Greek Wreckers

Norman_E

Norman_E

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This story does not surprise me at all. When I first started sailing in Turkish and Greek waters I was told that if I ever got into difficulty in Turkish waters, the Turks would help me, but in Greek waters, the Greeks would simply wait for the wreck. My own experiece is that when short handed I am always helped in Turkish harbours, where people take lines and are generally pleased to see you. In Greek ports the only help I have ever had was from a Turkish professional skipper of a big MoBo who came on board and helped me when I had to recover and re-set my anchor after another boat had dragged it out.

It looks as if the Greeks on Zakynthos may actually have caused the wreck, and have been looting the boat since.
 
8 years ago ,when i was working on the new ferry port.one of the small tugs was on its way from the old ferry port to the new port. it passed a yacht just off the south entrance to the old port.
the yacht was in difficulties. (engine failure)and no wind.was doing the usual arms waving ,on the vhf to port control.At that time we had a flat looking over the fishing harbour and south entrance.my wife spotted the yacht and rung me on the mobile.I turned our small tug round after reaching the new port, and went back to the yacht.we towed it into the marina.(free of charge) our marine super got a right bollocking they were waiting for the yacht to ground on the breakwater,then they would send the tug and claim salvage. so rely on other yachtsmen not the authourities.
and this is not hearsay.I was disgusted.my tug skipper shrugged his shoulders and said not my problem.
 
Sailing Holidays instruction book used to say on no account call for help on the radio cause the locals would be in like flynn to get salvage!!
Stu
 
When off to pick up my car in Greece(long story) from Portugal, my Portuguese friends said " Even we think they are crooks". This story is appalling, and I am afraid sounds as if it is prob correct. It quite easy to make enemies in macho societies. I suspect he may have rubbed people up the wrong way (even inadvertantly). Difficult to think we all are in the EU.
A
 
I too would question the proportion of the 'whole story' we're reading here.
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....on the western side of the isle of Zakynthos...
...a deliberate attempt to wreck the boat...
... the 48-hour forecast predicted heavy winds...
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IMHO if you choose to anchor/moor your boat off Zakinthos' WEST coast when heavy weather's being forecast, then there's nobody to blame but yourself; I cannot think of a single sheltered spot to moor in along that whole stretch of coast?

As an aside and consider me a cynic by all means, but besides this one, wasn't there another expensivly refitted charter yacht which was recently reported as coming to grief off Brest and a third somewhere off either the Bahamas or Barbados? It appears that these recent and post 'credit crunch' times are not being kind to such vessels.
 
You english do not understand the world i think. is it not natural to gain from the death of another animal. i notice that it is always english that arrange a tow for other forein yachts with dificulties. you are veery nice people but you do not understand the ways of the eastern med countries. i once saw the film zorba the greek in which old women are going into the house of a dead old woman and they take everything. my english boss was disturbed but i knew that this was the natural way here. when we went onto a sand bank in killini last month nbody helped but they were only 50metres away and there was no wind. it is the way. you must realise that not all the world is like english.
Kentrina
 
[ QUOTE ]
is it not natural to gain from the death of another animal.
...
you must realise that not all the world is like english.

[/ QUOTE ]It is indeed natural, for an animal.
Fortunately not all the world is like Greece either.
 
I saw Mark on Thursday (he's one of our customers) and he is absolutley shattered by what has happened to him. I know he put several years of hard work into that yacht and was so proud when it was completed, now it looks like its all gone as all his money and hopes were put into the restoration.
 
That article is appallingly uncritical. Reading the facts, rather than the emotive issues of a vessel being wrecked, I see a story of poor seamanship, a consequent wreck, and a shower of blame on others for the consequences of the wreck.

How come the vessel is 'moored' off the west coast of Zante, one of the most exposed lee shores in the Ionian?

What was he doing on a mooring, anyway, with that size of vessel? Most moorings along that coast are temporary summer moorings, designed only to hold small day tripper vessels on fine weather excursions.

How come he didn't attempt to leave earlier, when NW gales were first forecast? Not enough crew for the conditions? It sounds as though he was the only effective person aboard.

How come a 'pristine boat' with two one year old batteries is unable to start its engine?

[ QUOTE ]
It looks as if the Greeks on Zakynthos may actually have caused the wreck

[/ QUOTE ] Bearing in mind the points above, how on earth can you justify that statement? You obviously have a very strong anti-Greek prejudice.
 
Something is not quite right here, there has to be more to this. I have had Greeks look after my boat and drive all the way to my house to take me down to the boat when I first moved here. The Greeks can be a proud but friendly nation, I have had things done for me, and all offers of payment have been refused.
Like others have said, why west Zakinthos?
 
Sure they were Greek and not Albanian?
There are a lot of problems with Albanians in Greece.

"Fortunately not all the world is like Greece....", a bit unfair to tar the whole country and its nationals on the back of one story that we don't know all the facts of isn't it?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Like others have said, why west Zakinthos?


[/ QUOTE ] Well, actually it's not W Zante. The photo shows the yacht aground off Alikes, a fairly busy north facing holiday resort on the E coast. It's exposed to the regular northerly winds (except in the harbour) and quite a surf builds up on the shallow shelving beach when the regular afternoon F4 to 5 builds up.

The harbour is used by quite big ferries, and anchoring in the sheltered area (except bows/stern to if there's room) is unpopular, since it blocks their manouevre space. Private moorings are laid (mostly for <10m craft) in the small sheltered area just south of the entrance.

Sloppy reporting . . . and not the only example.

That pink pick-up buoy . . . how would cutting a pick up buoy rope affect the issues? And how does one know it was cut, as apart from being chopped by a prop or prop cutter? Whose mooring, anyway?

The reporter didn't ask enough questions.

And Davy, I completely endorse your views on the integrity and friendliness of locals in both countries. I've sailed Greek and Turkish waters regularly since 1978, and never met any form of worrying behaviour towards legitimate activities - except a dinghy theft near Athens, and a boarding incident off Orhaniye around 20 years ago.

I have seen some pretty agressive behaviour in both countries (by the authorities) towards boats and crews suspected of smuggling (not necessarily proven), but that's another matter.
 
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