Sunday 18^th July – Katakólon, Peloponnese – Órmos Kirí, Nísos Zákinthos

37:41.085N 20:50.369E

We left early, at 7.20am, to beat the prevailing wind, and headed up to Zákinthos.  We were the fifth boat to leave, so it looked like it would be a mass exodus today.

We sunbathed on deck whilst motoring along and arrived here at the anchorage at Órmos Kirí around noon.  Joshua arrived shortly ahead of us and a hour or so later Ricard III, our Spanish friends, arrived.

Órmos Kirí is part of the Zákinthos National Marine Park which restricts mooring and navigation to protect the nesting area for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in Kólpos Lagana; it is the only area you can anchor around here between May and October.

As there was no wind en route, we planned to use the motor to set our hook to accommodate the prevailing north-westerly wind due in the afternoon.  However, as we arrived, so did an easterly wind, too strong to set against, and so we were forced to set with it.  We dropped the hook, set it and then we both swam it to check.  All was fine.

This afternoon the wind eased to zero one minute and then suddenly blew hard from the north-west, sending all the boats in the anchorage around the other way.  Richard swam the anchor and it hadn’t turned yet, we were still laid to chain.  As our Dutch neighbours reset their anchor, we decided, for peace of mind, to reset ours.  

I started the engine and reversed Pyxis to drag the chain and anchor round to reset it in the right direction.  Richard watched the anchor from the water.  Our usual test that we know simulates 35 knots of wind only turned the anchor through 90 degrees and I had to increase the revs even further to get it to turn and reset.  To fully bury it, we pulled in half the chain, reversed again, and then let out the chain – we feel pretty relaxed knowing that it would take a severe gale to shift us!

Late afternoon we went for a short stroll ashore – it is a very small village, with a few tavernas, with a mainly tourist population. 

Tonight I have had fish for dinner, although Richard has managed to sneak in some meat!

Órmos Kirí

© Pyxis 2010