We overslept and had a late breakfast around 10 in the morning. Not so
good since the wind had started to haul again, yes it was the same strong wind
coming again.
We were heading east, just making a short trip like 3-4 hours in the
rough wind we thought. The target was to take a stop at Itea, a harbour
furtherst north into a bay of the Gulf of Korinth. So two hours west, and then
rounding a corner and another hour northwards.
The wind was of course blowing from east, 12-15 m/s. The sea was not
that bad, the waves did not exceed 1m. But it was still a very jumpy road going
straight against them. First 2 hours by engine, partly to charge the batteries
again and partly that I thought this was the quickest way to the target. In reality
we was moving at a speed of 2-3 knots only in average, so this two hours
stretch took four hours instead. The good thing was that we did not get sea
sick. After the two hours by engine we tried to sail, tacking. With two reefs
on the main and only half of the genua out, we were not making better speed
towards the target. Could not get good enough tack angles. It felt like were
zig-zaging but not gaining any distance. Well, after four hours were finally
reached the corner where we were supposed to turn northwards again. We did. And
was now facing northerly winds of the same strengths. Again the jumpy road, one
hour became two until we finally reached the “marina” in Itea. A well protected
harbor with plenty of space, but totally deserted. No water, no electricity –
and no fees on the plus side.
We aimed for mooring along the long almost empty concrete quay and
prepared well with all the fenders we had and two lines ready to moor. A man
was waving on the quay indicating that he would help. Excellent! While I was
slowly approaching the quay in correct angle Sally threwed the mooring line
from attached on the front of our boat to this guy. Who immediately took the
line and secured it on a quay pole. At a position corresponding to the mid of
our boat. I had no time to react. The boat was immideately turning the front towards
the concrete. All the fendering alongside the boat did not help. The boat smashed
into concrete with a bang. Ok, we did not have much speed, but still there was
a clear mark on the boat. The guy had of course a good intention to help, but
with poor knowledge of the effect. Lesson learned. Give clear directions to the
guys helping you.
As we have mentioned before all the last days have been extremely hot, +35-40
C. Impossible to even stand still in the shade without sweating. It probably
also has made all vegetation in the landscape very dry. The bay of Itea felt
like a war zone. Why? Seven big sea-airplanes were shuttling just 50m above us between
fetching water from the bay and dropping it off on a forest fire near the
famous ancient city of Delphi, which we were supposed to visit the following
day. They kept on flying the whole afternoon and evening and seemed to be
successful in stopping the fire. The locals told us it was a real tragedy since
vast areas of olive cultivating was on fire. It takes something like 30 years
to get an olive tree productive for harvesting, and even worse if the soil now
were drenched in salty sea water.
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