The weather here is perfect with cool nights and mornings and clear sunny days. Summer definitely arrives a little later the further north we head but only by a few weeks. After an overnight tie-up at the Chalkis town quay we headed off and had two beautiful quiet nights anchored out in splendid isolation.

The lack of other boats, especially Charter operators leading flotillas boats, is a quantum change from our experience in the Cyclades last season. The local people are also more relaxed and friendly. Along the way we encountered dolphins and even saw a couple of large turtles.

Our next major stop was Orei around the top of the Channel. The anchorage here was not very good and there was plenty of room on the town quay (at EUR 7 per night) so we did our first Med mooring for the season (and only our 3rd in our sailing life). It’s quite traumatic for us (the charterers – and the Russians – seem to have no qualms and come in backwards on full power). The technique is to line up about 60 metres from the slot between boats you are heading for. Start backing the boat and try to keep on line. At this point the boat steps sideways at 90 degrees and you have to trust that the accumulated speed will allow you to steer straight again. At about 50 metres get the 1st mate to drop the anchor and pay out anchor chain while the captain powers back towards the looming concrete dock. Keep the chain coming out as fast as it will go and start to panic as the dock is coming up real fast. In preparation for the docking you have already deployed ALL your fenders on both sides of the boat as well as at least 2 big round fenders over the transom to protect this area from the aforementioned concrete obstruction. At the very last moment the captain throws the engine into full forward to stop the backward motion while your transom just kisses the dock. Hopefully nearby crew already safely docked are alerted to your arrival and appear as if from the bowels of their boats to give advice, gesticulate (if you are too close to their pride and joy) and hopefully take your lines so you do not float off into the German boat next to you.

John: It just seems that it is a fact of life that anchor chains will cross causing all sorts of mayhem. We managed this but had a very experienced French sailor beside us so it was quietly resolve over a cheeky little red (wine of course). However, if the protagonist is Italian, Russian, Polish, Croatian or the like it is never resolved and so some poor bugger ends up in the middle with 3 chains on his hook. The secret seems to be to remember the order in which they were laid, then reverse it, hopefully! We left without even moving our French neighbours chain- well done and no Rainbow Warrior event here!

We mentioned that the area was quite peaceful and tranquil. BUT there must be something going on as everyday for the last week we have had airforce jets flying over in twos and threes repeatability. Earlier in the week there was a spectacular show with 9 jets doing acrobatics streaming red, white and blue. Me thinks Trump, Turkey, Greece posturing. Only posturing- we hope…