Southern Greece to Istanbul

Hello Again

Dusk, Vourkari, Kea

 

Once our family had left us in Vouiliagmeni – mainland southern Greece - and with Kaylene – Alec’s younger brother’s wife - as our new crew member, we made our way down the coastline spending a night in the bay of Anavissou.  Chapel Cove was our anchorage that evening and the waters here are clean enough to swim.  We had good shelter from the ‘meltemi’ – the name given to the northerly winds which begin blowing in June and reach full strength in July and August.  They blow throughout the Greek Islands and the coast of Turkey all the way to Istanbul.  They can be extremely challenging making some legs nearly impossible.  You just have to sit in a sheltered bay and wait for a lull, and then motor. 

Sardinia - Capri, Pompeii - Sicily - Greece

Hello Again

 

Our second attempt to leave Tunisia and head out to Sardinia was much more successful.  We had a good run and were able to sail most of the way.  It was another overnight trip and we were all tied up in a marina on the southern end of the Island in Villasimius the following morning.  It was here we picked up our friends Bruce and Rachel Roy. The next morning we sailed up the eastern coast to Porto Corallo.  The marina attendant made a big mess of our mooring here by only winding our port line around the bollard and not tying us on, and, in the wind we drifted down onto the starboard line and got it caught around the starboard prop!!! Alec had to take his first swim of the season a little earlier than planned.  All was well and no damage was done thank goodness.

 

Our next port was Santa Maria Navarrese, a very pretty little place tucked in under high hills.  This was our last stop in Sardinia for this season, but we will return next year.  It was here Bruce and Rachael left us.  We spent an extra day here before setting sail for the Island of Capri at the southern tip of the Bay of Naples.  That trip took us 37 hours with us sailing two thirds of the way.  We anchored outside the Capri Marina Grande, spending the night there under the limestone cliffs.  The town is built on a saddle between two summits, with a view looking out to the Bay of Naples.