Sailing Calista11 June 2023 – 20 June 2023
After enjoying our time on Skopelos Island we left and headed up to Alonnisos Island where we anchored in Gialos Bay for the evening.
We dingied a short distance around into Alonnisos Port to go for dinner. With the aid of google maps we located the restaurant and following the directions we eventually arrive at the restaurant which was overlooking the Port.
The next day we thought we would head back to the Port for lunch. When we had dingied around into the Port the previous evening we had spotted a lovely restaurant overlooking the entrance. We dingied ashore in the bay and left the dingy tied up to the small jetty, then proceeded on foot over the hill to the Port. We arrived at the restaurant to discover it was closed and is only open in the evenings. Bugger …
We walked back to the anchorage and got a table at one of the taverna’s on the waterfront. We all appreciated a nice cool beer after having walked to and from the Port in the stifling heat.
During the night a swell came rolling into the bay and it was a pretty uncomfortable night. We awoke early and lifted the anchor at 6.00am and headed further up the island seeking out a more protected bay with no swell.
We anchored at small inlet of Peristera where there is a half sunken wreck . The shipwreck is the Alonissos barge that once carried the supplies of the island. Now it is half sunk and rusty.
Paul went on the paddleboard to check out the shipwreck.
After our caffine fix we motored on up to Panagia Island where the anchorage was protected and sheltered. The waters were a beautiful turquoise blue and so clear.
Paul and Malcolm went paddleboarding around the anchorage while Trish and myself swam off the back of Calista. We met up again with New Zealander’s Tony and Dee who were also anchored in the anchorage and we all got together for some sundowners on Calista.
Just when we thought we had the anchorage pretty much to ourselves, the peace and quiet was shattered with four charter yachts arriving. Three actually chose to raft up together and tied back to the rocks behind us. So annoying when they had plenty of room further along.
Luckily there was not alot of breeze during the night and we just wafted around. In the morning there was abit of breeze so our chain pulled out straight and we were then laying across their anchors. Around 12 noon we decided to lift anchor and head back down to Alonissos for the evening.
We anchored in a secluded small bay of Agios Petros surrounded by some lovely houses. The bay was only really large enough for one boat and we had the anchorage to ourselves. As we were deploying the anchor we did notice quite alot of chains laying across on the sea floor. The water temperature was 23 degrees and we enjoyed a swim.
Trish swam over to the jetty where she was able to use the ladder to climb out and dive into the water, something she had been itching to do while we have been cruising in the Med.
Paul paddleboarded around the bay.
In the evening we dingied a short distance around into Steni Vala where we had dinner at one of the taverna’s along the town quay.
From the taverna we could see across to the anchorage and see Calista’s mast.
The following morning when we were due to depart Paul knew he was going to have to try to manoeuvre around the chains laying on the sea bed. Despite manoeuvring around, we still managed to get our anchor snagged on one of the big heavy chains.
It took 45 minutes to free the anchor from the chain by tying ropes off our cleats to the chain and then releasing the anchor, we then had trouble retrieving our lines off the chain and Paul had to cut one loose, then finally we were on our way.
We sailed back down to Skopelos Island to where our friends on Tipheret were anchored and dropped in beside them for the evening. There was quite abit of weed in the anchorage and it took two attempts for the anchor to hold.
We joined our friends on Tiphert and we all went ashore and walked up to the taverna for a meal together.
After lunch the following day we motored around to Kastani – the Mamma Mia Beach. We dropped anchor in the clear waters but there was quite a swell and not very pleasant. Music was blasting from the beach bar. We had a quick swim off the back of Calista before carrying on over to Skiathos Island.
Our friend’s, Malcolm and Trish’s holiday was slowly coming to an end. We thought we had better start heading back to the mainland, where they could catch a train back into Athens from Volos Port. The wind was coming from the west so we anchored in Ormos Pigadi as it was a lovely protected anchorage. It was abit grey and overcast from the rain the night before and we stayed onboard. That evening we got the Mexican Train game out and played several games, it is very addictive.
The skies were somewhat grey and overcast. We dingied ashore for a coffee the following morning and while we were sat there, we got talking to a local chap who had been a professional skipper for a number of years. He was a wealth of information and gave us several anchorages to check out over the next couple of days. He even arranged for a friend of his who drives taxis to come down to the cafe to our friends. When he arrived we couldn’t believe our eyes – he had only one arm! The one armed paperhanger came to mind but in this case it was the one armed taxi driver. It was arranged that we would drop Trish and Malcolm back in a few days time and he would drive them to Athens, which saved us all from having to go up to Volos port.
We had abit of a walk around the township.
We left the anchorage and motored around into the southern tip of the hook-like peninsula which lies between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea. We stopped off for a swim at Agia marina (Baby Goat Bay) on way around to Kottes.
If it wasn’t for the recommendation and what to expect we probably wouldn’t have been game to visit. The guys from the local taverna helped with our stern lines as we arrived. We had a lovely dinner that evening at the taverna.
In the early afternoon we departed from the quay and motored over to Tzasteni for a swim. The water was calm and a pleasure to swim in at 24.4 degrees. Paul paddle boarded around the bay over to the property and Trish swam over.
We lifted anchor and then sailed back to Ormos Pigadi for the evening. We went ashore for dinner as it was Malcolm’s and Trish’s last night. In the morning after breakfast Paul dinghied Malcolm and Trish to shore to meet with the one armed taxi driver.
With Malcolm and Trish on their way to Athens we left the anchorage to head back up to Skiathos Island.
There was not a breath of wind and the sea was like a mill pond and we motored all the way up to Skiathos Island.
