Thursday, 10th October Porto Heli Surfing...

We are very nicely placed. We saw our chance and took it. The wind eased a bit last Sunday at lunchtime and we decided to at least get ourselves around to the other (west) side of the island. A short hop of only 12 miles, it would let us really see what the sea state was like without having to go too far, and also put us in a better position for the next hop over to Kithnos Island. A very good move, we had a bouncy sail but a calm night round the other side.

On to Kithnos next morning, 34 miles in a F5/6 on the beam, sunny day, fast sail much of it over 8 knots (max 8.8), still a bit lumpy, to a very pretty anchorage off a sand spit. And still with our weather window, straight off the following morning, a sleigh-ride of a 60nm trip across the last of the Cyclades and into the Saronic Gulf, surfing at times, a F6 gusting F7, reducing to F3/4 with a maximum boat speed of 9.3knots (10.6 SOG). Sorry about this for the non-sailors, but for those who know these boats, 9+ knots in a 34 foot cruising boat is going some. We landed in Ermioni, pine-scented entrance to a nice, thriving town. Had a nice long chat with friends Margaret and Roger who are currently in Lagos, Portugal, preparing themselves for their next leg to the Canaries, prior to their Atlantic crossing in November. They sound in good shape for it.

A lazy start and on round to the NW tip of Spetsai Island, and today to Porto Heli - a stone's throw from Kilada - and here we are beginning to do the winterising jobs. To Kilada tomorrow, we have arranged to delay our lift to Saturday morning. We then have 3 days to put the boat to bed. We are back on track and it has all gone like clockwork - a bit fast and furious at times but all is now calm. And wet! - we actually have some rain here - first for months? At least it is washing off all that salt spray and should not last long. Last but one entry for this season!