We have already posted a blog showing the lovely Island Of Paros. The Cyclades are really living up to expectation.  The bay of Pariokia is protected from the Meltemi (North west) winds and the small harbour quay is even better if you are safely tucked into the inside. We had a blow the other day which we mentioned on the last blog which sadly saw a number of yachts on the outside windward quay in a tangled mess and with minor damage.

Tony had been watching three weather system forecasts for several days which showed another stronger Meltemi coming in.  So we sat for longer than planned on the inside quay in balmy hot weather until the wind came in as forecast on 26th June.

 

The wind roared in at 4 am like a switch turning on and as it increased through the day our wind speed instruments touched 40 knots  / force 8.

Fortunately all the yachts on the outside quay got off by 7am and anchored in the bay, so no carnage this time.

However, by the afternoon when it was  blowing a ‘'hooley'’ a British ensign, Fleming 55ft motor yacht came into the bay en route from Athens to Crete.  He had a few goes at the quay, was almost blown onto a large ferry and eventually went broad side to the windward quay--- fenders squeezes to nothing ---and us plus others fending off, taking lines and busy kicking fenders back into the gap as the boat bounced onto the wall in the surge.

A dangerous manoeuvre in the swell and even a port official came to suggest they move onto the commercial dock. The retired couple seemed un-fazed by the event or perhaps too scared and paralysed to show it---- the guy remarked to Tony that he didn't know where all the wind had come from as they had left Athens in balmy weather.  We had waited 3 to 4 days for it as it was well forecast.  So they sat the gale out on the dock--- the bow swinging toward the quay in the swell, but thankfully not hitting. 

We guess it was only the weight of the very expensive displacement boat which kept it from just being surfed onto the top of the quay.  By the evening the gale reduced to the high 20’s and by the next morning they left safely without any damage.

 

Greece is beautiful, but the Meltemi is to be respected----- the rough and the smooth of it all-----

 

The photos don’t really convey the strength of the wind but here are a couple.

 

With a calm forecast we are off to the Island of SIFNOS.

Love to all

 

Tina and Tony x x