David's Diary: Sunday, June 15, 2003

Almiropotomos, Evia, Greece

Yesterday, we left Lavrion around 09:00. The wind had died during the night, but it had already started by the time we left. We motored into increasing wind and seas. We had hoped to make it far enough North to cross the Aegean and make it to Istanbul, but if the Meltemi continues we will have to change our plans.

Dragonsinger "Pinned" by a Greek Ferry

By the late afternoon, we were only about half-way to where we had hoped to be. Our average speed is slow as we pound into the wind and waves. We are between the island of Evia and the Greek mainland. Even with Evia providing protection, there are still large waves.

We revise our plans and pull into Almiropotomos, a bay on the Western side of Evia. I go up to the bow to lower the anchor, but the anchor windless does not respond. I check several things, but there is no way to get the windless working and without it we cannot lower and raise our anchor. There is a quay, but our pilot guide has no notes on it. I jump in the dinghy and motor over to the quay. I use a paddle to try and touch the bottom. I have to reach over the side of the dinghy and stick my arm in the water until my shoulder is covered. It seems deep enough, so I quickly return to Dragonsinger, take over the wheel, and get everyone to prepare the boat for a port tie to the quay. We dock without a problem and I check the depth sounder. There is just enough water for Dragonsinger to keep off the bottom.

Allen and Kevin at the Beach

The night passed uneventfully and the wind is light today. We decide to stay in this spot for another day. We enjoy the beach and are the only tourists in the place. There are many Greeks out for the weekend and more arrive by ferry late in the afternoon. The ferry docks beside Dragonsinger and a large mooring line is led behind Dragonsinger pinning us to the dock. One of the ferry works tells Karalee that the ferry will not be leaving until tomorrow night, so we'll have to spend two more nights in Almiropotomos.

Karalee At a Restaurant

Before dinner, Karalee and I visit the restaurant opposite Dragonsinger for a drink. Our enforced stay in Almiropotomos is a good thing. We have continued to push ourselves to get to Istanbul and we need a few days off to just hang around this little town, soak up some rays on the beach, and go swimming. Over our drink, Karalee and I discuss our plans for the rest of the summer. We have to be in Istanbul by June 30 to pick up Jocelyn's friend Nabiha who is arriving from Tunisia. We decide to return to Lavrion to repair our anchor windless, then we will head directly East across the Aegean. It would have been better if we had made this decision a week ago, but then we still believed that the Meltemi would stop blowing. Now we know better.