Fedon

[Kinygos]

The Fedon

I travelled on the Fedon on Saturday 21/07/12.
You embark by the stern on a gangplank as the Nikos does. There is no provision for vehicles and the stern area is small; fine for luggage. There is a plush looking saloon which was locked when I embarked. I have been told that it is air-conditioned with good toilets. A young crew member obviously took pity on my age and helped me with my larger wheeled bag (containing heavy tools), which was nice of him. I suspect the weight took him a bit by surprise!

We set off at 07:30, which is early enough for the Saturday bus, and I was on the upper deck. Superficially the ferries look all the same size, but Nissos Halki is the largest, followed by Nikos Express, finally Fedon has a smaller feel than Nikos; a bit slimmer I think. sth can size this sort of thing better than me.



It felt a tad faster than the other two ferries from the start, also naturally quieter and smoother being new. It also still smells new!

As we got near to Vrak. Xera* the engines were ready for the cruising speed and the bow lifted a little. The water taxi passed us but the relative speed difference was less than 10knots. There was a bit of swell and she moved perhaps a bit more than the other two, but at that speed…

There were no dolphins, but a shoal of flying fish scattered near the bow. Nice to see baitfish this early and lovely to see the little bright blue fish with the pectoral fins (wings?) sparkling as they vibrate in the sun. It reminds me of a story told by a captain of a sportfisher in Vanuatu when he had a naive client on board. On seeing the flying fish the client said, “How long can those little birds hold their breath underwater”!

We arrived at 08:20 to moor stern on as I expected? No, we were to moor alongside in a gap about five metres longer than Fedon between Nissos Halki and Symi Fish II. Turns out he has two “Girley buttons”** and we came in sideways; a very skilful manoeuvre. There is a very narrow exit on the side with no gangplank. Everyone seemed OK with that, but for the timid it might be a problem as there is a bit of a step up to the dock. You may not have noticed but the jetty rises to the end. When I have to moor further out it is a bit of a scramble onto the jetty; easy if I can get in shore side of the water taxi. If Fedon can moor nearer to the shore the “problem” would be less.

In brief: Friendly crew, quick and well equipped. The fare was the un-subsidised €10 as on the other ferries. If you get the Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, 06:00/14:30 subsidised ferry the price is €5

* Vrak. Xera is the line of rocks just above the water roughly on a line between Theodora to the north and Tragousa to the south. (looks a bit like a crocodile!)

** The term used at my boat club (BMYC) for bow and stern thrusters! The other two ferries do not have them.

[carol]

Thanks for the info Simon, sounds good to me if it gets us there quicker and earlier on the 29/8 although being festival day I expect the ferries will be doing lots of unscheduled trips ;D

[daisy]

Sounds good to me well apart from the scramble up to the jetty especially with a couple of over stuffed suitcases ;D

[Kinygos]

Jul 21, 2012 18:31:49 GMT daisy said:

Sounds good to me well apart from the scramble up to the jetty especially with a couple of over stuffed suitcases ;D

So how did you conflate:

1) "there is a bit of a step up to the dock"

and

2) "When I have to moor further out it is a bit of a scramble onto the jetty"

to make:

Disembarking from Fedon is a bit of a scramble onto the jetty?

It may have escaped your notice, but my boat, Kinygos II, is a tad smaller than Fedon!!!!

That said, a step with no plank and a narrow door does mean that cases have to be lifted out but, as I already mentioned, the crew are very helpful; no lifting required, unless you really want to do it yourself!

The narrow exit means your case cannot be by your side when you disembark.

I do not know which orientation is their normal mode at Kamiros Skala. On the day in question there was a swell and that may have been the reason for coming alongside (to prevent rolling), on the other hand that may be the normal way of mooring.

[daisy]

Probably cos I read it on a Saturday night after a glass or two of vino ;D ;D ;D

[Liz]

T'is simples Simon ................Get a bigger boat ! ;D ;D

[Deleted]

Quote:- "sth can size this sort of thing better than me."

Keeping well out of this one thankyou. I know what side my bread is buttered on! No comments from me on a new Halki ferry.

[Kinygos]

Jul 22, 2012 20:16:10 GMT Liz said:

T'is simples Simon ................Get a bigger boat ! ;D ;D

Peekey-boo!



Who you callin' "Tiny"?

(Jetty at Kania)

[daisy]

;D ;D ;D ;D

[Di]

Fedon is, I hear, doing the Tilos transfers at the moment because the Sea Star is out of service.

[carol]

That might have just blown away my plan of crossing at 4pm but it is festival day so just maybe the ferries will be doing extra trips

[Di]

You might be lucky Carol. We were advised that the replacement ferry was finishing this week so not sure what's happening. Fedon might not have actually been the replacement ferry, it might have just been providing additional capacity (there's a nice picture of it on facebook in Tilos harbour). Arrangements with regards the Tilos transfers, at least on Wednesdays seem to be changing all the time so we're staying overnight on Rhodes (hello Hotel Lydia and going over on the Dodecanese Express on the Thursday.

[janeandtony]

Aug 11, 2012 18:14:13 GMT carol said:

That might have just blown away my plan of crossing at 4pm but it is festival day so just maybe the ferries will be doing extra trips

Fingers crossed Carol

[lisa]

I'm sure that you guys should get over there at a decent time with it being festival time. Have a fab time. x