The meltemi moderated to F6 as we reached over the 40 miles towards the Peloponnese.

Boat kept up high 7’s as we sailed due westward, and by midday we slid into the lee of lee of a rocky uninhabited island half way over.  We hauled down the headsail and ghosted under main the 45 minutes it took to sail from the eastern to the western end, so Sue could cook up some pasta on an even keel.  Timing was perfect, and as the washing up was being dried we rolled out the genoa, and leant back over as we accelerated back out of the sheltered flat water to roar over the remaining 20 miles to Poros.

Poros is a busy diamond shaped island only separated from the Peloponnese mainland by a narrow strip of water.  The channel between the two is maybe 300 metres at its narrowest, and Poros town sits prettily facing this mainland, full of bars and restaurants along the waters edge.  The long town quay runs equally in front of those bars, and sections are set aside for ferries, fishing boats, charter bases, and slots for visiting cruisers like us.

I felt really pleased sliding back into this place on our own yacht.  Last time we came we chartered a small Feeling 28, a pretty tired boat.  Surprisingly we saw it still in use, tied up maybe 200 metres from where we were.

Have to say I loved the area back then, and it looks just as pretty today.

Dropped anchor and tied up astern to hold us well off the quay.  The ferries and coasters who slide by 50 metres off your bow do create a surge.  Lots of action happening.  Boats sliding back and forth 24/7, cars and scooters popping 15 metres behind out stern, and at night, the bars start pumping.

All very relaxed here, no one bothers with ships papers.  All they appear to want is your dosh!  Cost us 11 euros plus another 5 for fresh water.

Chose the Oasis restaurant that night as well recommended by Lonely Planet guide, and it lived up to the reputation.  As stated, Poros is busy.  Lots of Athenians use it as a weekend spot, and some bigger cruiser type ships dump off hundreds of guests, so full of tourists with cameras clicking.

Spent the following morning cleaning off the encrusted salt picked up from the last fews days spray, and slid out to spend Tuesday arvo at anchor around the corner tucked into a small beachless bay. 

Seems our timing in sailing over was perfect, as the meltemi eased and the winds swung between a light south / south east / south west.  Great for swimming.

Chugged over to the island of Hydra to try and anchor for the night in Mandraki Bay just half a mile from Hydra town itself.  There was little or no wind by the time we arrived at 1900, and Mandraki was already full.  Attempted to anchor first time outside the other boats in maybe 30 metres of water, but no luck getting then anchor to bite.  Same same when we tried to anchor closer to shore and take a long line to the rocks.  Guess it’s the rocky bottom. 

But alternatives were close to hand, so chugged on into the setting sun for a further 40 minutes and found the holding we wanted in Ormos Skindos, a north facing bay on the adjacent island of Dhokos. 

Absolutely perfect still night.  BBQ fired up off the back of the boat.  More bottles of red ned than one should sensibly consume.  Great.

After a mornings of splashing around in what appeared to be Bombay Sapphire coloured water, we sailed onward to finally drop anchor for Tuesday night off the village of Ermioni on the mainland.  They do have a nice little harbour built since we last visited (thanks to EU grants) but this bay had a wooded park area on a headland, and it was nicer just to anchor off that.

Only downside was we’d forgotton these little babies come in and out every half hour.

Would be OK if they came past in this slow mode.  But they don’t.  As we’re parked up closer to the mouth of the bay than the harbour – they pass us at 30 knots looking like this -

Anyway.  Another nice night ashore, and today plan to slide back towards Poros and tie up there one last time so Jude and Viv can catch the ferry to Athens so as to fly home tomorrow.  Will be sad to see them go.

Catch you later.

JOHN