Sailing in Santorini

I have really been looking forward to today, since we started planning this cruise. We have been to Santorini before and so we were looking for something very different to do today – and we weren’t disappointed. We booked a 62 foot catamaran to go sailing in the Santorini caldera – the site of an ancient volcano.

We tendered to shore early so that we had time to get to the top of the cliffs and spend a bit of time exploring Fira, before it was time to meet our guide for the transfer to the marina, where the Dream Catcher was waiting for us. There are three choices to get to the top of the cliffs – either ride up on a donkey, walk up the winding donkey path alongside the donkeys, or take the cable car. Despite my fear of heights, I considered that this was the better option than taking the donkey – I have just finished six months of treatment for a torn tendon in my hip, and I really didn’t want to undo the progress made.

We were met by the tour company rep, Aristotle, a Greek who grew up in Melbourne – then came to Santorini to meet his relatives after university and never went back to Australia. We drove south through farming countryside where the main products were grapes for local wine and tomatoes. Because of the strong winds here, the grape vines are left to spread over the ground rather than on the grape vine framework that we are used to, so the plants are unsupported.

Once at the marina, we boarded the cat for the safety briefing and then headed off, using the motor for the first part of the trip to the Red beach – because of the volcanic activity on this island, the beaches are mainly crushed rocks which forms different coloured sands – we saw the Red, White and black sand beaches.

Our first stop was at the Red beach where we anchored for a swim from the boat – the water was so refreshing and incredibly clear – you could see to the bottom. After about an hour, we pulled up the anchor and headed around the southernmost point of the island into the caldera – and raised the sails. What an exhilarating thrill – zipping along with the wind blowing in our hair as we sat on the nets at the front of the cat and bounced around.

Our next stop was at a private beach on a volcanic island in the centre of the caldera – there are hot thermal water sulphur springs, so once again we climbed down the ladders and swam to the island into the thermal water. We were each given a floating pool noodle – it was wonderful to just relax and float around while on-board the chefs set up our lunch. We were called for lunch and it was delicious – greek salad to start, tatziki with fresh bread, and then the local speciality pork dish (can’t remember the name) with grilled vegetables, lemon and garlic roasted potatoes, a chicken dish and a local vegetable dish made with white eggplants – so delicious – and all washed down with local wines to savour.

After lunch, we had another swim before securing our belongings on the cat ready to raise the sails again. The skipper had his five year old son, Peter, on-board as it was school holidays, and he is a little captain in the making – I am sure that in 20 years  time, he will be running the whole operation – as we stepped onto the cat, he held out his hand and shook hands with everyone and said ‘welcome on-board – I hope you have a wonderful day in Santorini’ – he helped to pull the ropes for the sails and sat on his dad’s lap to steer the boat – he was so cute!!

The wind had become stronger in the afternoon, so we once again delighted in the whole experience, as we tacked back and forth across the caldera under the Mediterranean sun in full sail. It was a hot day on shore, so we relished the conditions on the water. We docked at the northernmost point of the island at Oia, and were bused back to Fira, so we saw the island from end to end on land as well as from the sea – it is amazing when you see these villages growing down the cliff face, all painted in white or cream with blue, peach or red highlight.

There was along queue to get onto the cable car back to the ship, so we opted to walk down the winding donkey path – a 25 minute walk downhill following a winding stepped path, shared with donkeys coming in the opposite direction – no comments about the smell!!! By the end of the path my legs felt like jelly, and so we sat in a taverna at the waterfront, where we met up with some friends for a cold beer before catching the tender back to the ship.

All in all, another amazing day – and another highlight.

Captain, pull in those lines and let us head to Rhodes….