Starting from Crete in early May, we plan to explore the Cyclades until the Meltemi kicks in. Then at the end of June we'll make our way close to Athens to leave the boat in August ready to Jet off to our daughter's wedding. We will return in September and, return to Crete - circumnavigating if the weather permits - returning to Agios Nikolaos for the winter.


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Saturday 22 June 2013

Paros

We weren't looking forward to the voyage to Paros. We were expecting strong wind and swell on the nose and a long slow uncomfortable passage. We only went because the forecast for the next week was even worse.
The plan was to go into the port at 0800, do a quick shop then back to Milopotomas for L's last diving lesson. But the conditions in the port were horrible so we decided to go as soon as we had supplies. As we came out of Ios port, all our misgivings were confirmed. It was horrible. The only good thing was that Lucifer, having had a pill shoved unwillingly down his throat, slept through it all.
Luckily, after a couple of hours, once we got away from Ios and Sikinos, the wind moderated quite a bit and as we got closer to Paros the swell died away too. I couldn't decide whether to go between Paros and Antiparos or between Paros and Naxos - there were advantages to both. In the end, we let the wind make the decision and did the first. I had been worried that we would hit breakers in shallow water as we got beyond the shallows in the middle of the straight. I needn't have worried though, there weren't any!
We finally pulled into Naoussa bay and anchored in the North West corner and anchored on strong safe sand. And here we have stayed for 5 days, safe and comfortable, while the first Meltemi of the season has whistled round our ears.
The only short interlude was an abortive attempt to spend a night in Port during a lull. Unfortunately, it turned out that Northerlies send a vicious surge in and yacht moored where we were (under the new breakwater) are rolled and shoved sideways. With a forecast of it getting worse over night, we bailed out and went back to the Anchorage for a comfortable night.
We will probably stay here tomorrow too and then set of for Delos on Monday.

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