PAGE 6 • SUMMER 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2007 • PAGE 7
FEATURED FACILITY • PRIORITY SAILING ACADEMY
ADVENTURES IN CRUISING
By Captains Dave and Carolyn Pryor continued from page 4
A
t the southern end of North
The Kyklades, or Cyclades (Circular
Carolina, the broad Cape Fear
Islands to us), are southeast of Athens
River bends around islands and
and a longer, more open ride. If there is
three lighthouses before opening out into
a moderate or heavy wind from the
the Atlantic Ocean. Beautiful sandy
northern quadrant, the fetch can create
beaches and warm ocean water attract
decent waves. The Cyclades were high
tourists from near and far. This vacation
on our priority list, but with light winds,
destination is also a wonderful place to
some of us preferred to skip it due to
learn to sail and cruise. It has extensive
the amount of motoring involved. It’s
protected inland waters and the 50-mile
around 50 nautical miles from Idhra to
Long Bay, which offers unobstructed
Kea, for example, so without an early
coastal sailing. The heart of the area is
start and good winds, you’re listening to
the city of Southport, a charming
the diesel throb. But that’s what one of
waterfront community with a rich history
our crews wanted to do, and badly
Photo by Capt. Stephen Glenn Card
of explorers, pirates and blockade
enough that after a huddle we decided
runners. Southport is the base for Priority
to split up for a few days. On “Escapar,”
Greece has spectacular view along some of its waterfront tavernas. Author and photographer,
Sailing Academy, one of ASA’s newest
everyone preferred to sail even if it
Stephen Card, along with his crew, ate at this one and loved it.
affiliate schools. People can sail year-
meant staying along the Peloponnisos.
round here, and any season can be a
We each did our own thing after the first few nights Nescafe: this is a culture that knows coffee. Later,
good time for lessons.
together, and we loved it, meeting up for dinner and waterfront dining al fresco was exquisite.
Captains Dave and Carolyn Pryor, owners of Priority Sailing Academy, started their
storytelling upon our near simultaneous return to Athens.
Idhra (Hydra) is a must-see. A small but very tall island
teaching careers in an effort to help local youth and their families.
The Owners
Another thing to get used to is Mediterranean mooring,
further south. Take the long hike up the mountain to the
Captains Dave and Carolyn Pryor have over 100 years of
or Med moor for short. It’s the most common way to
monastery, be greeted by monks, and look down over the
sailing experience between them. They have sailed
For more information
berth a boat in Greece, usually along a breakwater or
Peloponnisos and surrounding Islands. It’s quaint, has
extensively on inland lakes and the Great Lakes, and
wharf with stone blocks or concrete, and bollards ashore.
great swimming off the rocky shore with built in ladders,
raced competitively in many yachting events. When they
www.prioritysailing.com or 910.448.0369 One anchors up almost on the other side, then lays out
and no cars!
were ready to leave Michigan winters, they chose
plenty of chain while backing down to the breakwater or
Southport as their ideal home base. After searching for
wharf. Cruisers from adjacent boats are very forthcoming
Poros, between Aegina and Idhra, has a gorgeous
Datso. The protected waters of the Wildlife Recreation
their ultimate cruising boat, they bought a Tayana 52
in helping to take lines to their own boats or ashore.
panoramic harbor. Sights include a monastery with
Area, the Intracoastal Waterway and Dutchman Creek are services open to the public, including excellent cantors,
and set sail for Southport in 1999. Carolyn, a clinical
excellent areas to practice boat handling and sailing
social worker, established a program to help local youths
Expect to walk across several other boats or have them
and an archaeological site high on a hill, both doable in
techniques. The salt marsh and forest areas are
and families. In 2002, the Pryors started offering sailing
cross you. It’s how Greece is done, especially in the peak
one taxi tour in part of an afternoon or morning. It also
beautiful places to watch for dolphins and birds. As a
charters, lessons, and home-based counseling for
charter months of summer. However, we found it to be
has great restaurants and cafes.
bonus, students may serve as crew on the Carolina Gale
children, their “priority one.” Priority Sailing also
very civilized and a great way to meet people from all over.
when custom cruises are booked. Our one stop along the mainland was Epidavros, a very
provided adventure-challenge training for business
teams. As their customers expressed an interest in
Porpoises were the highlight of marine life, with no fish
small port along the Peloponnisos, close to Athens. It
becoming certified by the American Sailing Association,
Cruising Locales caught and nothing else spotted except for those who
has more of a local flavor, both in the food and
Carolyn became an ASA instructor. They established the
Datso and Carolina Gale are docked side by side in
snorkeled. There was one resident barracuda at Idhra,
surroundings. The highlight was a morning taxi ride to an
Priority Sailing Academy in 2006.
Southport’s Old Yacht Basin, a postcard-pretty setting,
right in the swimming area, but way too small to be a
ancient amphitheater and an active archaeological site.
with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Oak
threat. Waters were very comfortable.
Our friends on Azul got to Kea in the Cyclades. It’s a
Classes
Island Lighthouse. Several great restaurants, fun
shopping, the Maritime Museum, a library, churches and
A few highlights of places visited are in order, all but one
mountainous island, and the closest of the Cyclades to
Priority Sailing Academy’s most popular class is
the post office are all within walking distance of the
being islands. We began with Aegina, a few hours from
the mainland. Azul liked it so much they stayed for two
Introduction to Sailing. Visitors to the area sail on the
Yacht Basin. Sailing students and charter guests have
Athens. This is a great first stop. It has the whole idyllic
nights. They reported wonderful food and a tranquil
Pryors’ blue-water cruiser, the 52’ Carolina Gale.
the option of sleeping aboard or at a nearby bed and
thing going on, while being a short run to begin or end a
atmosphere, enjoying a day sail on the second day. On
Typically, they sail along the south-facing Brunswick
breakfast inn, beach cottage or hotel.
cruise. It’s a large island with too much to explore in one
their ride back, they were escorted by a pod of porpoises
County beaches, where the sunsets and moonrises over night’s stay. Wandering around the waterfront was on the approach to Athens.
the ocean are magnificent. Students get to see what it’s
If Basic Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter classes are
exciting. We had a frappe at a local café, with a priest
like to sail on a sturdy and responsive boat. The Pryors
taken separately, they are held in local waters. Students
doing the same with some secular friends. Next thing we And we all liked it so much, we’re planning another trip
then assess students’ interests, abilities and learning
may travel by boat to Bald Head Island, Wilmington or
knew, he was presiding over the swearing in of the new this fall. Perhaps some of you readers will join us!
style, and recommend ways they can reach their sailing
Little River. Bald Head is accessible only by boat and is a
mayor from a balcony overlooking the crowd on the
goals.
breathtaking resort.
waterfront. A frappe is actually Nescafe with a frothy You can reach Captain Steve and New York Sailing Center at
head that just won’t stir into the coffee, no matter how 718.885.0335, or at www.startsailing.com, where you can see
Basic Keelboat lessons are taught on a Catalina 25,
continued on page 10
you try. It’s very popular in Greece. Don’t smirk at the more photos and video clips from this trip.
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