Wednesday 7^th September – Nisís Trizónia – Messolonghi

38:21.685N 21:25.019E

Today the forecast showed a decent easterly for taking us down under the Ríon – Andírrion bridge and onto Messolonghi; unfortunately it also showed the risk of thunderstorms later, and very light or westerly winds for the next few days L  So today seemed the best of the batch for the next week (though it would have been better if it hadn’t said thunderstorms).

We set off just after sunrise with clear skies and no wind, following two other yachts and a motor-cruiser.  After about an hour and a half, about 6 miles from the bridge, the promised easterly started to fill-in and by 5 miles from the bridge, as I called Ríon Traffic on the VHF to ask for permission for us to transit the bridge, we had a decent F4 astern and were running down on the genoa. 

The wind continued to build as we approached the bridge and as we passed under the bridge we were trucking along nicely in the top of a F5.  The wind continued blowing F5-6 as we ran on down towards Messolonghi, with the seas staying flat in the channel, giving us a very pleasant and fast sail with maximum wind of 27 knots. 

As we approached the cardinal buoy about 4 miles from the entrance to the canal to Messolonghi the wind began to drop away.  We bobbed along gently for a bit but then, although the skies ahead were still clear, Richard heard an ominous rumble of thunder off in the mountains and it was time to motor on.  Obviously the thunderstorms were coming through earlier than hoped.

As we approached the entrance to the canal, the cloud over the mountains to the north began to darken and there was a distant flash of lightning.  Initially it looked like the thunderstorm would pass to the east of us but more cloud came over the mountains and began to drop down the hillside towards us, and the sky darkened. 

We shot straight in the entrance and up the canal towards the marina, having decided it would be better to be up by other masts if the thunderstorm was going to continue, and were followed in closely by a couple of other yachts.  Off to our starboard side things were looking pretty black.

As we went up the canal I called Gavin on Blue Elephant to check whether there were any berths free and called the marina on the VHF to tell them we were coming in whilst Richard concentrated on staying in the channel.  Fortunately the thunderstorm seemed to ease as we approached the marina and in addition there was a berth free on the quay where we wanted to park.  As we backed into the berth there was Gavin, Thasos and Chris & Dave from Electric Monk there to catch our lines, quite a reception committee.  It turned out that Chris & Dave had only arrived back themselves 10 minutes or so before, albeit by car having driven down from the UK.

Just as we were tying off more cloud rolled down over the hills and it started to spit with rain and so it was up with the cockpit enclosure.  Fortunately the rain remained as a spit spot, though the cloud continued to roll over all afternoon.  We stood talking to Gavin & Mary and Chris & Dave ashore catching up on the gossip before retiring to the new café to continue chatting over a cold beer.  When we left we went and found Russell who is still here and caught up with his news.  Later we came back to Pyxis and had dinner aboard with a DVD, resting after a busy day.

On Passage:  Trizonia - Messolonghi

© Pyxis 2011