Admittedly, it wasn't the most dignified departure. Beduin, our Nicholson 32, was moored stern to the quay in Milina harbour so all we had to do was let go of the stern lines and haul the anchor. But then the remote control for the windlass stopped working and the skipper started shouting. Once out of the harbour we found a nice breeze and the skipper's mood improved with lunch. It was too late to get out of the Gulf, so we anchored in an un-named bay at the end of the Trikeri peninsula, the tip of the Pelion, which curls like a beckoning finger around the Gulf of Volos.
The clouds were turning pink as we left in the morning and the sun was already up over Evia when we rounded the corner and the islands came into view. Despite the name-Sporades means scattered-the Northern Sporades, curving in an arc east from the Pelion, are actually one of the more compact groups of islands in the Aegean. For us just a day's sail from Aleko's home village of Milina, the Sporades are ideal for a short cruise, which was all we wanted in October.
Coming from the south, the archipelago is a short sail from northern Evia.
Beating up towards Skiathos, Aleko caught a swordfish-so that was dinner sorted. Coming into calmer waters in the lee of the island we passed Koukounaries, often described as 'the most beautiful beach in the Aegean. From the sea the most conspicuous feature is a huge hotel, but out of season it is a lovely beach overhung by pine trees with a lagoon behind.
Wind stops sailing
Bu hikaye Practical Boat Owner dergisinin July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Practical Boat Owner dergisinin July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.
Multihull sail work
Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew
Boats for restoring under £20,000
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices
Playing with coloured sails
Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers