........Snails, that well known Greek delicacy!!!!! Yes, Pam actually found some food yesterday she thought was great. In a restaurant called Karavolos (which translated could mean Snails). Any way, I am getting ahead of myself. Back to the story so far.
If you remember we were in Methana riding out what was to be a F7 overnight wind. It never really appeared so on Wednesday morning we set off for the short hop over to the Island of Poros about 5 miles away. We upped anchor at 11am which was a bit of a relief as we were worried it might have fouled in the marina on the many mooring chains on the bottom. The harbour master had been very specific where we should drop our anchor to avoid the chains but you never know.I do have all the diving kit but the water in the marina was a cloudy white with a visibility measured in inches. It is a spa town and the marina water has a lot of volcanic effluent in it!!!!. Diving to find an anchor even though it was only 3 metres deep would have been a pain.
Overall I would give Methana an 8/10. We really liked the place and Pam particularly liked the spa pool we sat in the day before. I would certainly go back there.
So around an hour later we arrived in Poros and parked ourselves "stern to" on the east side of the pontoon on the north side. It's obvious if you look at a chart, although I don't think the pontoon is marked on any of the charts yet! By some aberration, I only managed to drop 25 metres of chain. More on that later (that's two things to watch out for so pay attention!). We were snuggly wedged in between Pyxis and a bit Cat so it was quite cosy.
The town looked quite nice. A bit touristy so prices are a bit higher than where we have been but not overly so. We found the laundry so took our stuff in the following day. Wednesday evening we went out for a meal and found the Karavolos restaurant up the hill away from the expensive sea front. Go right at the end of the pontoon (the land end silly) and walk until you get to the motorbike rental place. It's just up the hill behind there. Their speciality was Snails. Pam gave it 10/10. We are going back for more tonight.
Thursday dawned with a bit of wind from the north east. Pyxis were heading off down to Hydra so after 2 weeks of travelling together we would now be on our own. 10 minutes after they had gone, a 35knt gust of wind broadside on - and our anchor dragged. It had been fine with two boats around us but 25 metres of chain was not going to hack it. We upped anchor and then relaid it with 40 metres out this time. It seems a bit more solid (he said touching the table). There is a F5 forecast tonight so we will see. I think the big problem with the anchor was that it was laid in 3 m of water but the boat on the pontoon was in 8 m of water - hence we were pulling it down hill. Very difficult for it to set properly again if it broke out. (For the geographically challenged of you - I would skip this bit). Our plan is to leave in the morning and wind permitting head down towards Hydra.
After the trauma of having to re-lay the anchor we went out for a wee spot of practise for our Olympic class - "Watching the world go by, mixed doubles, alcohol included" although I am not sure today's counts 'cause Pam only had an ice cream (and half of mine). Priority now is for Pam to have another lot of snails tonight!
The mooring options for boats in Poros are quite extensive with space for hundreds of boats. There is water in most places but only lecky on the north quay and not on the pontoon. Today is relatively quiet with only around 15 boats - yesterday there was a sailing holidays delivery flotilla with 24 boats. So it's off tomorrow towards Hydra.
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