The Month of May
 
Now I’ll try to keep this brief as I know your very busy people. We left the luxury that was Lakki Marina and headed to the top of the island of Leros. Spent a night at anchor in a really nice bay (aren’t they all). Already I’m beginning to waffle. I’ll give you the highlights of the month. We island hopped a bit and visited some really nice small islands in the Dodecanese. We were continuing in our quest to get North. The Weatherman was starting to be a little more co-operative. We eventually got to a place called Pithagorion (37 41’ 19N 26 57’ 06E) on an island called Samos, in the Eastern Sporades. (Beer 25c a can). It was a nice place (named after that chappie Pythagoras) so we decided to spend about 4 days there. The weather had also got quite windy so that was more of an incentive to stay. We met a very nice American couple there, they have been ‘sailing the dream’ for 9 years! Whilst there we had time to sit down and catch up with a bit of reading. The Captain had been reading an article in ‘Yachting Monthly’ about couples who take it in turns to be skipper of the boat. He thought this was a jolly good idea, so on Stella Maris we now have skipper days! So on the day when the Captain M is skipper I get told to do everything, then on the day when I’m skipper he tells me it’s the skippers job to do everything! We bumped into some friends from Crete (Atoraxia, remember Eddie the dog) in Limnia (38 28’ 07N 25 55’ 07E) on an Island called Khios. They had made friends with a very nice Danish family. The night we arrived we all went down to the beach, a fire was made and steaks were cooked to perfection. The next day we had a very nice bbq on Atoraxia, I tell you we were really being spoilt. We decided to leave the next day with Atoraxia and head to the top of Khios a place called Marmaro (38 32’ 70N 26 06’ 61E). The weather was changing and Marmaro offered better protection. The winds were light and although we had to motor a bit it was a nice journey. After anchoring up we were all sat having a well deserved drink, that is when the fun and games that were going to go on for the next 4 days began. 1) Moored up stern to,wind changed direction and Stella’s anchor dragged, we went out to relay. 2) Chop building so both boats decided to up anchor and go along side on the other side of the quay, where there is no chop. 3) Check with Port Policeman if okay to do this, he says yes. No ferries come in, just the very occasional fishing boat 4) After moving boats, we are in taverna eating. A couple of very large fishing boats have come in and squeezed in between us and Atoraxia. Port Policeman comes and asks Atoraxia to move as another fishing boat is coming. They say ‘No’ it all works out ok as one of the other fishing boats leaves. 5) We plan to leave, but then change our mind when Atoraxia’s weatherman (nicer than ours) forecasts 7-8 winds. It then proceeds to rain all that day. Batten down the hatches and get out the ‘Yachting Monthly’s’. 6) Fray Bentos pie is 10 minutes away from being ready,(got to have a Bentos on a rainy day) another huge fishing boat comes in, they ask us to move along the quay a bit so they can fit in, we go out into rain and walk boat along the quay. You’ll be relieved to hear Fray Bentos was fine! 7) All forecasts say wind will be Southerly, wind however changes to Northerly, we are now being blown onto quay. 8) We decide to move back to the other side of the quay and moor up stern to. We manage to get off the quay (which we are moored alongside) and then moor up on the other side. Not before providing some good entertainment for the people sat in the bars watching us. 9) Atoraxia decide to move as well. A few fraught moments but all o.k. 10) In middle of cooking a rather fine chilli, Mr Port policeman asks us to move along the quay a little bit so they could fit another fishing boat in. As it was a hum dinger we moved quick smartish. 11) Captain M gets up the next morning, is talking to Martin on Atoraxia, they notice Atoraxia is dragging her anchor. They prepare to move, then start heading towards us rather quickly. There then followed what can only be described as chaos. All the fenders on each boat had been left on one side, from when we had been moored alongside. Obviously it goes without saying that they were on the wrong side. Atoraxia was getting up close and personal with Stella. Stella’s anchor then started to drag. We had our engine on to keep us off the quay, while we were all trying to sort out Atoraxia. Pleased to say after a lot of shouting, panicking & fending off. We all got sorted. Captain M borrowed Atoraxia’s caique and went out to lay a second anchor Hawaii five o stylie for us. Atoraxia moored up along side, not really sure where there anchor was but decided to worry about that another day. All this and Captain M was only half way through his first cup of coffee!! I tell you they could have sold tickets to see us and Atoraxia moving over those couple of days. Always happy to oblige we were ‘team entertainment’. We all decided it was way too much excitement for us, so the next day we left as did Atoraxia. Amazingly the winds were favourable we had a Southerly that more or less took us all the way to where we are mow Mitilini on Lesvos (39 05’ 86N s6 33’ 83E). We arrived to find chums Moli here. Needless to say there was much catching up to do. Atoraxia are close by in a bay around the corner. Mitilini is a very busy town and we are moored right on the town quay. The weather has not been brilliant, very unsettled with some rain. Not what we ordered. But today is looking brighter. Last night we were having a drink on Moli, when along came Mr Port policeman and asked them to move their boat. They were along side and he wanted them to go stern to, to free up some space. We’re going to get a bit of a reputation as team Stella Maris always seem to be around when people are asked to move their boats. Despite the fact it was sundowner time, we all jumped to it and within minutes Moli was safely moored up stern to. A textbook manoeuvre by Captain Ian. We are in contact with other chums from the marina and hope to bump into some of them (not literally) at some point. I did say I’d be brief didn’t I, I think we all know I don’t know the meaning of the word brief! Got to go now, being sent on an important laundry mission! Take care Love & southerly winds to carry us North Captain M & Skipper Karen (only on certain days) XX
Tuesday, 22 May 2007