Saturday 25^th August – Ionian (2)

38:21.690N 21:25.012E

After the Olympics we returned to the Ionian for the remainder of the summer.  We were pleased that the scorching temperatures of July had eased slightly but it was still hot.  After a few days prepping Pyxis for passage we were on our way again up to the Ionian.

Once there, it was a fairly relaxing time; we met up with friends and discovered a few new places to anchor and enjoy an evening.  Whilst in Nidri we checked out a few maintenance items on Pyxis and picked up a few spares.

We also finally got the chance to spend some time with Katie and Simon on Briscola who had kept their previous boat Gin Rummy in the yard at Cagliari when we spent the winter there.  They introduced us to some of their favourite places ashore around Nidri and Vlikho which was great.

One week there was bad weather forecast for the weekend and we headed to Vlikho Bay to sit it out.  We made sure our anchor was well in and let out plenty of chain and then waited.  A number of other boats had the same idea and the bay gradually filled up around us.  Thursday afternoon the wind gradually increased and then the rain clouds arrived.  Just before midnight, a very severe gust of wind caused us to heel over and heralded the arrival of a strong thunderstorm with strong winds and heavy rain. 

Almost immediately we spotted a number of boats on the move; the gust had broken their anchors free and they were dragging.  Although confident our anchor was set hard, we were now nervous that another yacht might drag down onto us, either hitting us or taking our chain as it went past.  I spent a restless night watching a number of yachts motoring around the bay with their navigation lights on looking for a place to re-anchor in the wind and rain.  All the time, the thunderstorm raged angrily overhead, the lightning flashes constantly lighting up the bay, allowing us to see the drama unfold.  Fortunately, the next day proved much quieter than forecast and people were able to sort themselves out but Saturday the wind and rain was back, stronger than expected.  Eventually the weather blew itself out and Sunday evening we were able to re-anchor across the bay and go ashore for the evening.

On our way back to Messolonghi we stopped at Kalamos once more, meeting up with Gavin and Mary on Blue Elephant on their way up to the Ionian.  We spent a few days there letting some stronger winds go through, someday we will have to go there when the weather is fair.

From Kalamos we returned to Messolonghi and had Pyxis hoisted onto the hard for the winter.  This is the first time we have done this – Pyxis normally stays in the water all year around.  However, the hull needs some tlc and a couple of coats of antifoul, the propshaft is ready for a replacement seal, and there is a stack of other jobs that need to be done aboard over the winter. 

For various reasons we ended up taking an indirect flight home, changing plane in Copenhagen.  One novelty was the inflight entertainment – a web cam on the nose of the plane which gave us a pilot’s eye view as we landed.  We are also pleased to say that our luggage eventually caught up with us at home the following day (apparently none the worse for stopping out overnight in Copenhagen). 

Ionian: September Cruise

© Pyxis 2012