Our plan was to do a clockwise circuit of the Ionian, running down the mainland, across to the Peloponnese and back up the islands. After Mitika our next stop was Petalas on the mainland, our longest journey for a while at 20nm. Once we were south of Kalamos a F6 blew up off the land hiting us at about 30 degrees and making life uncomfortable for a while. It only lasted half an hour and we were back to no wind. Eventually it built enough for us to sail and we managed a whole 7nm, the furthest we’ve sailed in Greece! There are lots of small, uninhabited islands to look at on the way and shearwaters skimmed and bobbed around us. A lot of fish farms too, but all close to shore so not a hazard.
Shearwater has lift off
The lagoon of Petalas has depths up to 10m close to the island, a huge space for anchoring in, shallowing off and becoming marshy towards the mainland. The holding was great, even through some gusts of 25 knots. The problem was that the marshy water was mossie paradise.
The laggon behind Petalas isle
Although they seemed to be a particularly stupid and slow moving breed of mossie that didn’t bite much, it was still irritating having them flitting around us and there was an occasional biter. They gathered in swarms on our shade netting as soon as we put a light on and on our second night we had to retreat to the aft cabin early to escape them. Our aft cabin is like an airlock which is sealed against flying pests with net curtains although some do still sneak through.
Also enjoying the lagoon was a squadron / pod / scoop of pelicans bobbing around in the shallows. With Anne for company I paddled over in the kayak for a closer look.
There was no internet access in the anchorage (we use Wind as our provider) although we had a signal on the outside of the island on the way down. We considered climbing up the hill on the island to see if we could get a signal but it looked to be covered in scritchy-scratchy plants and it was too hot for long trousers. The vulture’s cave mentioned in the Greek Waters Pilot didn’t have any vultures in residence when we were there, but it was a very large cave.
The Pelicans of Petalas (thank you Anne for the photo)
Sailing Stuff
2nd August: Mitika to Petalas: 19nm travelled (7nm sailed)
Weather: dry, sunny, light winds
Position: 38 23.9’N 21 06.56’E
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