............now where was I? Oh yes, motoring down the channel out of Messolonghi in pursuit of Pyxis. We were on Plan 14x (rev 2 of course) frantically calling Orpheus who had left without saying goodbye. Dudley and Bernie were heading up to Levkas so we were unlikely to see them for quite while - a real shame as they had been so good helping me with my guitar playing and singing!
Anyway Plan 14x (rev 2) was
- head down the channel
- turn left
- sail for a few days
- and then decide if we go to Turkey or go back to Messi
We turned left. 2 parts of the plan complete then - and we had only been gone 20 mins. Today was Saturday and we were heading east towards the Rion bridge and into the Gulf of Corinth, bound for Trizonia - as sail of about 38.17 miles. In previous weeks we had seen many boats leaving the marina heading for the bridge, only to turn up back in the marina a few hours later due to big seas and 25knts on the nose. We however had planned it right and the wind - what there was of it - was behind us. In fact we motored on a glass like sea for 4 hours to the bridge a couple of hundred yards behind Pyxis. At the bridge, the wind filled in to the forecast level and we then had 20-25knts up the chuff. We pulled out the headsail, turned of the engine and were blown along at 6knots all the way to Trizonia.
We had considered sailing the "outside" route round the Peloponese into the Agean but the wind forecasts for the coming week were akin to the ones we saw in Ireland 2 years ago (4 separate force 8 gales in a week) so we took the whimps way out. June and Steve on Piper had headed down that way two weeks before and had got to Crete but we were not chancing it. So instead we headed east.
Half the Marina had left on Saturday as all the winter contracts were up. Half went north into the Ionian, half went down the Pelopenese and the other half was heading east - maths was never my strong point.
Our overall idea was to head towards Turkey but with quite a short sailing season this year. Over winter we had sorted out our plans for a house and are now in the process of building a new one near Cardiff (in welsh Wales!!). This requires us to be in the UK in July and August so we thought a slow sail to Turkey and then back to the UK in July for 3 months or so then back out to the sun for maybe October / November. Turkey is 400 miles away so that is 10 mile average per day for 6 weeks (ish). Today was to be 38 miles so that then gives us 3 days off!!! (ish).
So there we were, doing 6 knts under our small headsail down the channel between Trizonia and the mainland avoiding the reef. Pam had been dreading our first docking manouever of the year but even with 20 knts blowing it was a perfect demonstration of alongside parking - despite having a "new" prop (more of that in later posts). We moored up on the outside of the south breakwater - sideways on. There was plenty of room given it was early in the season. We won the race to tie up the boat with Pyxis but we then were invited for a drink with Karen and Richard and then later joined by Stuart and Jane from Alchohoo (also arrived from Messi). Two other Messi boats arrived a couple of hours later and there were another 3 Messi boats on the east breakwater.
Trizonia is a really nice place. We had a meal in one of the harbour restaurants (in the shelter from the 20knts wind) with K, R, S and J and then settled down for the night. The wind continued for 48 hours but as we were being blown off, it was very comfortable. Our first sail of the season completed successfully. Pam refused to budge on Sunday. Mandatory day off. Sat at a waterside bar for lunch watching the world go by. Did I mention it was sunny? Only 25 degrees again.
I was wearing my "Liverpool" T shirt and was acosted by a Man Utd support (Liverpool were playing Chelsea that afternoon and a defeat for Liverpool would mean Utd not winning the league). We all ended up on our boat for the evening with Chris (the Utd supporter ) his wife Louis and a couple of their friends plus K,R,S and J. Great fun.
We decided we should push on on Monday to get the best of the wind to head east so this was our last night in Trizonia. More tomorrow then but I will give Trizonia a good 8/10 - only let down by the longish walk round to the town and no water.
I want to try this one. I don't have any experience riding a boat.
Posted by: essays | 12/04/2011 at 10:06 PM