Back to the Cyclades

Our first sail was from Aegina Town to Poros. A short day sail on a blustery overcast day. Unfortunately as we had put up our main sail the previous day we had furled it with out sufficient tension and on un furling it jammed. It would furl in ok, but we could not get it out…at Poros later in the day Heather spent an hour up the mast working the sail out of the narrow slot in the mast. Heather really is a legend and I’m not sure how I would cope on a boat without her ingenuity and tenacity!! I guess we are a good team, I break stuff and she fixes it 🙂

In mast furling has many benefits, but one draw back is the potential for jamming. That said, this was the only serious jam we have had, and it came out ok, so all good.

Poros is a real yacht hub, last year we spent 5 or 6 days here on different occasions and it was great to return to such a friendly, familiar spot. We got a spot on the Quay right in the middle of town, surrounded by cafés, bars, restaurants and shops. We could sit in the cockpit with Greek music wafting over the boat.

With Vega moored up we headed off on foot two the Poros Boat yard to find Calyxa and her crew. The kids were glad to be reunited and became great buddies again straight away, running off to play while we the adults go reacquainted over a few beers. Next day we got Peter to the Doc’s who loaded him up on Cortisone.

With Calyxa back in the water we set out at 5am for the 50NM sail from Poros to the Island of Kinthos in the Cyclades. There was a big weather system in the south of the Cyclades blowing force 7 and by later in the day we were expecting a southerly force 5, perfect beam reach sailing. Throughout the 8 hour sail, the wind kept building and by the time we arrived it was a perfect F4 Southerly and the Sailing perfect. We dropped our hook in an idyllic bay and went for a swim and then the beach. About 7 in the evening the wind really picked up, gusting 30-40 knots. But as it was from the south, we are protected. In fact, we were protected from all sides except the West…..and yep, you guessed it, at 3 am the wind shifted West and was howling into our anchorage at 30 knots plus, putting us only 20m from a lee shore. At 6 am we decided to leave and head North to Loutra to seek some shelter. We lifted the anchor and headed out into the waves and wind. Vega looked after us and as we unfurled some headsail she settled down and found her stride riding the white caps with ease. It was lumpy sailing and both Ben and Milly found it a bit daunting, but, arriving into the small, sheltered fishing port of Loutra and its hot springs on the beach was just what we needed!