. The crew of the gold yacht (also Italian)
chased after it in their fast rib and there followed a strange hour or so
while the Hallberg tried to anchor elsewhere in the bay - unsuccessfully and
finally after lots of pottering around, it motored off into the distance. We
indicated to the crew of the gold yacht that we had photos of the incident
and they came over later and took away copies on a memory stick and gave us
a bottle of Italian wine by way of thanks. (We both would have settled for a
tour of their yacht.)

The strange weather has continued in as much as it keeps blowing up to
nearly 30 knots even here in the bay even though we are supposed to be
outside the area of the current Meltemi gale.