Yachting Monthly - November 2015

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44 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015

Kay Parkes recalls a cruise to

Greece’s most northerly port

It’s quite a hop from Cyprus

to Porto Lagos, Greece’s most

northerly port, and much of it

against the prevailing wind. As

Lesvos was as far north as we had

previously ventured, however, we

decided to take up the invitation

from some sailing friends to meet

them in northern Greece and

cruise a less well-known coastline.

We checked into Greece in

Kastellorizon and headed straight

for the Northern Dodecanese

Wildlife Reserve. We stopped at

Sailing

northern

Greek

waters

three of the islands in the reserve,

enjoying plenty of dolphin

sightings, an array of jellyfi sh

and the crystal clear waters. Port

Augusta, on Nisos Arki, has a tiny

quay, which was a riot of colour,

with each taverna competing for

the best fl oral display.

Continuing north, we reached

Lesvos, home to Sappho and

Aesop amongst others and one of

our favourite spots. This time we

enjoyed a few days of swimming

and barbecuing in a small bay in

Kolpos Yeras, before moving up

to Scala Loutra. Once the weather

settled we made a leisurely start

for Pamfi l, some of the time under

sail, in a rather fi tful wind. Dawn

saw us motoring to Tsonia, yet

another attractive anchorage with

a taverna ashore. We grabbed

some sleep and just before

midnight weighed anchor bound

for the island of Limnos.

There was plenty of moonlight

and we made good progress

motorsailing. The AIS showed lots

of shipping between Bozburun

and The Dardanelles. By 1600

the following afternoon we were

moored alongside in Moudhros,

the assembly point for the

doomed Gallipoli landings of April

1915. The small harbour next to
      the quay has 2.6m depth, plenty
      of room for visitors, and costs
      around €5 a night.

North of Limnos

The Greek Pilot notes that north

of Limnos the meltemi is not as

strong and the seas are smooth.

This is good news, as a lot of

time in the Aegean is spent with

the wind on the nose and rogue

waves that delight in knocking

you off course. We had 12 knots

PHOTO: PETER MYATT

RIGHT: View

of Mirina

on Limnos

We encountered lots of jellyfi sh

while cruising in the North

Dodecanese Wildlife Reserve

PHOTO: KAY PARKES

Mirina on Limnos

has plenty of

history to explore

PHOTO: TREVOR MOREY