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(Page 9)

At 07.45 this morning I had the joy of seeing a two metre swordfish jump not 50 metres from the boat. These events are so sudden one often wonders afterwards if they really happened. The sky is a yellow shade, looks oily and its misty. We are running under one engine to save fuel. A friend in Alonnisos has texted to say it's windy there already.

12.50
The monasteries were amazing, each very different but all with such pleasing architecture. For example Simonopetra, founded in 1257 by St.Simon, hangs on a rock outcrop and has a bridge to get across to the cliff. It is canterlevered over the rock shelf by huge wooded beams. Elsewhere around the cliffs were hermits huts.
I kept some way off the coast as with 20 to 30 knt winds forecast I did not want to get close to Mt Athos. However we were able to look through our binoculars and view the wonders of monastic building. Rounding Athos heading towards Limnos we ran out of wind then found what was out here. An easterly blowing at 20 knts.

So Tirla is now off back towards the Northern Sporades at an average speed of 9.5 kts so far with only Genoa and mainsail. Fae and I are in our deck harnesses and life jackets as there is a lively sea! It's great to be having such a good sail after so many hours of engine work. Our large Greek gas bottle ran out just as I was making tea so we will have to couple up one of our smaller camping gaz units.

Well not the wind expected but it's wind alright. Large catamarans like ours don't have a violent motion and nothing needs packing away. I see it's 25.6 miles to go to the safe waypoint I put into the GPS, at which point we have to decide where in the Northern Sporades we want to make for. In that time conditions may have changed so we will see what happens.

22.00 hrs
We are now approximately 10 miles from Skiathos. Eventually our favourable wind died with the sun. For the last four hours before darkness the coaster sail was making the most of what little breeze remained. The approach to Skiathos from the north is not without its dangers and darkness is an added factor. We have our electronic chart plotter running with positions from the GPS. The GPS is programmed with a safe route into Skiathos. The radar on deck and below shows this information and also the surrounding land masses and boats. However, we cannot see the plastic rubbish or floating logs etc!

When all the data from every different source agrees then there is a better chance we are where we think we are. One of the easiest things to do is to look for a lighthouse of a known light combination, for example the one at the end of the next island of Skopelos. That light flashes 3 times every thirty seconds and can be seen for 20 miles on a clear night. It's amazing how every light in about the right place seems to do just that! Crew easily persuade themselves that they can see what they expect to see.
A large ferry is passing us at 2 miles on our port side.

23.34 hrs and we have negotiated the various obstacles, like many ports the carefully placed entry lights are completely overshadowed by the towns own electric lights. We can see there is a boat here that wintered in Preveza so our social life is assured for the next day or so. The anchor is down and buoyed so we will get some sleep after a long but enjoyable trip of just over 100 miles.