Very gusty, anchor dragged once, then wind reversed and we had to move again. Hoping to get across the next gulf before the afternoon headwind we got up at 3am, and rounded the 'entrance to the underworld', Cape Tainaron at 4.30 with a huge dark cloud sliding over the moon and a horrible sea.
Not a relaxing day, almost no wind so no sail to steady us, and always hoping we will make the shelter of some islands before the headwind. The early rise did pay off and we were well inside Nisos Skhiza before the wind came. In the end it was only 20kn, much less than yesterdays, but still nice to have beaten it. Nisos Skhiza is used by the airforce for bombing practice so we were treated to an hour of F111s or something like that screaming down to the poor innocent island and dropping bombs on it. Sometimes there wasn't an explosion so I thought it might be a little bit stuck and perhaps would fall out as they circled back over us.
We need to get up to Pilos to clear out of Greece for crossing back over the Ionian but we can do that in the morning with no headwind.
Methoni looks like another country, buildings are Italian style. Internet bar ashore, so Sabine will get some well deserved Facebook after doing some sterling work on her quadratics.
Hi, Rob&crew, comment about anchoring;Select area,and check depth,allow 1 depth plus a couple of extra fathoms,drop anchor to bottom,allow vessel to draw back until anchor has"bitten"(vessel will come head to wind, stop with a jerk and move towards the chain)immediately pay out chain to minimum of 3x the depth you are in.(Do this steadily so as it is not heaped on the anchor or the bottom)In very windy conditions you will need at least 5x depth or more.Chain in the locker is useless. If in doubt put out more. After you are settled check with a shore mark that you are in fact stationary.Depending on conditions and what the bottom is like you may have to move and try again, but this method usually works first time.
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