Can answering such a question be named either obsolete or cool? Well after a conservative and reluctant approach few years ago i cannot admit that i have turned to a true believer.

Ok, theory is great and online approach on the matter seem cool, how about getting to know things in a hands on approach then? Having the chance to step on a sail cargo ship nowadays is not something found often hence you cannot miss it once appearing. Recently the unique Brigantine ‘TRES HOMBRES’ called at Boca Chicca in Dominican Republic to load her last part of organic cargo bound to Europe, a chance to visit her could not be lost whatsoever.

The 32m wooden hull, built in Germany back in 1943 as a minesweeper and converted only recently to sail cargo, visited Dominican Republic as her last one of Caribbean Ports on her annual round between North Europe and Caribbean. Captain Artur Petrie and his crew were happy to brief us on this different cargo ship and show us around how can cargo be moved across an ocean under sail only.

She can carry up to 50m3 or 40MT of dry cargo on her sole cargo hold that once in view of stuck barrels, sacks and boxes cannot but find yourself in a Hollywood movie scenery or a live museum if you prefer. Can cargo be moved across an Ocean alike in 2025? Yes it can and seen it differently, why couldn’t it?

In actual terms she is a respectively small cargo ship, sailed by 15 men and women half of which are being paid as a permanent crew and half of that pay for training themselves in real traditional heavy sailing environment.

She has her proud dedicated partners to collaborate with, that book her cargo space to move their products in the most efficient environmental wise way and this is not marketing view but a true belief in values. She is ran sustainably and traditionally all along, without any electric run device onboard apart of the bridge electronics and an emergency pump. No autopilot, no propulsion engine, no pumps, no gear, It is all hand driven..

 

And is she profitable? well it seems that she is if she continues to run this business for the last 18 years completing the 16th round across Atlantic while as well moving cargo internally between European ports in the meantime.

Returning back to my Mediterranean background and reality i once again consider the option to run such a thing in my home waters as my grandfather did half a century ago.

The difficulty level presume would be multiplied as apart of the special sailing wind related restrictions met in Aegean Sea, someone would have to face the monster of bureaucracy and hostility against anyone, that Greek status is famous for.

So what could we conclude after this special visit?

Firstly a huge bravo and hats off to those unique people that dared to turn this in reality succeeded to the ones running her under such conditions, it is pure seamanship guys.

Then the dreamer’s decease hits and somewhere there typing has to stop if you don’t want to remain in history for promises made and not turned to actions.

For the time being, TRES HOMBRES is underway to the Azores bound to Amsterdam, fair seas Capt Artur, may we cross routes again in sight one of another..

Time flies and we are already close to the end of 2021 which in reality was our ‘normal’ start up first season under somehow what a named return to normality. Frankly speaking the season was not exactly like a normal one in terms of guests flow and regular arrivals as things kept changing while time was passing.

It also took us one more month than expected to commence operations as Tourism in Greece opened by the end of May and our first guests boarded us in June which was also a delay in the whole scene, nonetheless from there and on things moved somehow well, Greece and Paros saw a high number of visitors and respectively the Yin Yang Concept was chosen as a sea day trip in Paros by a decent number of them.

The feedback we received in verbal or written comments was more than enthusiastic and we cannot but thank them all for their kindness to acknowledge and appreciate our effort that in return satisfied and fulfilled them all. Guests from last year, others recommended by our previous ones or brand new ones boarded the Yin Yang for a half or full day at sea and only left fully pleased after a superb satisfactory relaxed day at sea.

We hosted all kinds of people from many different countries, French American Dutch and German families, British Italian or Spanish group of friends, honeymooners or even solo travelers that all wanted to spend a day at sea. It was fascinating to speak and host every day a different group of people that all hopped to see our magnificent shore and the close by islands from our deck.

What we decide to do and our guests come to enjoy is the result of a long difficult road of hard work, personal commitment and endless will to succeed. Our choices in every little thing that compile the overall outcome aim to make the Yin Yang Concept a truly unique one like no other similar experience. So when we return at Pisso Livadi after a day at sea it cannot but make us proud to shake hands with people facing us with a shiny deep smile full of gratitude and pleasure willing to return at the first chance.

By providing different options to choose from we offer our guests the choice to find what matches them better and respectively become not just an option to choose from but a special one that can adjust to many different preferences. In reality our mindset is made to not only offer a great product to potential clients but further moving with this to offer something much better than the average that goes beyond the anticipated. Sincerely speaking this is not a matter of competition with others but a self-development bet that never ends where the only one to compete with is our own self.

So what did we learn from our performance this season?

We were happy to conclude that our vision was one that proved to be properly focused and successful, our choice to serve our guests honestly with care and attention in a well-organized set up was recognized and worked while our constant adjustability to evolving conditions brought the desired acknowledgment. We came to recognize that by listening and trying to fulfill expectations and wishes we managed to not only satisfy our guests but gain their trust and appreciation, maybe one of the highest achievements a start-up can celebrate.

Our guests choose us not because we are the most cost effective ones-which we are not- but because we offer a bunch of quality elements in a unique combination that makes us something completely different from ordinary products. A sailing vessel like no other full of wood and varnish that distinguishes itself from any other and becomes an attraction to the eye generating dreams to sail with in a blue sea. A true sailing experience in privacy where the sun drenches its magnificent light while our guests enjoy relaxed on our deck the hiss of the wind and the smell of the open sea where altogether create an experience that cannot be described in words. A constantly upgraded lunch or dinner menu that has never let anyone down but filled up appetite in the highest of degree either in quality or quantity. Superb spots hidden by crowds that are only reached by the sea and customized schedule that adjusts to our guests taste in order to fully optimize the experience all hosted by highly experienced professionals in cruise and mega yacht industry  that do not compromise with nothing less but the best for their guests.

Looking back the months that passed it would be a lie to say that it was easy and smooth as it was not, unforeseen obstacles that popped up when not expected, last minute changes and requests that had to be dealt with, anticipated fatigue that had to be handled and many others, all of which surrounded by an ongoing pandemic created the scene where we operated at.

It has been difficult and took more than hard work to make it but we did it and it worked, even though we started late and had to seize our operations earlier than our will, we managed to establish the Concept in a demanding market with success, being recognized and considered as one of the highest quality choices in the island and this makes us feel that all this effort and hard work are being done for the correct reasons.

We have great plans for the future despite the odds and instable days we are still going through, we remain optimistic and positive as we truly believe that dreams visions and mostly purposeful endeavors come to pay off in the end, not necessarily in financial terms but higher ones as of serving the community with offering something that is worth its value which will make people’s life better while preserving the environment we live at.

2022 we are preparing for a year to thrive, see you then.

Diving in Paros is one of the most exciting activities you could experience while in the island. Our partner party Paros Divers offers private and semi-private dives in groups of maximum 4 divers, PADI & IANTD Certified Courses (taking place in private) and the prices include training material, all necessary diving equipment, diving insurance and certification. They are open March to November. Are you ready to discover more?

According to Greek mythology, Amphitrite was one of the fifty Nereids. They were the nymphs worshiped as goddesses of the calm sea. Amphitrite according to Hesiod, was the daughter of Nereus and Doridas, one of the most beautiful Nereids, and Poseidon the god of the sea of rivers and fountains fell in love with her when he saw her dance and marry her. After her marriage to Poseidon, Amphitrite became queen of the sea and was called Poseidonia. Triton and several nymphs were born from Poseidon and Amphitrite. The sailors and the statues of Amphitrite were adorned by many ancient temples. She was the female personification of the sea the mother of whale fish and dolphins. She was often depicted holding the trident, a power she acquired when she became Poseidon’s wife.

The Aegean region and especially, the area of the Central Cyclades Islands comprised extended land fields at 420,000, 340,000, and 20,000 years before present (during the ice maxima of the Marine Isotope Stages 12, 10 and 2), when the climate was cold and the sea level was lower. This means that the Amphitrite Cave was functioning as a dry cave at these periods with an active secondary deposition of speleothems. The cave entrance which lies at a small depth and the geotectonic regime (Central Aegean Sea) characterized by subsidence, supports the location of Amphitrite at the vadose zone, only during the cold climatic periods and up to the re-establishment of warm climate and the sea level regaining.

​The cave of Amphitrite is located on the SW side of Paros, amid a cluster of small islands. Amphitrite is the only known submarine cave in the Aegean sea and specifically in the Cyclades cluster. Its entrance is at -6m deep. Upon entering, there is a small cavern that reflects just a small fraction of the cave’s real beauty. Amphitrite has a very impressive decoration, with beautiful stalactite and stalagmite material enveloped in a delicate white sand veil. Amphitrite has 2 main lines. Line A is about 250m with a maximum depth of -24m and average depth at -17m. Line B about 150-180m and the maximum depth of -50m reaches. The cave has a steady temperature of 17-19 degrees Celsius all year round. In its depths, the diver will encounter a magnificent decoration, as the Amphitrite was a dry cave before 8.000-9.000 years ago. At -50m there are animal bone remains, probably from a turtle.

Paros Divers opened for its first season in summer 2017. We are a dive center that prides itself on offering safe, personal, and unforgettable diving experiences to our clients.

We offer only private cave dives & courses.

For visiting and diving in Amphitrite cave, please contact us via email: parosdivers@yahoo.com

amphitritecave.com

Amphitriti Cave (Line A) Paros, Greece

COVID Free Destinations: Will it be safe to travel normally this summer?

One of the main concerns during those weird days that we are living is how can we safely enjoy what we mostly love in our vacation and indeed until normality returns as a concept in our routine, the struggles arisen from pandemic will make our lives difficult the least.

It cannot be but a common assumption that what used to be the norm for the whole of our lives until a year ago seems to be rare in the coming and even deeper future, socializing been one of the most hampered of our functions and routines. This subsequently seen from a wider perspective influences the way we live apparently in a negative form.

Socialising even with close by friends and family has become difficult if not dangerous itself as even finding venues and sites to enjoy each other company appears to be a hazardous idea. Restaurants, pubs, bars or even public spaces are being focused as a dangerous place to be and this in return pushes us to remain restricted from living happily on top of other already banned norms we have lost from this unpleasant situation. So despite internationally massive vaccination there still seems to be a long way until this nightmare will be forgotten while living with the consequences of this horror will possibly be a thing that we have to learn to live with.

On the other hand no one can remain ‘imprisoned’ even if this might be the right thing to do at his own house forever. Clear skies, fresh air and the sense of free space around are essential for human beings, if it was not maybe imprisonment and deprivation of personal freedom would not be the punishment for the most of crimes throughout this world.

Travel to Greece: One of the safest destinations to visit in Europe in 2021

On the tail of this depressive year there seems to be a slight light in the tunnel for this summer, Greece as a famous and beloved destination has decided to open itself to tourism from mid-May therefore, we prepare ourselves to welcome all people who wish to enjoy our unique land and sea.

But is it safe to have a holiday at this time and in the coming future someone will consider, will there be safe corners to truly enjoy the restricted time given for a vacation? As a resident of the special island of Paros and someone involved in the hospitality business I can reply affirmatively yes. Paros with the variety of options to choose from can be a safe place to spend your holidays as there are safe while wonderful places to be and have a great time this summer.

Starting from residence options there are numerous sites to stay at from classy hotels to more budgeted options or nice villas by the sea like Yin Yang Villa or Guesthouse, there are options to choose from where protocols are being kept and congestions avoided. Paros offers a variety of beaches to choose from and this in combination with fresh air and space around cannot be but a preferred way to spend a day when there. Picturesque dinning venues around the island most of in open verandas and patios will provide the visitor with the possibility to enjoy local cuisine in our lovely landscape without being packed as in a crowded destination.

Covid-Safe Vacation with Sailing in Paros

But the safest way to have a great day in the island with your family and friends travelling with you is to take a private sailing tour at sea. The Yin Yang concept offers half and full day cruises around Paros south coasts and surround islands where your fellows can have the most of an unforgettable experience in comfort and style but most of all safely.

Without compromising your leisure and hygiene a daily sailing tour with us will offer you the most of an island day while enjoying local specialties and amazing views rejuvenated and refreshed on our deck.

Fresh air in the open deck under our sails and shinning Aegean light will make things much better than elsewhere, snorkeling in pristine waters and sunbathing afterwards will make you feel amazingly relaxed and pleased, we are here to take care of it all and have committed ourselves in delivering excellent moments at sea. With a maximum capacity of 10 guests on board and without any other contamination with crowds and potentially susceptible places to be, our deck cannot but be one of the safest places to be from every aspect.

Our professionalism and experience in hospitality at sea will be the booster to join us and offer yourself one of the most special experiences in Paros.

So if you are thinking how your days at Paros can be relaxing, enjoying nonetheless safe and fearful a day or more at sea with us will pay off and you can get an added value in your so desired vacation.

The Yin Yang Sailing Yacht

I am almost sure that the Yin Yang Yacht has been named as such since her launching in 1982 carrying this name all her life.

She is a Formosa 46’’ Ketch made in Taiwan on Canadian design recognised as a rather familiar silhouette in North American waters also known as Taiwan Clipper.  Legacy wants that even though hulls shapes on that model are identical the interiors are none similar to other as all those yachts were built for American Naval Officials which were based in Taiwan Navy Base while each one was ordering interior lay out to his taste.

In our case a 46’’ long keel ketch was the ideal boat to my taste, respectively this made a one-off glimpse when I discovered her for sale. When I first sailed with her in summer 2019 I was more than sure that she is what I had in my mind, so the story goes on. By October 2019 that she finished her season in Rhodes I decided to sail 170nm to Paros single handed to better know her. During the several adventures that came along after this trip and the ones until she reached Syros Dockyard,  I can say for sure that there is actually a bond and a form of relationship between a sailor and his boat.

For me the Yin Yang reflects the eternal desire towards sailing and the sea as well as my getaway into a world where I operate and feel free. I know that this is my home, once I find myself surrounded by the wide deep blue sea either under the Aegean blue sky drenched by the unique sunlight or gazing the stars and moon at night, sensing the sea from the deck of my boat.

Yin Yang has a uniqueness that distinguishes her from ordinary sailing yachts. Her unbalanced in height wooden masts in a Ketch lay out, her teak deck and interior, her slim lines make her classy and cosy the same time. Her bowsprit clearly extending over the stem, her angled mirror shape stern that gently ends in waterline and her curvy midship sides are so equally balanced together that cannot allow the glazing eye bypass her.

When all her sails are deployed and she gently lists to the leeward, she generates a sense of rigidness and safety to all onboard whiles she smoothly makes way through the water. Her motion on the water is gently and her reactions to the waves are of a bluewater yacht that was made for sea.

The Yin Yang Idea

The concept of the ‘Yin Yang Concept’ came to my mind when I started shaping the wider idea of uniting myself, the Yacht and its use. My personal life view has been formed around my experiences and influences along with my sensitivities and principles on this life and subsequently its very purpose.

The idea of balance and fullness that the Yin Yang reflects match perfectly with my life perspective especially in an environment with close contact to nature and the deep blue sea.

Paros Island like most South Aegean Islands is not famous for its rich plantation and deep forests; to the contrary locals  are not offended when someone peak on us for the dry rock landscape by praising as tallest plant the parsley. The scenery of the island is dry with low plantation combined with rocky plane cliffs that either end alike to the sea or form bays that embrace sandy beaches. The water is crystal clear and this can easily be verified by having a look while snorkelling or even diving, the sea life, waiting to be discovered.

The Cycladic Panorama as I love to call it, comprises of simplicity and there lies its very uniqueness. Pure nature, mild and wild shaped by the constant breezes and warm sun in summers, an evolving landscape presenting all spectrum of colours palette in spring and fall ending in cold but clear windy winters.

Conceptualising the Concept

All of those together cannot but be perfectly balanced to my eyes as the Yin Yang idea signifies. My personal approach in life, one in parallel to nature’s pace with deep respect to environment’s rhythm away from rush and anxiety comes to blend with the perfect yacht that takes you there.

As I have spent my whole life at sea most of it related to passenger shipping ending in specializing on the hospitality sector of cruise industry, I felt that all those around, inside and beyond me make perfect sense with the idea or the concept if your prefer.

I came across envisioning an experience that would be worth to share with Paros Island visitors hence the Yin Yang Concept materialised from a fluid spectrum of ideas to a real experience that people can share and enjoy for themselves when joining the Yin Yang.

The Yin Yang concept has taken shape and life; it will not be but pure pleasure allowing me to be your host for a trip towards natural and spiritual senses along the landscape of my beloved island.

Sharing my life view under the blue sky, sailing the blue sea over Alan Watts wisdom will make an experience that will be worth every moment.

Cannot but wait to take you out there