This web page contains the logs of a short excursion with S/Y Thetis originating from the island of Samos to the Eastern part of the island. The logs are illustrated with photographs and maps they also include several links to other related web sites.
Thursday September 4, 2008
After a long absence, since late May, dictated by family obligations, I returned to Samos. My daughter Dr. Corinna Riginos and her husband Dr. Siva Sundaresan, they married in January 2007, were already in Samos for over a week. Since their vacation days were rather limited we could only squeeze one day trip with Thetis. This was going to be an introduction for Siva to the cruising life style. Along with Siva and Corinna came our Samian friends Dimitris and Vanessa Vourliotis.
While this day-trip was a success it was not an unmitigated one. On our arrival to the marina, Corinna discovered that a cat had somehow entered the right cabin, where I sleep, via a small port which I had left open for ventilation, and gone there to the bathroom. All the cushions had to be removed, cleaned, and aired, while their covers had to be packed and left in the car to be taken to Kalami for washing. Next problem was that we found out that the head (toilet) electric pump would not operate.
Thetis was rather dusty so, before departing we had to thoroughly wash down the deck and the cockpit. Finally we cast off at 1120. We headed E towards the Mycale channel and Zoodochos Pigi. The wind was a light 2-6 knots NNE, not useful for sailing so we motored. I left control of the boat to Corinna’s capable hands while I occupied myself to the delightful task of disassembling the head. I found the cause of the problem: a cherry pit was wedged on the macerator blades. After removing it, the pump worked fine. I had almost finished re-assembling the head when Corinna reported our third problem: water sluicing under the floorboards of the right rear cabin. I quickly ascertained that it was not salt water and then found its source. The hose that brings cold water to the water-heater, located under the right cabin’s bed, had burst and the pressure-pump had pumped out almost all of the 200 liters of fresh water from the tanks. We immediately shut off the pump and with the hand pump, buckets, and sponges removed the spilled water. But all my clothes that were stowed under the cabin’s bed were soaked and had to be spread on deck to dry. Poor Siva! What an introduction to cruising!
We arrived without any further mishap to Zoodochos Pigi (Ζοωδόχος Πηγή) but decided not to stay there after all. We went instead to Mikri Lakka (Μικρή Λάκκα) [37° 45.5' N 27° 01.6' E] where we anchored at 1300. We put up the tent, swam, and had the lunch which we had brought with us. It was a very nice and pleasant day. Siva, who had swam only once before, tried the snorkel and flippers and started swimming around Thetis without the need of a life-vest. Amazing! He had a good time indeed.
September 5 - 10, 2008
I repaired the water problem by cutting out the damaged section of the hose and reconnecting it to the input of the water-heater. After verifying there that there were no leaks I refilled the fresh water tanks. Also, I changed the spark-plug of the genset and now it worked properly.
During this period I flew to Athens for some family business and then flew back to Samos. Corinna and Siva also left for Kenya.