Cookies and Claytons

Michael photographer extreme!!




Cap'n Buck breaking the world free diving record.... Yeah right!"









Our handsome Cap'n Buck in his element!




We have 5 days with 6 people, (Deb and Greg Cook and Michael and Fran Clayton) on board and then continue on with Deb and Greg for a further two and a half weeks.

Unfortunately we have to sort out the problem with the cars on our main sail track and the first day is spent attending to this delicate and fiddly job. It takes all three boys all day and it is with huge relief that we head out on the morning of Thursday 24 September for the start of our holiday.

The first part of our cruise takes in a repeat visit to our favourite island of Nisyros with a stop for the newly tagged (by Fran) Dom Perignon Dip at Yiali! Michael has the latest Canon camera with an additional casing, which is designed for underwater photography, so we now have some amazing underwater shots taken here. We have so often said how great it would be to record this underwater experience, so are very thrilled.

Fran the beautiful Mermaid captured on film for our memories.



Who is eating who? Octopus V Michael..at Aphrodite Restaurant on Nisyros... What a great place to eat!



This time in Nisyros we visit Mandraki in the morning. Michael and Richard spend ages building their own tuna lure in the fishing shop. They use lots of gear and start to get a little worried about the price.... 6 Euro later and its not a problem! Do we catch any fish? ....

Stopping for coffee we check out the photographic studio on the waterfront and purchase some local music, which is haunting and lovely. The Archeological Museum and the Monastery are closed in the afternoon, so we have never seen inside them. They are truly impressive. We then have a chance encounter with an English resident of the island who kindly points the way for us to walk for 20 minutes uphill through the terraced grassy slopes above Mandraki to the Greek Castle. So off we go, to discover a fantastic example of a castle built with massive stones and amazing skill, dating back to well BC. Many of our best experiences are the result of serendipity like this.

Climbing up and discovering the Greek Castle above Mandraki...



We possibly linger a little too long, but Mandraki is a nice place to linger in.



Again the scooter riding all over Nisyros...


By the time we return to the boat the storm clouds are building and rain is threatening. We have still not covered the other attractions ie the Black Pearl Beach, Emporios and Nikkei, plus the crater. Richard leads the team and off they go. Pippy bails and gets some dinner started which is a good thing as everyone returns a few hours later, having seen most of it on a whistle stop tour but in the end been stalled by the freezing cold wind on the approaches to Nikkei, high up on the edge of the crater.

Dinner on board is a fun and raucous evening where the other boats on the pier must wonder what we are up to, such is the laughter emanating from SY Matelot.

Cap'n Buck getting the treatment....



Many quips from Cheeky Boy... (You had to be there!)


...and much later...!


We must move on and lay a course the next morning for the Datca Peninsular and a compulsory stopover at the ancient city of Knidos on the very end. A NW breeze provides great sailing and we soon drop anchor in the harbour, where the ancient amphitheatre provides a backdrop for lunch....

.... a bit of snorkelling and more underwater photography.



Palamutbuku is our destination for an overnight stop and we are just in time to bag one of the last available spaces with lazy lines on the northern side.

The girls discuss the finer points of mooring Med style

This charming and peaceful place, with its waterfront lined with Tamarisk trees and beach of uniform smooth round stones, is always a great place to visit.


Altan at Merhaba Restaurant was a bit off his peak on this night as his wife who helps him in the restaurant, had taken the night off to go to a family wedding.

We think Fran managed to console him a little.



27 September 2009

Sadly, we have to say goodbye to Fran and Michael and intend to sail back to Kardamena today so they can catch their flight the next morning. Conditions look fresh so we start the day with two reefs in the main and are soon tacking out towards Nisyros in 25 knots. Before long the wind appears to swing into the west so we are hopeful of laying Kardamena (on the south eatern side) easily.

This plan is short lived as we close towards Kos Island and the wind screams over the high peaks, making it more practical to sail further but lay in to Kos Marina (North Eastern end). We are now in conditions gusting 38 knots and sail on port tack well over towards Bodrum before we can tack over and head for Kos Marina.


The final and fantastic sailing back to Kos with Michael clinging to the foredeck taking a video of the action! Phew it was good to see him safely back in the cockpit!


Deb screaming “This is fantastic!! Isn’t it fantastic? Can’t believe we are here!...as we smash our way through steep seas in close to 40 knots!......The look on Greg’s face as he helms us powering into the wind and waves.

SY Matelot performs really well in the conditions and is still averaging 7 knots with 2 reefs and a well rolled genoa.




Kos Marina is a welcome destination with helping hands to get us into our berth in the gale and hot showers all round.

A great five days and some wonderful lifetime memories have been forged. Our only regret is that everyone declined our challenge in the game of “Take Two” knowing we had been coached by the all time greats Jess and Pippa!

Matelot now heads out with just the four of us on board looking for some more adventure!