Full House

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Sat 19 Sep 2009 20:42
Saturday 19th September

Steve and Maggie off Rassy Lady came round for a coffee before they left
this morning. In fact quite a few boats left the quay but such is the
popularity of this place, there were two yachts lining up to come in before
Rassy Lady had even picked up her anchor.

Being a Saturday, things reached a sort of fever pitch by midday and you
really had to wonder just how many people you can fit onto a small Greek
island. Ferry after ferry arrived and disgorged unbelievable numbers of
people into the small town and yacht after yacht milled around looking for a
space. As we watched the usual antics with crossed anchors and raised
tempers, we spotted over on the far quay that a Dutch yacht was having
repeated problems anchoring, mainly because they could only let their anchor
down slowly on the winch, but the driver was determined to speed backwards.
This meant that the anchor only reached the seabed around the same time as
the boat reached the quay! Anyway on their third failed attempt, they
successfully snagged the anchor chain of an American flagged 45ft Swan and
dislodged it from its holding. As they motored off having given up, the Swan
was left banging against the stone quay and the bow of the next door fishing
boat. It was also clear to us that there was only one person on board the
Swan and that it needed to be re-anchored, so Sarah and I rushed round to
the opposite quay where they were and offered to help the owner rescue the
situation. He seemed a bit overawed by it all but wanted to leave the quay
now and perhaps anchor in a bay, but needed help to get away so we sorted
out his shore power and released his ropes so he could get off. At this
point he nearly rammed the nearest moored yacht, but all was OK in the end
and as he sailed off we went to explain to the crew on this yacht that he
had been in trouble etc.

It turned out that we knew this boat 'Matelot' and its owners, Richard and
Pippy (Kiwis) as we had met them several times last summer in the Ionian. We
went on board for a chat and before long the Swan returned into the harbour
with the owner still looking rather confused. In the end Richard rowed out
in his dinghy and took the helm (fairly unusual scenario) whilst the owner
operated the anchor and between them they brought the boat back to the quay
where Sarah and I took their lines. We had a further chat with Richard,
Pippy and Emily, their married daughter on board Matelot and then as we left
we invited them over for drink in the evening.

Sarah went for a swim on a nearby beach in the afternoon and we got to watch
the final surge of boats arriving after 4.00pm as they competed for the
mooring spots made available by the departing ferries.

Crew of Matelot arrived on time at 6.00pm and finally dragged themselves
away around 10.00pm after we had put the world to rights (again).

Another very hot and fairly windless day and it was a surprise to us to see
so many tourists when we keep hearing how the season is finishing now.

Photos at http://www.rhbell.com