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(Page 2).

We are expecting a low pressure to produce strong winds over the next day or so. There is a 998 depression currently over Tunisia. Our Navtext is predicting gales in Italian, Ionian and Aegean seas. If the winds are initially from the SE we will be sheltered on the Poros North quay but would have to move if the winds veered towards the North.

I asked for the fuel man to call and so a large red petrol road tanker turned up on the quay. He knew I only wanted 60 litres but I felt it was a lot of trouble for him and the nearly blocked quay!

Water is also available from the "waterman" and pipes are ready to fill the yachts up. Here it costs about 1500 Dracs for 500 litres.

By this afternoon a significant weather warning had come through on Navtex.
Later several very large private motor boats began to arrive in Poros. The "waterman" was arranging places for them and enquired about our anchors "Are they well in?" We decided to move out from the quay and go the short distance to Galatas where we hoped to find a good anchorage over short weed and mud. By 17.30 we were safely anchored in 2.5 meters with 30 meters of chain down. 


21.04.2001
Anchored off Galatas
37.30.035N 23.27.136 East
12.14 hrs
Temp 19.0C
Baro 1003
Wind SE 18 to 23 knts

The decks are covered with African sand following last nights rain and the temperature of the wind is varying from cold to hot in phases. We prefer to be away from the quay and other boats. If a large boat shifted its anchors while tied stern to we could end up the jam in the sandwich, unable to leave and damaged if we stayed. The expectation was that the wind would start from the SE and go west as the depression/front moved through from Malta to the Ionian and on east towards us. Navtex now predicting gale force 8 to 9 in this area. Tirla is now on full anchor set up. The main anchor is down with 40 meters of 3/8th chain in 2.5 meters of water. Holding is excellent here, we drove in the anchor with both engines in reverse. We are starting on one anchor but will lay another if conditions get extreme. The mizzen and main booms are dropped to the deck to save windage, all spare halyards are wrapped round the masts, the wind generator is up to provide power when the sun is clouded over or for radar/lights etc at night. An anchor alarm is set on the GPS. The Hydrovane rudder and vane are off. The anchor ball and riding light are set. Extra fenders are ready on deck in case someone drifts our way. A second anchor is on deck, (the Fortress plus chain and 40 meters of warp). All systems have been tested. Main fuel tank is full. We await our medicine! Often nothing really bad arrives but sometimes it does, what will it be this time? In the time it took to write this the barometer has dropped another millibar to 1002.