VikingBlod Voyages

June 18th - 19th                                                            (Photo credit: Some pictures by Pierina and Neil) Our adventures in Greece continue, as do the meltemi winds I wrote about previously. At times the winds can be almost non-existent and then, in a moment, gusting to 25 knots or more. During one passage, we can sail in winds of about 5 knots and then a short time later be sailing in winds of 25 knots, gusting to 30. This is the case as we leave our private anchorage and make our way to the island of Paros. Both MP and I were a little apprehensive about the high winds and seas, but it turns out that the boat handles them very well and as long as we are keeping our movements to a minimum, we are both doing great. With the guys it is a different story. They are ecstatic with the sailing, barely containing themselves when the boat hits a speed of nine knots, hooting and hollering into the wind.  Then, to top it off, they are in complete awe as they have a front row s

Written June 15th, 2024 Boy is it hot! From the locals in Greece we have learned that the heat we are experiencing is due to the lack of rain here all winter. As we all know from the news over the past few years, Europe gets very hot in the summer months. If it is this hot now (37 degrees), what will it be like in July and August? Finnegan and I are not overly excited to find out, but we cannot complain because we have the beautiful Aegean Sea off our back deck and we can jump in whenever we want. Finnegan used to hate the water, but he is willing to let us put him in, using his harness, for a quick dip and then out again. He always appears so refreshed after. We spend a few days anchored off the town of Adamantas, Milos while we await our friends Al and MP to join us for a two week adventure. In preparation, Neil and I tour the town, enjoy an authentic souvlaki in a pita, not to mention the most amazing seafood meal I have ever had. It is a steamed Monkfish. Outstanding! The view of t

Written: June 11, 2024 As I write, we are at anchor in a bay called Lefti in the Myrtoan (Myrtle) Sea at the island of Elafonisos, which is on the Elafonisos Strait. Where is this? The Elafonisos Strait connects the Ionian Sea on the western side of Greece with the Sea of Crete which is south of Athens. In reality, it is part of the Aegean Sea. We arrived here after spending a windy night in a crowded anchorage where we had to be creative to find room to anchor. The night before that we were tied up at the city quay in a place called Pylos.  Tomorrow we are making a 12 hour passage to the island of Mylos where we will begin to share our journey for two weeks with our friends Allan and Pierina when they arrive on Saturday. The beach, Ormos Sarakiniko, nearby the anchorage in Lefti was absolutely stunning. Apparently we had found “Paradise”. Turquoise water like we have never seen before and beautiful soft sand, stunning scenery. Looked pretty much like one version of paradise.  There wa