On 13^th July we lifted anchor from Rouda bay at 10.30 hrs. to head north again to Ligia to meet up with our friends Debs and Pete.

In very light wind we motored up the coast of Levkas, visiting Dessimou bay before heading NE past the Island of Meganisi and on to the Onassis Island of Skorpios.

The Island has been privately owned by the Onassis family since the famous days of Aristotle and Jackie Kennedy.  A strictly private island where yachts have been allowed to anchor but no one could go ashore above the high water mark.  We have recently heard that Athena, the granddaughter of Aristotle has sold the Island during the past year to a Russian person…….the end of an era.

There is a bay on the south shore where Jackie Kennedy Onassis favoured her beach house. It has normally got buoys across the shallows as it has become a tourist attraction for tripper boats from Levkas and visiting yachtsmen to anchor in the bay and view a little piece of history. The mystique of not being able to step ashore added to its interest. There were no fences or need for any, and one security person would sit in a van and watch for anyone attempting to land.

The beach house has become a little run down and certainly no longer used by the family.

As we approached the bay and spit of sand we were surprised to see motoryachts tied stern to the beach and a security guard patrolling. We then saw people walking on the beach…. unheard of in the past.

Through binoculars we could see that the start of the open gardens are now fenced off and a large gate has been put across for access.

We motored around to the bay where we could anchor…… no more buoys….. yachts anchored very close to the shore and people walking and picnicking on the beach.  Then we noticed people from the beached tripped boat sitting on the patio to ‘Jackie’s’ beach house.

Somehow it seemed that an era was lost……. the mystique gone and another tourist bay is born.

The benefit to us is that everyone now anchors off the beach and we got a great spot on a  7-8n m shallow in the bay, all by ourselves.

We had a great swim and snorkel whilst lorries rushed back and forth on the tiny island roads…… obviously building or re-furbishing the Jackie O and Onassis dynasty house.

We lifted anchor at 15.00n hrs. and motored north to anchor at Ligia where we enjoyed a lovely evening with our friends Debs and Pete at a nice taverna ashore.

Photographs of……………….

·         The spit of sandy beach, people walk ashore and motoryachts tied to shore……….never before known.

·         Tioram anchored with Jackie’s beach house in the distance.

·         Photos around Tioram from the sea

·         Underwater photographs of Tiorams boarding ladder, keel, prop and anchor chain…………..yes the water is that colour.

Don’t be alarmed at the seemingly shallow depths below the keel and step ladder, our depth gauge showed 3.5m under the keel around 10-11ft nearly 17ft of water in total and a plumb line off the transum on one angle confirmed 5.5 m off the transum. The water is soo—ooo clear we look as if on the bottom, but there was lots of depth underneath us for a our lunch stop.

·         Photos of Debs and Pete in the taverna and dinghy.

Love to all,

Tina and Tony x x x