Paxos Island, Greece
21 August 2017 | Lakka Bay on Paxos
Dierk & Sabrina
Onwards to Paxos
15 - 16 August
We have always loved the bay of Lakka on the northern tip of Paxos. We wanted to take Michael, Nicky, Maria Rosa &Stefano there. However, from Vonista, it would be about a 9 hour sail, against the prevailing NW wind. So, to enable this to happen with minimal discomfort, you get up early and make most "northing" early before the wind comes up.
So, up at 06:30 and make a start. Bleary eyed we got up and made tracks. Guess what, on the way out of the gulf we saw dolphins, albeit in the distance, some modicum of redemption I felt....
It became painfully obvious that we were going to have a bit of a slog once out of the Preveza Channel and into the Ionion Sea. There was still a swell running from the strong winds that occurred on the previous few days. Further to that there was little wind, so the boat hobby horsed northwards. A bit of malaise spread to some as a consequence of the constant flog northwards. Nothing serious though. It is always best to stay on deck when conditions are like this so a constant view of the horizon affords some cerebral stability.
We were against swell and current with a slightly increasing north west wind. At one stage we looked at the charts and decided to divert to Parga on the mainland. We were lucky though, as the wind remained moderately calm. About an hour out of Lakka the wind built we slogged into it for a while. Michael remained on the helm for the whole day, a grand effort, and I'm sure he was glad when we slipped into Lakka, dropped the anchor and set lines ashore.
This time of year the Ionion is very busy. There are more boats and things that float than We have seen in our travels in the Med. Anchoring and taking lines ashore to secure the stern of the boat to a rock on shore is a method used when normal anchoring cannot be used on account of inadequate room to allow the boat to swing.
The first night at Lakka was challenging on account of the swell rolling into the bay. We set a second line ashore as security and remained on anchor watch during the night, just as a safeguard.
Sam, Mike, Maria Rosa and Stefano went to shore for tea and I stayed on the boat during the evening on anchor watch, just too make sure the line held. Many other people on yachts became somewhat on alert for the same reason.
When taking the guys to shore Fritz our outboard stopped and would not start again, so out with the oars. I threatened to convert it to a 35 kg anchor if it did not behave itself. You know, after that warning it hasn't missed a beat.....true.
We remained in Lakka for a couple of days. Stefano left us for home and we departed for Parga, a small seaside village on the mainland cost.