Hi Everyone,

 

JUST A NOTE--- please see blog for CORFU TOWN —24th May—nice blog and lots of photographs, the blog bounced back due to the number of photos we tried to load.

 

We had a wonderful calm night at anchor in Navpaxtos but woke to 18 true knots of wind coming from the east--- the direction we needed to go.  Sailing yachts aren't built to go straight into the wind and have to tack backwards and forwards across it to make headway-----so after the many thousands of miles we have now sailed—the MOTOR ENGINE went on !!!!

 

We motored for about 8 miles and with a slight change in wind angle we managed some long zigzag tacks eastwards. We sailed past a lovely tiny island on the North of the gulf called Trizonia, the only inhabited island in the gulfs, very pretty little place from the sea.

 

We finally anchored for the night in Skala Kalithea on the north shore to try to get some protection from the easterly winds.  Most of the bays sit with protection from the westerly's.

The prevailing winds in the Gulfs are westerly---- can someone tell the Greek mythological gods to send us a wind to blow us along the gulf not hit us on the bow !!!

 

The anchorage was fine once we tucked into the bay and as the evening continued into night the winds died leaving our 40 metres of anchor chain just hanging and Tioram going on a gentle walk about around the bay without any wind pressure to keep us straight.

 

We had a calm night and then headed east again, motoring in light easterlies.  The mountain ranges on both sides of the gulfs are surprisingly stunning. The mountain range to the north still has some snow on it and the area is known as ‘Agrafa’ which translates as ‘Unrecorded. It was so named by the Turks during their occupation,  the wonderful but inaccessible mountains housed villages which the Turks were unable get to, to collect taxes.

A scattering of small villages punctuate the north shoreline often with steep fertile slopes behind them used for agriculture. There is little else accept for a main road which often creates a deep scar into the hillside.  We can see lots of artic lorries travelling along this route--- a blessing and a curse--- bringing much needed supplies/trade to the villages but also often transient and carry goods quickly through the once tranquil villages.

 

We are heading for Galaxidhi, a town with a quay for yachts. It is about 20km south of the Ancient Greek site of Delphi and we are very much hoping to visit it.

 

Photos of the Gulf of Corinth.---

 

Love to all

 

Tina and Tony x x