I see from the log today is another wee 16 mile hop across to Lipsi.

The wind is a forecast at 18 + knots from the northwest, so we were expecting a nice sail. We left at 10:40 and at 11:00 with the main & foresail set the wind died, so it was an engine job for three quarters of an hour until it picked up again, funny weather this season!

The last time we visited Lipsi we anchored in the main bay across from the chapel then moved into the town harbour after a few days. This time we thought we would try anchoring in one of the two bays to the south east of the main town. One is called Kouloura and the other Katsadia, the latter is our destination today.

There are a fair few rocks around Lipsi so a bit of care is required . Near the point 1 above a boat hit rocks and sank so we normally keep outside the 20 metre mark as long as we can. You then turn in at a passage between the land and an island , just beyond that is your spot to anchor. Again we are lucky because normally this area is teeming with boats and the last time we didn’t even try to enter here.

 The anchorage in Katsidia Bay

Just beyond the rocks in the distance there is a small jetty and beach which houses a popular taverna. We did visit it one night and Charles Dance was there. I think he is a really good actor but my word if he was chocolate he would eat himself. He held court at the next table with his partner and another couple,but they didn’t get a word in! In the end I think I understand why the wee fella shot him on the bog in Game of Thrones. Still rate him though as a luvvie!

 Someone else rich and famous in front of said taverna 

There are some nice houses scattered here abouts would be nice eh ? …dream on  Gordon …..

Waste disposal duty before heading up the hill and into town to the bakery

The views back towards the anchorage and into Lipsi town itself

Blue as only blue can be seen in Greece

One of Louise’s admirers on the walk in

Arrival at the bakery for coffees

And as it is prmarily a shopping trip some fortification is required prior so a visit to the local Ouzeri is necessary no ?

The little taverna at the end of the harbour and views of the town.

Laden with shopping its the bus back to Kapsidia

If you want fresh fish or local honey a wee local fishing boat visits you each morning but he knows how to charge that’s for sure !

Nicolas being ripped off , lol

Never mind a bit of anaesthetic and all is well again

It was a 16 mile downwind sail to Agathonisi today. It took us just under 4 hours. Genoa most of the way.

We anchored in the first bay just past Ak Stifi (No. 3 above)

 A swim for me …..and

  

…….. a beer for me

From the anchorage I thought you could possibly climb up over the hill and walk down and around into Agathonisi proper. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Up …..Up ….…. and overSyeni & Camira at anchor Looking down into the next bay over, a French yacht & the town just visible around the corner in the distance.

Pretty town . At the height of the refugee crisis this place was over run and although the mini market had all but run out of food they still tried to help.

The harbour front and walkway

There are a couple of  tavernas, one specialising in fish , a small cafe and a minimarket. This is where the ferry arrives if you want a “get away from it all” spot, there’s even a little beach. Turns out George (the meat Taverna) is Kleanthis’s Uncle and apparently the best goat comes from here.

The view from George’s

 

The other view from George’s !

   

The return trip back into the setting sun.

Some remain steadfastly unimpressed with the effort !

I see from our last post the intended retrospective blogging was initially started on 7^th November 2020, last year, and nothing since!

Well having settled into “Another Day in Paradise” our home from home on Samos (ahem …. more later) you would think I’d plenty of time to catch up?

Well no …… Its now 18^th April 2021 and I’m just now tentatively re commencing.

The reasons (excuses) will unfold as we near that November date in due course.

Anyhow last year’s cruising notes and worthy pictures now follow.

As Sean Connery said to Michael Caine in the Man who would be King  – “It’s time to head south Peachy” – so that was the plan.

But first we had three weeks or so shuttling between Posidonia Bay and Pythagorio. We were looking for rental property for the winter and in addition Nicolas’s friend Denis was coming out for a week’s holiday and he wasn’t a good sailor, in fact he was downright afraid, so even moderate distance sailing was out.

We did manage to negotiate a lovely house in Posidonia but the lady then later recinded the offer. We think it was mention of Lily that was the deal breaker. In hindsight it was not a bad thing as it would be deserted in winter and even in summer this year the small mini market was closed.

The upside of Covid is that the bay usually jam packed with Turkish boats was empty except for us and a few others from time to time.

The batteries were not recharging to their full capacity on solar power as expected and I suspected that either they or the fridge was packing in. Kleanthis recharged our fridge with coolant and as it appeared OK we replaced the batteries as well. Time will tell.

The interpid Capitanos

 

An unusually empty bay at Posidonia

Walked round to Klima bay

and of course lunch

Celebrating our house rental in Posidonia just before it fell through

On board in the bay

Our only visitors, a charter from Turkey , a French couple who couldn’t get ashore as their dinghy didn’ t work .Nicolas took pity on them and gave them a lift .

It’s unusual to get pictures of your own boat sailing on passage shuttling back down to Pythagorio.

Looks like we are heading ashore in our number ones

Denis in small taverna at Posidonia

Louise animatedly holding court ,lol

Aye!  this picture makes you laugh on a number of fronts.

Just for the hell of it went down the Turkish side of the channel ……..

…… We are just devil  may care pirates.   Aaaargh me hearties

Well this year as we all know times have been strange with Covid 19 restrictions and lockdowns and, additionally for us, the impact of a “No Deal” Brexit looming meant we had no idea of where we would over-winter this year 2020-21.

Where we spend the winter to a certain extent drives our cruising ground for the preceding summer. We had bought a Turkish Pilot but with worsening Turkish/ Greek relations and the aforementioned Covid issues we decided not to visit (this year anyway).

Anyhow the reason for the opening spiel is that we ARE now settled for the winter and I am using the log book and our pictures to retrospectively write up the log that has been sorely neglected, partly because we were revisiting places already blogged previously.

Here we go………

The 3 following charts show our meandering July 6^th 2020 until 27^th October 2020. The individual blogs will follow if my early onset memory allows.

6th July – 11th September Samos, Agathonisi, Lipsi , Patmos, Arki, Samos.

12th September – 26th September  Samos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos & Kos

27th September – 27th October  Kos, Pserimos, Nisiros, Tilos, Symi, Nisiros,Leros, Lipsi, Arki, Samos.

This last leg is from waypoint #3 to the red arrow (Posidonion) on the island of Samos.

We passage planned for 60 odd miles and 12 hours underway.

The boat was prepared the night before for a speedy and early departure at 07:00 obviating the need to let Lilly out, and more problematically, getting her back in. I think I need an extra column in the log for cat effects.

The forecast was NE 18-30 kts. It was going to be a rolly downwind sail.

We had all the genoa out and the cat was settled of sorts in her “berth” a 12 inch or so square shelf in the forward cabin.

At 10:00 having cleared the Chios Chanel we set course for Ak Prasson ( The NE cape of Samos. It was now 45 miles and an estimated 10 hours away.

At 15:00 as a result of a wind drop we had to put the engine on and were motor sailing. There was a distinct change in the engine revs then they picked back up again, but there was a different sound & feel from the engine. A bit more vibration, after all these years you get used to a sound.

We checked the weld repair on the engine leg and that the new feet themselves where tight. All OK.

I went over the side to check if the prop was fouled. No

Given the lack of wind we had no option but to put the engine back on, but I wasn’t happy and was glad when we could manage to sail again.

At 20:00 we anchored in Pythagorion bay; 62.5 miles in twelve & three quarter hours, and nine of them under sail, not bad.

Having had time to ponder I said to Louise I reckon its one of our fuel pumps. She remained unconvinced hearing little change herself in engine noise. But she drinks a lot more than me & I think its affecting her hearing ,lol.

However after 2 nights in the bay , 1 on Nicolas’s boat having Chablis and Louise’s pasta…..

…….we decided to go to Pythagorion, 6 miles away, and have Kleanthis, an engineer we know there, to have a look. Turns out it was indeed a failed spring in the aft most fuel pump.

One of the three pumps

Spare springs have been ordered but they are coming from Europe,via Athens to Samos. Hope they get here soon. We are hot & sticky and stuck outside the “Blue Bar” Loud music until 03:30 lol.

Boats @@@@@

There are some compensations

See what I mean all that fruit cannae be good for you. especially without alcohol in it !