Sami waterfront town, life and turtles !-- Island of Kefalonia. 6th-17th June 2013. 38.15:24N 020.38:88E
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sun 30 Jun 2013 18:10
We slipped our lines and lifted anchor after a pleasant night at Sivota a
little hamlet bay on the south tip of the Island of Levkas.
In 12 knots of wind we sailed south with full sail leaving the island of
Levkas behind us to the north with Ithaka on our port side heading to the
island of Kefalonia.
With increasing wind from the north west we reefed the genoa in preparation
for any gusts hitting us as we left the protection of the coast and as the
NW wind funnelled between gap in the islands.
The sailing was great and as wind increased in the gap Tioram hit 10knots
speed through the water. The views are wonderful of the islands of Levkas,
Ithaka, Meganisi, Arkouhdi, Atokos and Kefalonia all in one moment.
We sailed into the Ithaka channel running with the wind until it finally
died in the lee of Kefalonia.
We motored into the bay of Sami with the wind strangely on the nose coming
from the south.
Tony then noticed white heads on the water ahead to our starboard side and
we could see that wind would be hitting us from the NW again as it filtered
down the Ayios Eufimia valley.
It came from nothing to 21 knots true and we sailed across the remainder of
the bay to the harbour of Sami.
Sami always feels like 'coming home' in Greece. It is familiar and the local
people are very welcoming and friendly.
Within a couple of days we felt at home chatting with local friends we have
met on previous years with calls of 'Kalimera', good morning in Greek and
'ti kanis?' , how are you? and 'Yassos' , hello/ goodbye as we pass by
shops, taxi drivers, tavernas, cafes, scooter hire shops and chandlerys.
Each morning there is an unusual visitor to the harbour area, a very large
loggerhead turtle. It swims alongside the yachts about 8ft down in very
clear water. It really is enormous approx. 4ft tip to tip; we never saw
anything so large in the Caribbean. We wondered how old it might be.....
obviously a wise old turtle as it always visits around 9.30-10am just after
the fishing boat arrives and throws the odd fish into the harbour. Sure
enough no fishing boat, no turtle........ good old sense or perhaps tuned
into the pitch of the engine noise through the water.
Photos of Sami
Loggerhead turtle.
Love to all,
T and T x x x
