Before we leave the town quay at Ios, we are
able to access Wifi which enables us to send and receive our emails as well as
sending off the latest blog. Although we have an aerial which permits us to
connect to a variety of networks within a five mile area, this only works when
there are Wifi networks available. We received an email from our agent in
Spain. Apparently the pump which services
the swimming pool is making a dreadful noise and is on the way out. We have to
give instructions for it to be replaced.
Very strong winds in the
Aegean are forecast for Wednesday until the end of
the week so on Tuesday we leave Ios and make our way to Kimolos, right next to
the island of Milos. We had initially planned to visit
2 other islands en-route but the pilot guide stated that the anchorages were
exposed to the meltemi so bearing in mind the weather-forecast, we decided to
give them a miss.
The wind was very slight when we left the town
quay at Ios but nonetheless we managed to sail most of the 36 miles to the
Pirgonisi anchorage ,with the wind blowing no more than force 3 to 4. For an
hour, we were travelling on a broad reach so we raised the cruising-shute, a
sail we haven’t used for quite some time.
As we neared the bay where we were planning to
anchor, we were close hauled, the wind was blowing 26 knots and we were rushing
along. Well, we proceeded at up to 9.5 knots which seems like rushing when you
have a sail boat. We sailed into the bay which didn’t look as if it had much
cover though the pilot book said that it provided excellent shelter. White
horses danced right up to the shore. In a previous life I wouldn’t even have
contemplated staying here in these conditions, but we have sailed a lot of miles
using Heilkell so we took him on trust and dropped an anchor, putting out masses
of chain in readiness for the meltemi.
The wind was blowing force 6 as we anchored
while 2 miles away, it was only blowing force 4. I hate to think what it will be
like when the strong wind arrives.
As we sat in the cockpit eating lunch, apart
from the howling wind, it was difficult to realise that the wind was blowing
force 6. It became very apparent however, when we later went up to the
fly-bridge to cover up the navigation instruments and the seating, for the
night.
Other boats came and went though more stayed at
anchor than having to endure the meltemi, blowing force 8 and greater as the
topology of the various islands invariably increased the wind strength by
another 10 knots. At no time were there any more than half a dozen boats in this
anchorage although there was room for very many more. Some of the boats which
didn’t stay must have had deadlines to meet. Perhaps the charter boats had to be
returned and there was no time to linger. A catamaran anchored nearby for
several hours, then raised the mainsail with 3 reefs set and battled into the
wind. It wasn’t really too smart to be out there unless it really was essential.
After 3 nights at Pirgonisi, we woke to a flat
sea and wind blowing force 3 to 4. We ate breakfast, prepared the boat, raised
the mainsail, pulled up the anchor and we were away, sailing for nearly an hour
before the wind dropped completely and we had to switch on the engines. Thus we
arrived at Adhamas, located on the northern shore of the huge natural
harbour of Ormos
Milou, Milos, where we dropped an anchor and tied up stern
to the concrete pontoon, with a cross wind trying, but failing, to blow us onto
a Lagoon 380 catamaran.
We declined the water and electricity provided
as we had full tanks and full batteries. We declined the diesel as we had filled
up while we were at Ios town. A man arrived with a basket of figs and a few
small, red grapes but when he told me he wanted 6.5 euros for 6 end of season
figs, I declined his offer. I had been offered a kilo of figs for just 4 euros
when we were at Skala on the 12th of August ..
This is the island where the Venus de Milo was
found by a farmer, in the late 19th century. She had the full
complement of arms at the time. However, during the subsequent debacle between
the French, who had purchased her, and the Sultan, who had stolen her and put
the statue on a ship bound for Istanbul, the statue lost her
arms.
As I sit here in the sunshine, writing this
blog, a mono-hull reverses towards the concrete pontoon. Whoops! It crashed into
the concrete pontoon. Glad it isn’t my boat. They probably think the same, as it
is a charter boat.
We hope to leave here tomorrow or Sunday but
will check the latest weather forecast before we make our final decision. It is
an 80 mile passage and to ensure we leave here in daylight, lots of volcanic
rocks in the sea, and arrive in daylight, we will commence the journey mid
afternoon.