1 September 2023 – 2 September 2023

We rose early in readiness for our departure from Leros, lifting the anchor we crept out of the anchorage at Lakki Harbour at 5.15am with our navigation lights on before the sun was even up. We adjusted our navigation screen and instruments to night mode as it was still dark outside.

There was no one else about and it felt eerie to be the only ones out there.

We soon left Leros Island behind in the distance and looking back we saw the sun rise over the island. We mostly motor sailed the entire distance as the wind wasn’t quite strong enough for us get us there without some help from the motor. We made advantage of the motor and made some water along the way. It was a very long day and was a relief to arrive at Koufonisi Island around 4.00pm.

Koufonisia is a set of two islands. Ano Koufonissi and Kato Koufonissi. We chose the later one as it is quieter and it is uninhabited, unspoiled and natural.

We anchored in Detis Bay – Nisida Kato in a beautiful sandy anchorage. We anchored near a motor cataraman where the crew were starting to pack up all the toys which had been made available for their guests to use. We were a little close but we could tell that they would be leaving the anchorage to take the guests back to a marina. When the motor catamaran left around 7.00pm there was just one other monohull in the anchorage and we had a pleasant night with a little swell.

In the morning we dingied around the bay to check out the cliffs while the sea was calm. From the water we noticed a large number of tents set amongst the trees so it was obviously a popular spot for camping. As we were cruising past the rocks we saw a young toned guy in his birthday suit going about cleaning his teeth and not bothered in the slightess of us cruising close by, we discovered later that it was a nudist beach…. that would explain things.

The bay was stunning with it’s clear water and glorious yellow cliffs.

We returned to Calista and had our morning cup of coffee. We received a message from Patrick of “Tropic Sailing” saying that they were around on Schinousa Island in readiness to shelter from the meltimi that was coming in the next few days.

We had a quick swim then lifted the anchor and left the anchorage to go around to join them at Mersini on Schinousa Island.

About Author

Paul & Karen took up sailing in 2016 and are now living the dream seeking new adventures and experiences sailing to new horizons together.

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