Ferrying in Greece 2019 Part 3
Sunday 15th September 2019
The day started with a 06.30 taxi to Rafina, which we had arranged with the house owner; we were told the ferries were all running again, which was great news. The taxi dropped us off near to the ships and we were soon joining the crowds hurrying to get on board FAST FERRIES ANDROS. The ship was absolutely packed out with passengers and we had difficulty in finding seats at first. Once we had settled, my friend could go and take some photographs of our ship and the others in the port, before we finally set sail on our first ferry trip in Greece at 07.30.
The sun was shining again, the sky was almost clear blue and the sea slightly rough but oh so much better than it had been. FAST FERRIES ANDROS edged her way carefully away from the Rafina quayside, with PAROS JET on one side of her, and SUPERFERRY on the other, and headed off with her full complement of passengers towards Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. We had Distinguished Class tickets for the Andros-Mykonos section and could move there after we left Andros. Coffee and pastry made for a welcome breakfast and time to relax and enjoy the ship and the port calls.
The ship was built in 1989 at 4,682 gross tons and it was interesting to see the markings on her funnel of perhaps when she was M/S SHINKO MARU in Japan, until 2003 when she came to Greece for Strintzis Ferries and then to Fast Ferries. She has held her present name since May 2015, with her distinctive red painted hull.
Funnel on Fast Ferries Andros
The markings on the funnel
Name of the ship
At Gavrio, Andros
Our first port of call was Andros, where we were booked to stay last night here in Gavrio. I could see the small hotel right opposite the quayside, but at least we had been able to let them know we couldn't get there because of the weather. I remember staying here on Andros a couple of years ago, and it was a delightful place to visit (see blog). It seems so appropriate to call at Andros on a ship called FAST FERRIES ANDROS.
Superferry
Stern of Superferry
My diary says we left here about 09.30 and moved into the forward lounge with our other tickets.
Breakfast, with coffee, cheese pie or pastry, and diary
Into Distinguished Class
That gave us a lot more room and views from the forward-facing windows. The sea was becoming less calm and we were soon on our way to Tinos, with its distinctive church named Our Lady of Tinos. I remember seeing pilgrims on the island many years ago, making their way up the quite steep slope to the church, many of them on their knees in a sign of devotion. Many do this on 15th August each year.
Fewer passengers after Andros
Astern of our stern was Superferry and the remains of the old breakwater
Look at the colour of the water
Then we were heading to the busy port of Mykonos, our last call on board FAST FERRIES ANDROS. As we approached the port we could see several other ferries, including the AQUA BLUE which was wallowing in the waters just off the port. My friend had intended to sail on her before we met up in Gavrio on Andros but her slow sailing speed meant her schedules had to be reduced, so it was not to be.
Paros Jet - that looks uncomfortable
That looks uncomfortable too - Nissos Mykonos
Aqua Blue rolling around
The stern of Aqua Blue
High Speed Super Express
I turned my camera and there was High Speed Super Express whizzing past us
And off she went
Passing Aqua Blue who was struggling to turn
On our approach we could see SUPERFERRY, PAROS JET, NISSOS MYKONOS, AQUA BLUE, HIGH SPEED SUPER EXPRESS whizzing past AQUA BLUE who was struggling to turn and come astern into Mykonos to pick up passengers; we could also see Le Ponant's LE BOUGAINVILLE already berthed alongside in the port which must have pleased her passengers, and then we could see MARGHERITA CH, the little local Sea Bus coming back from the old town.
Le Bougainville of Le Ponant
Maargherita Ch. the little local Sea Bus coming back from the old town
We were due in there at 11.50 but were surprised to see when we checked the length of the journey and the time of arrival that it was actually 12.55. The loading of so many passengers and vehicles, plus the state of the sea along the route, had caused the delay. We disembarked and waited in a shaded passenger area for BLUE STAR PAROS to lower her ramps for us to get on board.
Blue Star Paros on a short break before we could board
She is our next ship of the trip, whom we had already seen heading for Mykonos, so it was not a problem despite our late arrival. My friend wanted to go and photograph some of the other ferries around so I waited with the luggage and watched the world go past. It was really many cheerful people walking to or from the ferries, and many vehicles queuing to get on board. I particularly liked seeing a small pink painted car almost smothered in baskets, presumably for sale at a destination away from Mykonos.
Baskets on a little car (weaving? its way through the traffic)
Soon the ramps came down on BLUE STAR PAROS and passengers and vehicles were allowed on board about 1.50, ready for a 2.15 p.m. departure. There was the usual rush for seats, including in the on-board Goody's Burger House, but soon we were on our way back to Tinos - rough seas again - and then set off for our destination - Syros. As we were leaving the Mykonos quayside I took a picture of AQUA BLUE when she was very close to the quayside herself and was rather surprised to see her stern and ramp through a lot of spray.
Aqua Blue's stern through the spray as she came astern as we left
I could see though that two Greek seamen were standing high on the top of the ramps as they were being lowered - not allowed and it does look hazardous but it does happen.
Ships seen:at Rafina - Paros Jet, Fast Ferries Andros, Superferry,
then Nissos Mykonos, Superferry again, Paros Jet again, Aqua Blue, Le Bougainville, Speedrunner, Golden Star Ferries Super Express, Champion Jet 2, Margherita Ch., Blue Star Paros
To be continued...
