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(Page 4).

Moored stern-to Lavrion quay. As we approached, tall cement chimneys and the huge wind turbines came into view. Quite a change from "picture postcard" Poros. In the commercial harbours the swell from fishing boats, ferries or large boats can be drastic so the idea is to hold the boat's stern, using the tension on the anchor cable, some 2 metres away from the quay. This also allows one to walk down the passerelle. We have seen so many charter boats hit the concrete either because they did not realise that later there may be a swell or boat wash or their anchor could pull out if the wind gets up. The boat then slips backwards and crash they go. Its an art form getting it right and we have done it so many times we've now made most of the mistakes and learnt from them!

Usually most evenings the wind dies down, boats cease moving and the whole worry of "stern to" goes away till the next morning. I went ashore for a walk and had a very ancient lady street vendor try for five minutes to sell me a handmade woven carrying basket. She spoke no English but gave a broad smile when she realised I was a hopeless customer. She walked off laughing saying "Ingrish, Ingrish, Ha Ha!"

We hope to leave at 08.00 hrs tomorrow for Gavrion to make the most of the wind.



Lavrion is a commercial port and has had a massive extension to the big ship dock area. There is very little space for visiting yachts as the majority of spare spaces are taken up with charter company yachts, which at the moment are not out as its still early season. We hear a new local airport has just opened that will bring much more yacht charter/flotilla business to the port. Coming into a strange harbour is always a challenge. This time we have anchored using our fortress and buoyed it as we expect there are lots of old moorings and chains in the mud. The procedure then is to run backwards with our passarelle lowered off the stern of the boat. Fae jumps ashore and ties the stern lines and I winch up on the anchor. If all holds we don't crash into the concrete quay! The returning pilot boat was not impressed with finding our anchor bouy in his way! Lots of Greek words were said but nothing was done about it!

At 06.00 hrs the next morning, the 26th of April, we slipped our stern lines, hauled our anchor rope in and slipped out to an early start for our journey to Gavrion on Andros.