We motorsailed down to Sivota hoping to moor there, but for the first time this summer we were unable to get a berth somewhere. The forecast was for strong winds that night and we guess everyone was running for shelter.

We diverted to our back-up-plan of Vassiliki the next town around the headland. There is a big anchorage here but it has a reputation of being pretty windy – they have a water-sports centre here for windsurfing etc. We set well in 3.5m of water over sand with about 50m of chain. Having over 10 times chain to water depth is a good ratio if strong winds are coming. Two 46 foot chartered Sunsail boats dropped one anchor and tied themselves together in the bay, somewhat risky tactics with strong winds due.

It was windy for the rest of the day but only around 20-22 knots which is not that strong. We went to bed at midnight, but at one o’clock the wind jumped to a steady 25/26 knots and started gusting at 30knots. It sustained the steady blast so we kept an anchor watch until 4.00am when the wind started to drop back to the high teens. The maximum gust registered 33knots. We were fine but we watched two other boats drag and have to reset in the dark, the twin moored Sunsails showed no sign of life on deck but survived the night unscathed......ignorance can be bliss - until it goes wrong.

The next morning was calm and we went ashore to see if we remembered the town from our visit on flotilla 17 years previously. Carolyn was sure she recognised a cafe in the corner of the harbour as the place we ate and we asked the patron when we stopped for a coffee there. He confirmed they had been hosting Neilson flotillas then and through to the current day. The small harbour is undergoing major changes and is both crowded and has construction of new harbour walls etc happening. We’d anchor outside and dinghy in if we visited again. A pleasant town to wander around and the people were friendly.

Photo: small sailboats and windsurfers surround Splice at anchor in Vassiliki Bay