Greek Island Hopping

Sailing with Peter Sommer Travels on an archaeological tour

The weather and sea state is always changeable in Greece.  Hours before whilst crossing from Patmos to Leros. Our rigging began to groan in rhythm with the sea; outside the shelter of the Islands a rolling sea had enveloped ‘Almira’. Although our sails held us steady our hull rocked back and forth, a motion that was not uncomfortable.

I’ve always hated ferries in a blow! they pivot all over the place! A yacht sail stops sideways motion and makes life on board more comfortable. Standing next to the wheel I’m told by our skipper “Yachts plain rock where motorboat rock & roll.” His gyrating hand motions depicting a motorboat soon convinced me, the merits of a sailing boat in a confused sea.

We’re heading for Lakki a town on the southwest coast of Leros, where its deep-water harbour was the strategic location for sheltering capital ships during World War Two.

Whilst on this sailing Archaeological tour of the Greek Island I found Henrich Hall (Our guide) a real source of additional information that far surpassed his archaeological subject.

For example…On 12 November 1943, after almost fifty days of air strikes, a German invasion fleet landed troops at Pandeli Bay, near to Leros town. This was called ‘The Battle of Leros’ and considered one of the last German invasion victories of World War Two. The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean drew heavily on this historical event.

“For further information visit Cultural tours in Greece

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Tags: alistair maclean, almira, archaeological tour, Archaeology, guns of navarone, peter sommer, sailing, world war two, yacht