TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

We picked up Roger and Carol on schedule and headed off to Vathi further around Sifnos to tie up in front of another picturesque Chapel.

The next day we sailed on to Paros.  Thirty years ago Sue and I arrived here in a thunder storm of biblical proportions by ferry from Santorini at 2.00 am in the morning.  As we were isalnd hopping on a student budget we had no accommodation arranged.  The only shelter we could find was one small bar by the beach – fortunately the bar-tender took pity on us and after a few Harvey Wallbanger’s he invited us to stay in his sister’s spare room.  We were also invited back to the bar a few days later for a memorable Easter feast – fantastic hospitality as usual.

We tried in vain to find the bar, but it seems like it has long disappeared, probably converted into a car rental operation!

After a bumpy night on the outside of the mole at Paros (the harbour being full with boats on long term stays),  we bid farewell to Martin and Neb as they headed back to Athens on the ferry,

and set off for the neighbouring island of Naxos – a much better harbour to tie-up in.  From Naxos we headed east to the small island of Livitha.  There’s only two families living on the island and one looks after the buoys in the bay for a safe overnight mooring and the same guy runs a small Taverna which caters for the resident sailors – a great overnight stay.

The next day, with a favourable wind we sailed up to Patmos.  After anchoring stern-to in the harbour I took a short walk to the town beach which looked very familiar.  About nine years ago we charted a boat in the Dodecanese, and visited Patmos.  We had dinner on the town beach at a table on the sand by the waters edge.  Halfway through dinner I leaned back in my chair and continued slowly falling back into the sea!  I had to recreate this moment in the same spot: