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DAY 4 (WEDNESDAY)
As the sun rose on another glorious day in Greece, our flotilla set sail for open water and an exciting 3 days at sea. The flexibility of our skippers meant that we could stop anywhere we liked for lunch, and this day was no exception as the three boats anchored near the tiny island of Skilli. Here we spent time in the beautiful waters generally having fun. The inflatables that we picked up in Poros were brought out, and I had the fantastically surreal experience of sitting on a large crocodile in the middle of the Mediterranean! Our Skipper also brought out her waterproof camera and there are some hilarious shots of people suspended underwater (channeling the Nirvana album cover).
Swimming near the tiny island of Skilli
Lunch was another Grecian banquet of fresh fruit and meats that we had picked up from the harbor the day before; I don’t think I have ever eaten more feta! There was time for a brief sunbathing stint to top up our tans, before we set sail once again for Dhokos. Everyday we were becoming more confident on the water, and by day 4 it really felt like we were part a crew; I was beginning to consider myself quite the expert with a fender!
Afternoon Sail to Dhokos
Once at Dhokos we anchored the flotilla together in a triangle, which involved some impressive maneuvering by our skippers. Then hammocks and walkways were set up between the boats; it was if we had our own private pool party! As the deck speakers played our Big Sail playlist, balls were being thrown between the boats, people were drinking cold drinks on deck and even the crocodile made a return appearance. A few people headed out on the dingy with the Go-pro, which resulted in some amazing action shots of people diving off the boats into the gorgeous Greek sea. It was a great few hours!
The Big Sail Skippers had fun putting the yachts into a triangle formation, which created a perfect swimming area between the yachts!
It was then time to move the yachts around the corner to where we would be anchoring for the night. The boats sat side-by-side just of the coast of Dhokos and, as the sun set, each boat cooked a delicious supper (nearly all along the theme of pasta and sauce). Once the dinner things were cleared away, it was time to begin one of the most memorable nights of the trip. Our group spent the evening playing games, getting to know each other and enjoying the wine that we (foolishly) thought would last 3 days. And so the evening carried on, culminating in a late night skinny dip around the boats; a very liberating experience.
Full moon rises over Dhokos
I ended the night curled up on deck, at the front of our boat. Lying on top of our dingy and covered in thick blankets, I had the perfect view of the Dhokos hills sloping into the sea. As morning drew closer and the sun rose on another day in Greece, I got to watch the sky change colour. It was idyllic and a truly unforgettable experience.
Sunrise anchored off Dhokos with The Big Sail
BY JENNIFER BELL
Jen Bell is a 20 year old English Literature undergraduate at the University of Bristol. Jen loves to write and is regularly published in several local papers and magazines, including most recently, Frome Life. She also hosts a radio show and has been head of news for BURST radio for the past year.
Tomorrow will see Jen’s diary entry of Day 5 – a busy day involving hangovers, lunch in Hydra and our return to the island of Aegina! To see an overview and map of the whole route see this page: Athens 7-day Saronic Gulf Sailing Holiday Itinerary
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