Guests having a swell time! (Paros - Ios)


 

22nd Sept 2020 (Paros - Ios)

Woke to the alarm - happily now an unfamiliar occurrence.. 

We’re leaving our on and off home for the last few weeks of Paroikia on Paros and want an early start. We’re hoping to get water from the quay before the harbour master arrives and charges us for it. It’s a fairly long sail today (about 6 or 7 hours) down to Ios, our overnight stop off on the way to Santorini which is Martin and Debs departure point. The Med mooring went wellish... it’s surprising that adding more people into the mix, however helpful they are, doesn’t necessarily make for easier docking. Quickly filled our rapidly depleted tanks with good fresh water, while Martin jogged to the bakers and back to pick up some nice raisin and walnut bread rings for breakfast. 

Headed away from the quay just after 8, and straight into choppy seas, the entrance to Paroikia being tricky at the best of times. Turning South we headed through the passage between Antiparos and Paros once again, this time with close to following seas and wind - allowing us to, albeit briefly, setup a wing on wing (goose wing) sail setup. Changed sails as the wind and our course shifted, and eventually popped them away as the wind died and they once again flapped forlornly. This didn’t last for long, but was an uncomfortable rolly half hour, until the wind picked up again and we were able to sail once more. The wind and swell are favourable today, if possibly a little on the large side for our guests, and we whizzed along riding the waves with the genoa filled before us. Lunched on cheese pies that Martin had picked up earlier in the day. Debbie is wincing away as we head South, with a bad stabby pain back, not helped by the heeling in the large rolling surf. 

From the helm, I see what initially looked like a shark fin cutting through the water alongside us, keeping pace with our 7ish knots. It turns out, thankfully to be at least 2 dolphins, who stay with us for half an hour - long enough for all of us to 'oooh' and 'ahhh' and generally have the mood lifted - it’s always a delight to see them. Taking turns on the helm, with Debs laid prone on our bed to ease her considerable pain, we made speedy progress along the coast of Ios. Made it to our destination in good time, and anchored in the empty bay (all bar one boat). I had a short siesta, woken by Chez who hadn’t slept well the previous night (more so than usual) and was dog tired. Dropped the tender for Martin and Debbie to go exploring then spent a peaceful hour or so on my own squaring the boat away - which has tended to be a little disorganised with the four of us here over the last 10 days. Wind dropped as Martin and Debbie returned, Chez awoke and has been making a chilli, the aroma of which has been wafting around the cabin making me salivate while I write this... dinner time - goodbye :)



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