Position 36:21.24N 25:22.20E

We had a lovely day yesterday motor sailing across to Santorini in the sunshine, although I spent most of the trip horizontal waiting for my sea legs to return !

We were headed for the marina on the South coast and hoping to get in despite hearing from several sources (including Pete from Fai Tira) that there was insufficient depth due to silting at the entrance.

Best to phone ahead for advice…..

We tried all 3 numbers in our new Greek local pilot book but each one sounded quite bemused and explained that they were not a marina.

The last lady kindly gave us a number for Greek directory enquiries.

After getting through and being transferred to a helpful operator that could speak English, we established that there was no number listed for the Marina.

However we took down 3 numbers for Port Police in Santorini who we felt sure would be able to help.

But …you should not over estimate the Greek Port Police, they couldn’t provide any contact number either. However they did offer us the number of the local Taverna next door who they felt sure would be able to help.

Needless to say, the Taverna did not have any contact details either, but they were very enthusiastic about our imminent arrival and I think we have a table reserved for tonight !

I can hear you say “ Why didn’t you use the VHF radio” ?

Well that was an even bigger fiasco culminating in a very confused conversation between us and a rather well spoken English gentleman from a Cruise Ship called ‘Marina’ (or something similar) which was moored in the main harbour in Santorini.

Say no more – we decided to try the entrance regardless.

It all looked good as we prepared our lines, just a few yards away from the first moored yachts, and then we firmly grounded.

Full revs in reverse gradually persuaded her off the mud and we did a slow motion replay for all the crews watching as we backed out along our original course line.

By this time Dusk was threatening and so we quickly switched to Plan B.

We motored a couple of miles West along the coast and settled into a little bay where we picked up a lone mooring buoy that had just been dropped by a day tripper. Perfect, as the bottom was strewn with rocks to tangle our anchor.

We spent a peaceful night on our own in the bay.

The next morning the crystal clear water tempted us to go snorkelling, we donned our wetsuits for the first time as the temperature was down to 26 degrees !

And to think we would swim in the Solent as soon as the gauge hit 20 degrees and think it was heaven !

Into the Cauldron tomorrow !