an extremely secluded and tranquil spot

Our final anchorage in the Ambracian Gulf saw us motor 8 miles north west to anchor in the bay of Ormos Agiou Marcou, located just around the corner from Vonitsa. It offered excellent protection from all wind angles apart from the east.

There was just one house ashore, a small beach, a pig farm hidden in the dense shrubland and just two other yachts at anchor, surprisingly quiet given its close proximity to Vonitsa.

Fortunately our fellow yachtsmen were here for the same reason as us, peace and quiet. The quietness was deafening at times albeit brief, to be replaced by the musical sounds of nature. Early mornings would start out with the cooing sounds of wood pigeons which would eventually be drowned out by thousands of noisy cicardas as the day heated up. Only at dusk would quietness return. Apart from the sounds of nature it was a perfect secluded and tranquil place to sit and watch kingfishers, bats, storks and terns.

What really surprised us though was the amount of young star fish/sea stars, sea urchins and snails that had become resident in the links of the anchor chain when we came to leave. The sudden exposure to air should have encouraged them to drop off but they had a firm hold. We had to use a soft brush to encourage them off.


hello there, young creatures from the seabed!

We came into the Ambracian Gulf in the search of wildlife and for a bit of respite away from the volumes of yachts. It surpassed our expectations and we could have easily spent a few more weeks just revisiting the places that we have already seen as well as visit a few new locations. It was an amazing, diverse area and a definite highlight.

Total distance this season: 780.58 nautical miles