GHOST

The forecast was for a fairly fresh south westerly veering west then northerly and increase to potentially 30knots. We left Sicily with 20 odd knots from the SW and set the main only with 2 reefs. This meant a fairly comfortable 6.5-7knots! For the first time we had wind from a favorable direction, albeit forecast to be stronger than we'd prefer, but we where running down wind. The issue might be the 30 plus knot northerlies on Wednesday night.

The passage from Sicily to Greece is a little over 300miles. So at 6 knots that is 50 hours. The race was on to better the stronger winds on Wednesday. Winds dropped a little into the evening so out came our lovely new headsail and off we sitting on about 8.5knots for most of the night! For the first time in the trip to date we didn;t have the engine on!! (another good thing considering the liberties the Italians take in charging 1.60 euros a liter, some 20% more than the rest of the med!)

So it was 44.5 hours at sea. We sighted land at about 9am this morning and made it in before the stronger winds! We had intended on heading into Pilos to comply with customs etc (it is a port of entry) but when we arrive, apart from being a dive of a place we couldn't find room to moor up. The wind was up to 20-25knots so we decided to head 6 miles down the coast to a little place called Methoni and anchored in lee of an old Venetian fort. And thank god we did as this place is marvelous. Exactly like we'd expected and the reason why slogged all this way.

The bay is well protected (still a bit of wind but fingers crossed that will die down at night) a sandy bottom with good holding for the anchor. A short swim shore to a beach bar and restaurant, reminiscent of the Caribbean. Fantastic. Question is how can one place, Pilos, only 6 miles north get it so wrong and yet Methoni hit the nail right on the head! I guess this is Greece and it won't be the last time in the coming months we are left scratching our heads!!