37:01.44N 22:06.34E Kalamata, Peloponnese.

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Thu 30 Aug 2012 06:48

37:01.44N    22:06.34E    Kalamata, Peloponnese.

 

Sunday, 26th August, 2012.

 

We left the quay at Pilos soon after 8 a.m.  The catamaran is still there!  The coast guard had already been out to sea and passed us on its way back.  We reefed the main and only had out a small genny as we could see the sea was looking very choppy and confused outside of the bay.  We only had six miles to Methoni or Money as the locals say until we turned east and passed by the islands of Sapientza and Skhiza.  We had hoped to stop at Methoni and anchor in the bay but the wind was still blowing 22 and 23 knots and picking up all the time so we had to carry on.  We took in the genny and we were running with the main and the wind now behind us.

 

It did not take us long to get to the first major headland or first of three fingers of the Peloponnese which we need to get around on this journey before we end up in the Aegean Sea.  Ariel performed well and we rounded the rock and turned and headed north for Koroni.  The beaches along this coast are supposed to be among the best in the Mediterranean and we were sorry we could not stop in some of these lovely bays.  In a short space of time we had lost most of the wind and we had to motor sail along the coast line to Koroni which boosts of some beautiful shoreline properties and sandy beaches.

 

We had lunch as we motored along in the beautiful sunshine.  As the breeze was very light Jim thought once we saw how beautiful Koroni looked with the castle on the cliffs and the houses under the walls and down to the quay we could possibly stay.  Two yachts were already anchored and we were just about thinking of joining them when they both took up their anchors and were off.  Why have they moved was the question.  No, we will sail on into Kalamata as the barometer had dropped to 998 and there is talk of strong winds on all the forecasts and the shelter in the harbour was not good.  Ten minutes later the wind appeared from nowhere and we were cracking along at 8 and 9 knots towards the marina at the top of the bay of Messiniakos.  The water was so rough we didn’t even have a chance to move the dinghy from the davits and reversed onto the quay with it still in place which is a first.  Luckily there was space for us to release it once tied up and move it to the bow.

 

Kalamata is a working town and is very busy. There was an earthquake in 1968 which caused a lot of damage and many houses appear abandoned and new shops and flats built around them.  There are very few houses and mostly flats and shops which are very mixed and the area does not seem very wealthy. The houses are spread around the mountainous areas.  Lots of old motorbikes are rattling around the corners, one we saw today being ridden must have been pre-war.  Thompson cruise liners come into the commercial harbour next door to the marina we noticed this morning and big ships anchor in the bay.  In the park is the old railway station and set out are different ages of coaches and engines.

Once Kalamata was the principal port of the Peloponnese but since the road system has been improved the port has little work. Olive oil, olives, oranges, wine and grapes are all exported from this area.

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image

JPEG image