The problem arose where we least expected it. Apparently, the anchor got caught on something heavy on the seabed, and we couldn’t lift it—the winch started spinning uncontrollably.
What to do? We carefully moved the boat closer to where the anchor had been dropped, pulled as much of the chain onto the deck as possible, and then, since the anchor was no longer holding, we yanked it free as best we could and headed straight out to sea with it still dangling.
Here, it’s important to make a crucial point. Beginners often think that sailing close to shore is safer. In reality, that’s not the case—quite the opposite. Near the shore, there can be rocks, and there are definitely shallows. The safest place to be is farther out at sea. It’s like flying a plane—the greatest risk is during takeoff and landing. In the air, things are usually fine, and you have time to think.
We left the bay and moved far enough away from the Leros coast. Then we drifted and calmly pulled up the anchor. We had to do it this way:
The winch kept spinning and wouldn’t lock, even when we tried to turn it manually with a lever or a large screwdriver. So, we used a different tactic: we clipped a carabiner onto a chain link, tied a rope to it, and secured the other end to the mast winch. A few turns, we locked the anchor, moved the carabiner closer, and repeated.
Luckily, I have a rule—never drop the anchor just anywhere, but rather at a depth of 5 meters, with a maximum of 10. So, in the end, we only had to pull up about 6-7 meters of chain. But, to be honest, it was still quite tough and time-consuming.
With the anchor secured, we decided to deal with the winch later in our home marina. Now, where to next? Did we want to spend another night, knowing we’d have to haul the anchor up manually again? After some discussion, we agreed—no, we didn’t. That meant heading home to Samos.
Our route passed by the island of Agathonisi. It’s a pity we couldn’t visit it this time. But since it’s the closest to Samos, I’ll definitely make it there another day.
On this stretch of the journey, we encountered dolphins! Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a picture. At that moment, *Ganesh* was maneuvering between two fishing boats according to maritime rules, so there was no time for a photo. And when the pod of dolphins passed under the hull, I switched the engines to neutral to avoid injuring them with the propellers.
But now we know where they live. The next island adventure and the dolphins will be waiting for us on our next voyage.
Entering our now-familiar Samos Marina was incredibly challenging. The wind had shifted and was blowing strongly from astern as we turned between the two entrance beacons. As usual, dusk was setting in. With the help of the marina staff, we managed. The boat was finally in place.
One last thing. Amidst all this adventure, we nearly overlooked the most important and exciting realization. Do you know which island I personally find the most beautiful and interesting, the one truly worth exploring?
Of course, the best Greek island is our home—Samos!
The greenest, the one with the richest history and fascinating landmarks. In the end, it’s even better that we have an extra day here!
See you tomorrow. Tomorrow, we’ll reflect on the entire journey.
