Richard and Peter at the Coast Guard office on Samothraki

Every time you tie up in a Subport in Greece, you must check in with the Coast Guard. You show passports, ship's papers, crew lists, and, most important, insurance papers. You also pay a very small fee for the overnight stay, usually only about Euros 5. The station here is small, but important, because Samothraki is close to the Turkish mainland. In the office, there is a big sign saying, "No Smoking," but the men smoke away anyway. I asked about it, and one told me, "The sign says no smoking over there, under the sign, but not here at my desk. " They were friendly to us and kept us informed about weather conditions, which can be hazardous around the island.