Away to the Ionion

C. Matapan

First Mate sailing flat out

Porto Kayio

Porto kayio

We are now enroute around the Peloponnese, having departed Porto Heli for an anchorage just west of Cape Malea at Elafonisos Is, then on across to Porto Kayio near C. Tairanon also known as C. Matapan. This was the site of a major WW11 naval battle in which five Italian ships were sunk by an allied force including HMA Ships Perth, Stuart and Vendetta. Sobering to think of that day as we sailed in bright sunshine on a calm sea. Then we made our way up to kalamata, a small city with not much to recommend it. However we were able to travel by road across some spectacular high mountain scenery to ancient Mystras where the remains of a fortified village cling precariously to a precipitous mountainside. From Kalamata on to the beautiful village of Pilos on the west coast.

Return Aboard

At Porto Heli


Porto Heli town

Kilada

Underway at last

At the lifting dock

We`re off

Life on the hard

On the hard

Jack Tar`s crew has returned aboard. After a tedious 36 hour journey Pop`s Hire Car was waiting at Athens airport and three hours later we were aboard, albeit on the hard, at Kilada. Next day we drove to Navplion and were able to recover our extended transit log from customs, surprisingly at no charge. Three days later after routine preparations we were in the water and motoring the 15 miles around the peninsula to beautiful Porto Heli where we berthed on the town quay to finish rigging and embark stores. The weather has been variable, though generally cool, so we look forward to the advent of the real summer. From where we observe, you wouldn`t know that Greece is the centre of a financial mess; GFC squared! We plan to get underway asap and to sail west around the outside of the Peloponnese and north to the Ionian.