Sérifos

Leaving Kiparíssi in the dawn light   

The forecast looked to be good but the wait for the wind didn’t really work for the passage east. We left Chapel Cove at 0555 on 16 July and half an hour later were sailing. By 0900 we were actually putting in reefs but 2 hours later the wind was down and the motor went on. Of the 12 hour passage we motor-sailed for 8 hours. If there had just been 2 or 3 knots more wind, we could have sailed the whole way; 5 knots more and it would have been a very quick sail. It was not as the forecast had predicted and so, sadly, turned out to be a really disappointing sail.

View of the chora from Livádhi harbour      

The arrival in the busy harbour of Livádhi on the island of Sérifos was much more satisfying with the approach view dominated by the chora high up above.

There was space for us on the newly refurbished quay but it quickly filled up and we saw a big changeover of yachts during our time here. It’s justifiably a popular place and we decided to stay for 2 nights.

Next to the harbour is a nice beach with cafés and there are several good shops in the town, so we did a bit of a restock of the fridge.

Walking up to the chora   

The chora was said to be well worth a visit and there is a regular bus service up there. However, it was decided that it would be much more satisfying to walk up to the top. Fortunately there was a good breeze [Ed: a day late for our sail here!] to keep us cool.

Once up at the top we explored the narrow lanes and the quite lively square…

… and from the very top we could look down on the typical Cycladian cuboid houses clinging to the side of the hill.

The view back down to the port was the real benefit of the climb. Naxos and Paros were also visible in the distance, 30 or so miles to the east, so you could almost argue that our climb was a recce for the next day’s sail!

Sérifos, Greece