Volos, The Netherlands and back to Crete

After getting Spruzzo setup in the Agios Nikolaos marina (bought giant springs for the dock lines….the docks float and can move a lot….everyone has these big springs which make interesting music when we get movement from the dock) we travelled to Volos for a few days. Volos is the 4th largest city in Greece andContinue reading “Volos, The Netherlands and back to Crete”

Astipalea to winter berth in Crete

Big Surprise! The weather forecast was wrong again. The morning started as expected: no winds and glassy seas. As beautiful as you could imagine except we had to motor. Our trip was 82 nm, and we had just under 12 hours of daylight for travel. At 7 knots average speed we would just make it.Continue reading “Astipalea to winter berth in Crete”

…. when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared… 

Ἦμος δ᾽ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς…. (Ilias, Homer) …it was a few minutes before 7 am at Astipalea island. The sea was almost completely motionless and there was a salty light breeze. The sunrise was not an explosion of colour, rather a soft mix of orange, yellow and pink paint brushes in a blue sky that slowly wasContinue reading “…. when early-born rosy-fingered Dawn appeared… “

Slim Sailors: Tilos to Kos to Astipalea

Sailors tend to be thin. I used to wonder, is this because of some drug abuse sailors are prone to? But now I know: sailors are thin because they get exercise hanging on to heeled-over boats and not eating during passages (it’s too hard to get food). Right now my arms are aching. I hadn’tContinue reading “Slim Sailors: Tilos to Kos to Astipalea”

Rhodes to Simi to Tilos: Windy Days!

After Victoria and I re-united on Rhodes (amazingly she missed me) we sailed 21nm north to Simi. The first bay we stayed in, St. George was gorgeous: high cliffs all around, crystal clear water and a large number of goats on the beach. Many Greek islands look like mountains risen from the sea with aContinue reading “Rhodes to Simi to Tilos: Windy Days!”