Another Day – Another beautiful Island

We finally got out of Paros  when the meltemi was a little lighter and sea state not so bad. Before setting sail the idea is to gather all your information on the predicted winds for the next few days to a week and plan the route accordingly. This trip west across to the Peloponnisos was to be our longest passage so far and we decided to make our start point, Milos, which would mean the long leg was 80 NM (Nautical Miles). Sailing boats are lucky to average 5 – 7 knots which means the 80 NM passage at best would take 11 hours and worst 16 hours. Luckily at the moment there is enough light from 5.30am to 8.30  – one rule we have is never to arrive at an unknown harbour in darkness.

We left Paros in light winds and motor/sailed to a bay on the north of Sifnos for a quick overnight stop. The following morning we left at daybreak for Milos making our way ever westwards and away from the Meltemi which has plagued us for the last few weeks.  Milos was one of the islands I really wanted to visit. It is much more like Santorini on Thira, with the ancient village (called the Plaka) on a very high plateau and the quintessential colourful fishing villages lining the bay.

We had a busy day on the local bus to the ancient city and climbed to the top of yet another mountain to visit the church (which was not open) followed by a pleasant evening meal on the waterfront. We left at 5.30am heading straight west with the sun rising behind us for our 80 nm passage across to Monemvassia in the southern Peloponnisos. The wind was up and it was a wild wet ride with mostly 15 knots but when we were in the wind shadow of other islands it would drop to 8 kts so we put up more sail only to be overpowered when the wind would kick in again at 24+  The seas were still huge and mostly side on and the occasional rouge wave would sneak up beside us and, SLAP, send water into the cockpit. We had enough wind all day to manage a fast passage and 12 hours later  arrived safely in the harbour below the incredibly huge rock of Monemvassia. We stayed at anchor here for 3 days and took a guided tour by an archaeologist of Monemvassia castle which was fascinating.  I have created an extra page for this subject – if you are interested CLICK HERE

View of the Old Town from the Upper Town walls – Monemvassia

 

The general plan now we are on this side of the Aegean Sea is to head north for a while, then back towards Athens to pick up our next visitor, Warren and Helen Duncan on September 3rd. The weather is not performing in the usual summer weather patterns (surprise surprise ) and instead of helping us seems to be against us. We are heading north up the Peloponnisos so the SE wind is not to be found and it’s continually NW. We have to leave the anchorage before light and motor for 3 hours until the NW kicks in between 8.30 and 9.00 after this the seas chop up and it’s hard work. Makes for careful anchorage planning and some very short days which is ok when you’re not in a hurry.

We are currently as far north as we can go at Navplion and visiting the spectacular hill top fortress of Palamidi – 999 steps to access. My calf muscles are letting me know today about every 999 of them! The town is having a full moon festival tonight with free concerts in the castle and the town square and all the businesses are staying open for 24 hours. It’s a great holiday atmosphere. We’ll leave tomorrow to slowly make our way to Athens via Poros just SW of Athens over the next week in time to meet our visitors.