TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

An unexpected northeasterly picks up at sunrise and slowly veers to the south as we creep towards Atokos and on to Meganisi. By mid afternoon we are reduced to motorsailing up the Strait, meeting Norna Biron off Nidri, then rounding up in to Vlicho bay

The breeze picks up at breakfast and we make good progress past Akra Katakolo. A brief hiatus off Akra Tripiti as a line squall covers Zakynthos then the breeze returns to carry us on until after dark. Very little wind during the night.

Left Ormos Navarinou to go north but a couple of slow offshore tacks were required to beat the WNW and pass through Steno Protis. Slow going across Kiparissiakos Kolpos during the night

Strolled into town to observe Independence Day celebrations: a parade of school children who then performed traditional dances in the square under the gaze of their parents.

Took a bus over the hill to visit Methoni. Explored the expansive remains of the castle and wandered the empty streets of a charming little town.

The winds finally deserted us in sight of Methoni. Started the engine and motored the last ten miles to reach an alongside berth in Pylos “marina” before dark.

Set off for Akra Maleas at a cracking pace, rounded the cape and ran into a monsoon. Crawled toward Kithera, found some breeze off Elafonisos and headed across Lakonikos Kolpos to gybe around the light of Akra Tainaron. Light shifty winds delayed us on the night crossing of Mesianikos Kolpos.

We enjoyed a twelve hour sleep in the shelter and security of a berth alongside the breakwater of Monemvasia “marina”. Revictualled and exchanged gas at the local shops just as on our previous visit

Put two reefs in as a squall came at us, brief showers followed, the front passed, blue sky and hot sunshine took over. We completed the passage with a beat into the inshore leeside gust zone.

Dawn found us off Poliagos, waiting for enough light to pass through Steno Kimolou, when tragedy struck: a flogging genoa sheet knocked Nicholas’ favourite blue woolly hat off his head and overboard. With a favourable forecast, we decided to press on toward Monemvasia but the wind died off Andimilos. We motored further offshore, drifted along awhile then the breeze kicked in at dusk, rising in the early hours.