News and Blog

While getting ready to leave Skradin for the Kornati islands, the Australian crew aboard Marijana reported over the VHF…”we have a stowaway on board” It transpired that the stowaway was a very scared tabby cat newly named Cruso who had been hiding out on Marijana since Split and had taken a few days to appear. Dan couldn’t believe what he was seeing when first thing in the morning he saw Crusoe entering Troy’s cabin! Unable to catch Crusoe to take him for a dinghy ride to shore, the crew aboard Marijana had no choice but to leave Crusoe aboard to sail for the day – being healed over, Crusoe decided that the safest place to hide was behind the stove. Bites of tuna and ham didn’t tempt him out from behind the stove, but a bit of peace and quiet in Vrulje did and upon our return from a fantastic lamb and fish peka (casserole) dinner at Robinson’s restaurant Crusoe had left Marijana to start a new life in the Kornati islands. 

With a change of crew aboard Rhapsody, we left Split to rendezvous with our flotilla yachts in the turquoise waters of Primosten. We were delighted to have the Bernard family from France back with us on flotilla aboard Daniela, the Neames family from Bermuda aboard Desire and a great group of friends from Australia aboard Marijana. A marked change in the weather meant we could enjoy a fantastic first day sail, with the new Rhapsody crew from Australia, USA and Canada practicing their tacking skills every 5 mins up the Krka River. The heavy winds arrived that evening and kept us in Skradin for two nights, a harsh contrast to the lack of wind on our last trip! 

Leaving the island of Mljet we headed to ACI Marina Dubrovnik, the marina has a swimming pool, fantastic showers and Old Dubrovnik is only a short bus ride away. The wind by this point had pretty much vanished and with everyone feeling the intense heat a dip in the pool was a real delight. The next day, the crews took in the sites of Dubrovnik’s old town and the incredible view that a 2-hour walk around the walled city offers – since the war in the 1990’s, Dubrovnik has been in a constant state of repair and reminders of it’s recent turbulent history are evident making it a thought provoking excursion. Leaving Dubrovnik…Canadian Doctor Mitch now with the Stoll’s aboard Arkina for the day (Mitch we do like the fact you offer a ‘drop in’ surgery aboard all of the yachts!) we motored to Sipan. Little wind made it impossible to even get the flags to move on the shrouds so unfortunately there was no sailing but that evening we had a real treat at Konoba Kod Marka restaurant. Course after course of smoked tuna salad, octopus cakes and amber jack for those ordering fish – with the view of the yachts from the restaurant it made for a perfect evening. Approaching the end of this trip, we stopped in Korcula and Stari Grad, Hvar where we enjoyed a relaxing two nights in preparation for our return to Split. Covering over 400 miles and seeing the best of Croatia, we were thrilled we had such a great group of people with us on this very hot, light wind trip of 2012. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know the crew aboard Anambra and all aboard Rhapsody from Canada and USA – Paul, Ella, Helen and Mitch thank you for all your help in the galley. Howard and crew board Maya and family Stoll aboard Arkina, it has been a true delight having so many fun ‘Aussies’ with us. Una we are thrilled you can now swim!!

Arriving in a hot and humid Split mid afternoon we were greeted by crews from Australia, Canada and the States. We were delighted to welcome back family Stoll from Australia and the Caffrey’s from Florida for their second trips with Poseidon. This first Croatian departure of 2012 had Rhapsody as the lead yacht and Arkina, Maya I and Anambra on flotilla with us so a great fun group of 23 people. The trip started with the first swim stop in the turquoise waters at Primosten and an incredible evening under the stars in fresh water at Skradin. Greeted by family of swans, we took a mooring buoy, tied to a tree on shore and cracked open the first bottle of champagne to celebrate Canada Day. Three days later we celebrated with more champagne for the 4 July Independence Day celebrations! It was a perfect start to the Croatian sailing season with crews having fun getting to know each other and swapping stories. Croatia was proving to be a big hit with everyone loving the first few stunning anchorages at quiet Vrulje, charming Vis, chique Hvar and enchanting Lastovo.

We always expect a good mix of wind and motoring on the Aegean Adventure with June normally a calm month. This year however, Mother Nature is letting us know who is in charge with the Meltemi (stronger northerly winds) arriving early. Our departure from Athens for our second trip on 16 June was delayed by a few hours and the itinerary needed to be changed slightly. Aboard Margarita was a wonderful family including two lovely girls aged 6 and 10 and a great group of friends from Canada. The young girls spent many hours sitting in the bowsprit of Margarita without a hint of fear on their own sea rollercoaster! Our flotilla yacht was a crew from the States who sailed little Naias wonderfully when the winds picked up. Changing the itinerary around slightly allowed us to visit the beautiful port of Loutra on the island of Kithnos where the hot thermal spring water cascades into the sea – a great muscle relaxer after sailing in heavier conditions. The trip ended with a crew pizza night watching sailing videos filmed ‘expertly’ by Karen with added quality of thumb on the lens!  Bidding a sad fairwell to the crews and Greece we set off to Croatia.

Our new guests Glen and Tara from New York state stepped aboard Margarita and with the rest of the flotilla returned from Santorini our small flotilla left Ios on Monday for the island of Skhinousa in the Petit Cyclades. We’re always interested in exploring new islands and with a small flotilla this was the perfect opportunity. At rural Skhinousa, we stumbled across a spectacular restaurant called Sweet Deli. The crews were driven up to the restaurant by the locals…and treated to some of best Greek gastronomy we’ve found in 20 years in Greece. Delicious, saganaki cheese, rocket, greek and bean salads followed by fresh tuna, chicken rolled with sundried tomatoes or local calamari. Our main reason for heading into the Petit Cyclades was to hunt down a WWII plane wreck that we’d received reports had crashed off the coast of Iraklia. It took a bit of finding, with Andy from the UK trailed on a line behind Margarita but we got there and couldn’t believe how intact the Messerschmitt was at just 12 metres deep. Captain Steven Parry reported that inside the cockpit the controls of the plane were still intact after all this time. It was truly a fantastic swim stop for everyone and a place we hope to visit again soon. Thank you Andy for not only your keenness to help find the Messerschmitt, but for taking this incredible shot of Captain Steven free diving.

Margarita and Naias arrived in beautiful sunny Hydra on Tuesday afternoon with crews from Toronto aboard Naias and guests aboard Margarita from Colorado USA, Shropshire, UK and Montreal, Canada. The evening started quietly with a lovely walk to view a stunning sunset from Kodylenia’s restaurant. As the southwesterly breeze picked up it was clear that the evening in Hydra harbour was not to end so quietly! Upon returning to the harbour, our yachts, although safe, needed to have fenders quickly adjusted! A bumpy night ensued but was made up for the next day with a spectacular Kleftiko overnight stop at Milos. Our guests from Colorado and Montreal ended their trip in Ios on Saturday and we were very sad to see them leave after 7 nights aboard. Eric thank you for being such a fantastic helpful crewmember – we still think that your turtle sightings are questionable but you do lay a perfect anchor chain! Poseidon Charters wishes you and Jessa all the very best for the birth of your first child and hope to have the 3 of you sailing with us in the future. Nathalie we look forward to seeing you in Montreal!

Ahoy from Greece, Poseidon Charters is aboard the goodship Margarita and ready to start the 2012 sailing season. Greece has been very much on our minds and in the news in recent months and now we’re here we’re very happy to see that Athens Alimos marina is still the same and the yachts are proudly in the water waiting for you to arrive. We’ve been to the ATM’s and can confirm that Euro funds are available to withdraw, Athens was quiet and the Greek locals are as wonderful as they have always been. Our first departure leaves Athens on 2 June and we’re looking forward to greeting our crews tomorrow from Staffordshire in the UK, Montreal, Canada and New York, Connecticut and Colorado in the States. 

The Adventure cruise team are heading over to Europe for the first trip of the season starting in Greece on 2 June and we are really thrilled to annouce that Caroline Ballard will be returning from maternity leave to steer the Poseidon administration ship while we are gone. Caroline can be contacted at info@poseidoncharters.com