A quick sail running downwind saw us in Kos for Jane and Marks annual hols with us. We hired a car to enable us to do a big shop and and to pick them up from the airport. No buses connect with the easyjet flight and a taxi was the same as the car hire. Amazing how much you can get in an Atos!
A decision to go south was made so that a new area to Jane and MArk could be explored but it meant a long first day, 37nm. The wind was favourable and we sailed most of the way and with the sea temperature at 29-30'C a swim on arrival in an anchorage to revive us all before the first of many bbq's.
The weather or rather the wind was kind and we cruised around the island of Symi and some anchorages in Hisaronu Korfezi, illegal as it was Turkish waters and we didn't have a transit log or visa's for Turkey but not a problem. No one approached us or questioned us except if they were trying to sell their goods from their boats. We enjoyed returning to these anchorages and it makes us think we will cruise this area again next year.
The trouble with going south is you have to come back north at some time and with the prevailing wind coming from the north it makes it a little difficult at times. We had to change our destination once due to the uncomfy sea and wind. The thought of 7 hours to get there helped in the decision but we ended up in a rolly anchorage which 2 out of 4 on board (the girls) found nauseating, even the daily game of scrabble had to be abandoned! It saw us up before the sun, anchor up and nav lights on, moving off by 5.30am. The wind and sea was much kinder that day and we had a pleasant sail to Nisiros.
On to Kos saw our lines taken from Chris on Vonasi, on his own for a few weeks whilst Claire was home with her mum. He joined us on a couple of sails to anchorages and at Kalimnos town, the two westerly yachts "racing" each other. Well two boats going the same way constitutes a race! One all and then different destinations for the third race and the fact that Crazydream reefed made the "race" null and void!
After just over two weeks is was time for Jane and Mark to depart and us to make our way to Lakki and then the boatyard to be lifted. We are heading home earlier this year to get some extra work in and thus hopefully a bit more money for the year ahead.
