Sailing Voyage 2000 Greece
Sporades

This year I had a second time the chance for sailing. The destination was Greece. Started in Thessaloniki we sailed south to the Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos,...).
Our ship was a GibSea 422 build in 1991 and called Alexandros.

Friday, 2000-09-15
At 18.00 local time we arrived in the small marina of Thessaloniki. We took over the boat we started to plan our route for the next days. From Thessaloniki we wanted to sail down the first finger of Chalkidike (Kassandra) and the next day should bring us right into the Sporades.

Under sails from the beginning :-)
Saturday, 2000-09-16
At 10.00 we left the marina. With a good 4 Bft. wind from SE we sailed towards Nea Skioni. Everything on board is alright and the crew is feeling the the sailing fever. On board were Hans, Klaus, Peter, Rudolf, Werner and myself. The temperature was above 30°C and water temperature was around 25°C. The trip started very fine. Wind, weather and boat are very good from the beginning.

Sunday, 2000-09-17
At 07.00 we left Nea Skioni and sailed towards. Again we had 4Bft. from SE. After 40sm and 10 hours of sailing we arrived in Skiathos an. In the bay of Galazia we stopped for bathing before we sailed into the harbour of Skiathos City. There we throwed our anchor and enjoyed the evening in the small city.


The 'Alexandros' Skiathos at the morning and the clocktower of Skiathos
Monday, 2000-09-18
After a rich breakfast we walked on the fort Bourtzi. After a glass of Martini we went back to our boat and the journey went on towards Skopelos.
At Skopelos we stopped in Agnontas. 5 houses,  3 restaurants. What a big town :-)

Tuesday, 2000-09-19
From Agnontas we sailed round Skopelos  to tow our boat in Skopelos City at midday. We visited the very nice town. After lunch we sailed to Alonissos. This days trip ended in Patitiri.


Wednesday, 2000-09-20
The next stage led us from Patitiri to Steni Vala. With very good sailing wind we rounded Peristera and at evening we stopped in Steni Vala. In the sea monk nursing home Steni Vala we asked, if there is a chance to sea some sea monks. The nurse informed us, that still 50 to 60 sea monks lives in the national park. But sea monks are very shy and they prefer caves at the coast, so that it would be very hard to find any. We took a sharp outlook with our binoculars, but unfortunatly for us (and surely better for the sea monks) we didn't find any sea monks.

Steni Vala: In the front the boat of the Research institute for saving the sea monks

Thursday, 2000-09-21
In the morning we strolled around the harbour. On Alonissos there are a lot of pathes for trekking around the island, so it could be also interesting to visit Alonissos just for trekking.
We left Alonissos and sailed to the small island Kyra Panagia. We wanted to anchor in the bay Planitis. But because we had 5-6Bft. from SE between Kyra Panagia and the northeastern island Insel Gioura, we took the chance for some good trips between this two islands on a half wind course. After this event we went through a small passage into the bay.
If you have the right wind, it is better to use the bay Ag. Petros in the SW of the isalnd for anchoring, because the water in Planitis is not clear.
 

Friday, 2000-09-22
Unfortunately the time in the Sporades was over now. Early in the morning we sailed back to Nea Skioni.

Clouds, 6-7Bft, 3m waves

Saturday, 2000-09-23
Because we had some 70sm until Thessaloniki, we left Nea Skioni at 05.00. Unfortunatly the weather wasn't so fine this day. Wind with 6Bft. and 2-3m high waves direct from the front of us. Under sail we could not run high enough because of the surface stream, so we decided to use the engine. But against the waves and the wind we just ran 3kn (!) over ground. Fortunatly sometimes the wind lowered and turned so that we could use the sails. The last 10sm to Thessaloniki we had perfect wind with 6-7Bft. from the right direction, so that we sailed with a speed of up to 9,5kn into the marina.

Sunday, 2000-09-24
On  Sunday we visited Thessaloniki and at the afternoon we flied back home. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Towing in the Austrian Crew Flag and the Club Flag :-(