We are back in Skiathos tonight.
Fairly wild ride over. The winds and the currents here are created by the channels between islands which leads to some odd things. We started being driven along at 6+ knots under just a Genoa by the wind coming down the Volos Channel. Then in the Trikeri channel several systems meet and everything goes all over the place. We had the swell running in the opposite direction to the breeze at one point.
We were going slowly and getting bored when we got to the bottom of the Skiathos Strait and then got hit by winds reportedly gusting up to 30 knots.
Fully reefed on a close reach we were flying along at 7.5 knots which is about as fast as this thing goes.
The approach to the Skiathos marina is literally under the final approach for planes to the airport.
We had a plane directly overhead and the ferry was about to come out. Sorry we didn’t get a picture of that moment we were a touch busy.
Elsewhere in the world there are clearly marked exclusion zones at the thresholds of runways that start at the sea… they don’t seem to feel the need for one here!
There are a few Optimist dinghies in the harbour here.
They always seemed small but up against 40 foot plus yachts they look tiny.
We came to this area to avoid the crowds and today is our free sail day so we can choose where to go. Several of the group are at anchor in the bay of an uninhabited island, but we have chosen to come to a big town as we are told it is interesting.
In complete contrast to the fishing boats we have been surrounded by for the last few nights we are sharing the pontoon with some very expensive toys.
2 outboards is sensible, 3 is showing off that you can afford the fuel (they can burn 100 litres per hour each) and 3 lots of service costs!
We are in a bit early so time for a cold beer and one of our industrial sized 400g bags of Oregano crisps before we hit the town.
Found a restaurant with a view
If you have a yacht that big you get a slightly bigger taverna mooring…