Chapter One: MEANDERS AT MOUDROS Another early start! At 5.00am the alarm went off when it was still quite dark outside. We got dressed, checked the forecast, and when we could see what we were doing weighed anchor at 5.40am. We motored past Sigri harbour and hoisted the mainsail. This task was completed just before …
Chapter One: ANYWHERE THE WIND BLOWS We were waiting for a weather window in Leros Marina, but still the wind kept coming. We even had to cancel the haul-out because of it, which left Cordelia with all the growth on her hull that she had accumulated during the winter. After another couple of storms the …
Chapter One: WHAT WAS IT LIKE? Leros is a small island in the Dodecanese in Greece. It has a varied history, and in 1912 was occupied by the Italians. They stayed for 31 years, fortified the island and in 1930 built a harbour in one of the fjord-like inlets which they called Portolago. When the …
Chapter One: HEADING NORTH AGAIN We had circumnavigated the island of Leros and had originally intended to head South to Kalymnos and possibly Kos. However, with the predominant wind coming from the North we were concerned about heading into strong wind or even being unable to return to our winter quarters in Leros when the …
Chapter One: THERE AND BACK We’d sailed to Kouloura Bay on Lipsoi at the beginning of September to sit out some wind. When it had calmed down to about 25 knots we launched Buddy and took our rubbish ashore. The bins were conveniently placed on the road to Lipsoi Town which was where we headed …
Chapter One: ARRIVING IN GREECE We’d checked out of Turkey in Didim on 31st July. On 1st August at 7.15am we set off from our anchorage outside the marina and headed for Greece. We motored well away from the marina’s breakwater before the North-North-East wind gave us enough hope for a decent sailing angle. We …
Chapter One: UNDERWAY Apart from a little swell our anchorage at Kuruca Bükü had been perfect – no disco, no ringos, gulets anchored some distance away, no mossies, but good holding, shopping and windsurfing. We needed another stamp on our “Blue Card” which forced us to exchange this little paradise for a pump out station, …
Chapter One: KNOWN FLYING OBJECTS We were on our way from Gemiler Bükü to Fethiye with a brief detour to Butterfly Valley. A few boats were already moored to the beach but as we hadn’t intended to stop or go ashore we circled around while Peter took pictures of this spectacular gorge and its surroundings. …
Chapter One: GÜLE GÜLE or BACK TO THE MAINLAND We’d regularly consulted the forecast for the 210NM passage to Finike in Turkey, and finally found a weather window for the 40 or so hours this would take us starting 3rd May, so we prepared Cordelia for departure. At 9.00am Ingrid took our passports and boat …
Chapter One: VISA-VIS Upon our arrival at Karpaz Gate Marina in Northern Cyprus we were given a 30 day visa. We later found out that some people got one for 60 days and even 90 days, but you’d either had to have a family in Northern Cyprus or a property to qualify for that, and …