Kurukulla

Kurukulla
Kurukulla, anchored at James Bond Island, Thailand

Sunday 12 June 2011

Across the Gulf and northwards


Poros lunch venue


Poros was an excellent stop where we managed to get victuals and enjoyed a very good lunch in a local taverna in the back streets, sadly I omitted to record its name. All that done we decided to head for the anchorage at the west of Poros, Yerolimena, where we anchored in 5 metres of crystal clear water, in the northern bay, for the night.
Anchorage at Yerolimena
That evening we also received an SMS from David Ashby in Camilla to say that they too were in the area and asking where would we like to meet up tomorrow? We decided to head north east and meet up in the anchorage at Sounion, near the headland to the east of Athens. Anchoring at Yerolimena overnight gave us a head start on our voyage north but it was a flat calm day and hence five hours of motoring to reach Sounion. We anchored in the bay at 1500 in the shadow of the temple and Camilla duly arrived at 1830.
Anchorage at Sounion with temple in background
There followed a few gin and tonics in the cockpit of Kurukulla followed by supper.
Rafted up at Porto Rafti
Next morning we both set off in convoy to sail the 15 miles up the east coast to Porto Rafti, on the wind but a very pleasant sail. It was from here that Simon, my nephew, was to depart the next day and being only a 20€ taxi fare to the new Athens airport it is a very convenient drop off point. There then followed the usual saga with the Coastguard/Port Police getting him taken off the crew list and registering into and out of Porto Rafti. It took some persuasion to get them to log us in and out on the same visit notwithstanding the fact that we were leaving on the same day that we logged in! Oh the joys of bureaucracy! In fact we spent 48 hours anchored in Porto Rafti but to have admitted that to the port police would simply have created more time wasting and, as we were unable to get alongside, they were unaware of our presence. Porto Rafti only has five stern to berths suitable for yachts and all of these are taken up with permanent local boats; something which also makes it all but impossible, without some nifty manoeuvring, to embark water here. Fortunately neither of us believed we needed it (but more later). On the day after Simon's departure one of David's crew, Alistair, also departed via the same route and then, next morning, we were off; on the wind again, beating northwards.
View of anchorage at Nisos Stira "Marina"
Our chosen destination was the anchorage between Nisos Stira nad Nisos Petousi but on arrival we found the depths to be much greater than described in the pilot and, with a strong northerly wind blowing, anchoring with a line ashore was out of the question. We therefore moved further north into the anchorage behind Nisos Ay Andreas where, according to the pilot, there are plans for a marina. The attached photo shows how far they have got! One of the most deserted anchorages we have found. The next discovery was that Camilla was completely out of water so finding a jetty with a public water supply became a top priority. Next morning the wind had shifted and Kurukulla dragged her anchor so it was a sudden start and a move to a better protected anchorage on the eastern side of the island. After an afternoon of sunning and swimming, whilst waiting for the strong northerlies to abate, we set off at 1500 to sail north to Eretria, We enjoyed a late afternoon, 24 mile, beat to windward, on the limits for full main and No 1 genoa, finishing with a quiet night at anchor inside Eretria harbour.
Khalkis yacht club
Saturday the 11th started bright and clear but with the now habitual “wind on the nose”. As a consequence we motored a few miles along the coast and then anchored for a lunchtime swim at Ormos Levkanti before pushing on towards Khalkis and the bridge transit. By luck I found a telephone number from the internet which allowed me to check when the next bridge opening was due, Tuesday at 0250, three days hence; so we were in for an enforced delay of 48 hours at least. As a consequence we moored in the half finished marina at Khalkis, searched out a water supply, and made several new friends with the members of the Khalkis Yacht Club; a very sociable group and very keen to help.
Khalkis "marina" as yet unfinished!
More when we leave for the bridge transit.

No comments: