Wednesday 7^th July – Methóni, Peloponnese – Pílos, Peloponnese

36:55.104N 21:41.939E

This morning we motored the short distance to Pílos.  We have tied up alongside the harbour wall of this unadopted marina in the only space available without rafting – quite a tight fit but no wind made it fine.  Upon arrival we saw Joshua alongside, friends from Khania, and they came to catch our lines.  We found from Joshua that we had just missed ChaliVentures III, the American boat from Khania, as they had left the evening before.

Shortly afterwards, whilst Richard was in town in search of bread for lunch, Capriccio, a French yacht from Khania turned up and I went to help them alongside the boat in front of us and take their lines.  It was turning into a Khania reunion! 

This afternoon a German yacht, which has been turning up at all the same places as us along the south Peloponnese since we were at Porto Kayio, arrived too.  We went to find them a space and took their lines and we finally said hello (being at anchor our paths hadn’t crossed).

Later we took the dinghy across Órmos Navarínou to the top of the bay, about 2 miles.  On the NE coast there is the small village of Yialova and then a couple of anchorages along the north coast, each with only one yacht off the beach. 

On the way back we stopped off at a tiny islet of Khelonisi in the middle; it has a concrete pontoon and we tied off and went up the path to find a monument to the British to thank them for their help in the Battle of Navarinon in 1827.  History not being my strong suit, I came back and read up about it. 

Brief synopsis: the battle occurred when Greece was at its lowest point in its war of independence from the Turks.  There was a Turko-Egyptian fleet of 89 warships with 2450 guns anchored in a three quarter circle facing the entrance to the bay, effectively a trap for any sailing ship.  A British admiral, Codrington, sailed his fleet comprising 26 ships with 1270 guns into the middle of the trap and anchored (gun ports half open, bands playing on deck…).  An Egyptian ship fired and the battle began; it was a four hour battle and Codrington was victorious.  This battle effectively won Greece the war.

Back at Pyxis we had a quick swim to cool off, it is very hot here today with only a light wind in the bay.

This evening Albert and Ineke from Joshua came round for drinks and to catch up on what had been happening since we left Khania.  Afterwards we went for a short walk into town before coming back for a late dinner.

Pílos; Órmos Navarínou

© Pyxis 2010