I had been seeking a justification for the Enid “Blytonish” title of this particular blog but unfortunately we only have a famous three not five on board….. Or do we?
I had forgotten about:
Padstow Bear
A handmade bear by Ann-Marie, given to us as a present, way back in Padstow, not long after we had crossed the Irish sea together on our inaugural night crossing from Howth – He was her 1st of many productions, a very talented lady.
and:
Scruff
Yet another present from way back in the day. On a weekend sail to Tabert Loch Fyne in the company of yacht Aquarius, Susan had bought us this finger puppet, and he has been tethered at the top of one of our grab handles ever since.
Both now very seasoned sailors, they no longer suffer from Mal de Mer.
So there we have it – “Gordo, Lou, Lily, Padstow Bear & Scruff”
And yes the skipper has lost it, yet again!
Anyhow the original plan was to head around to Mythimna on the NW of Lesbos for a couple of days before striking off for Lemnos.
From the log book I see we upped anchor and were off just before 07:30 in calm seas with the main sail & motor sailing. At 10:30 just abeam Sykiamos on the north coast of Lesbos the wind picked up and we decided to just continue all the way to Lemnos, 72 miles away. It would take us around 18 hours, a night sail and a night anchoring, but we were sure we had picked a suitable destination and back up. Initial intentions were actually to enter into Moudhros bay to an anchorage we had used before in southerlies but in the end with light winds we chose Ormos Pavlou. A bay on the south coast.
We arrived at 00:30 and had the anchor happily secured in the blackness at 00:45 (waypoint number 3) followed swiftly by two large G&T’s and bed.
It had been a long day – 17 hours with the wind dying just as we were crossing very busy shipping lanes followed by the forward navigation lights having given up the ghost just after sunset! Lucky white heather.
Our anchorage the next morning.
Two of the famous five were loathed to get up for the wee 3 hour jaunt round to Moudhros. (Chequered flag waypoint)
The entrance to Moudhros bay
But by 11:00 were we tied up alongside in front of Michelle & Tuffers, the two Kiwis we had met in Scala Loutra, when they had wrapped their prop and he had needed stitches as result of trying free it.
Moudhros harbour
Still a little tired we had lunch (2 hours old fresh sardines from local fishermen who were also in the taverna).
Lunch
An old “anchor”
and that night after a wander, dinner in the same place next to the harbour.
Dinner
Lemnos, one of our favourite destinations reached.
