Saturday 12 September 2015

Friday 11 September 2015 - Panormitis Bay, Symi, Greece

What I forgot to mention in yesterday’s entry was how our windlass got fixed (we hope).  When we got in and Jonnie came Richard did not call for an electrician, but instead they both looked at the foot button and found the problem was pretty obvious.  One of the wires had come loose and needed to be soldered back in.  Jonnie borrowed a soldering iron from his friend Terry and an extension lead from the restaurant and soldered it back in.  They say it now works, but we have not tried to use it with the weight of the chain and anchor yet!  But we really were very grateful.

So with a working windlass we decided to go with the Luries to Panormitis Bay on the Greek island of Symi.  We have not formally checked out of Turkey yet, or checked into Greece, but apparently everyone does this.  So we set out at about 11:30 am.  At first there is very little wind and we don’t even bother to put up any sail. Jonnie says he is not a light wind sailor and we certainly aren’t because our boat just doesn’t move in light winds.  But very soon the wind comes up and up go the sails.  The only problem is the proverbial one, the wind is on the nose.  But it is suitable to take us over to Symi and that is what we do.  The wind eventually builds up to 15-17 knots, a really nice sailing wind.  I get a bit fed up with tacking because you have to go at least twice the distance to get to your destination, but even I have to admit we had a very nice sail.

Panormitis bay is very pretty.  There isn’t much here.  There is a monastery but only the church seems to be really in use.  Most of the buildings are let out as cheap holiday accommodation for locals.  We are at anchor, swinging (meaning no long line ashore) which is what we are used to so we are content.  We go ashore in the dinghy to see what little there is.  The dinghy is not well inflated so we take the foot pump with us and pump it up when we get tied up.  Unfortunately, by the time we come to use it later in the evening one side has deflated again.  We must have a leak or the valve may be faulty.  We are going to have to do something about it!  There is always something.

After swims and showers we have an hour on the boat just relaxing and then take the dinghy over to the Lurie’s boat where we have an excellent BBQ.  Jonnie has a Cobb BBQ, as we do, but he is much more adept at using it.  He has roasted a whole chicken in it.  I have brought Haloumi cheese to grill and Kofta type kebabs, together with tomato salad and the last of my taboule.  So we have a real feast.


But it is now getting late and I have visions of Richard falling out of the dinghy a few days ago, so we make it back to the boat safely.  The Luries would like us to go with them to another local Greek Island, but we think it is best for us to go back to Turkey to check out before returning to Greece.  So that is the plan for tomorrow.  I just hope I can take the anchor up with the windlass!

No comments:

Post a Comment