Four-masted barquentine Ionian? and Mantus 1st impressions

[charles_reed]

Anchored in Katakolon, just behind the old breakwater. Apart from the 15 decker cruise ships (2 so far today) there is a Maltese-flagged 4 masted barquentine of 40-50m overall length. I'm too far away to read the name - can anybody guess whom the ship might be?

Report on the Mantus -about x35 use so far. Sets first time, cuts straight through grass and is easily recovered in most bottoms. However, in Methoni, it cut through the 4" of sand and into the sticky mud beneath - first time I've had trouble recovering it. Sets in about 1 metre and goes straight down @ 3000rpm in reverse with only the top 2/3 rds of the roll bar exposed. Top winds experienced so far Bf 5-6, with no movement. Wind shifts, it shuffles round, staying buried, to the new direction of pull. First set every time so far.

WinchRite, used on the manual Anchorman, draws no breath and pulls chain and anchor up @ about 20m/min (except in Methoni mud). A bit breathless, even on low speed, trying to lift the fully battened main. Does about 5 anchor recoveries (20-40m of chain) and 3 main-lifts on a charge.
A good buy @ 20% the price of a fitted, electric anchor windlass.

 

[TonyMS]

Not a barquetine, but a remarkable Maltese 3 master nonetheless. Seen in Argostoli 10 days ago. Name Falcon.

 

[cynthia]

Impressive boat which we saw a couple of weeks ago in Meganissi. She is called The Maltese Falcon and certainly is eyecatching. The sails unfurl from the central sections of the mast (2,400 sq m) - all electronically controlled - and also rotate. Sailed beautifully out of the anchorage in the lightest of airs, it is easy to understand why her owner races her on a regular basis. If we sold everything we own (and probably our souls as well) it appears we could afford to charter her for one week.

 

[saltylegs]

We were in Piraeus mid June and seen her up close, very nice.

 

[dombuckley]

Anchored in Katakolon, just behind the old breakwater. Apart from the 15 decker cruise ships (2 so far today) there is a Maltese-flagged 4 masted barquentine of 40-50m overall length. I'm too far away to read the name - can anybody guess whom the ship might be?

Maltese Falcon is impressive, but she is a ship-rigged 3-master. The reported 4-masted barquentine is more likely to be "Star Clipper" or "Star Flyer", both of which sail under the Maltese ensign:

 

[charles_reed]

That's the ship I saw - she left Katakolon, fully lit up @ 22:10 on Tuesday night.

The fore-and-aft sails are conventional bermuda, but the square sails appear to be in-boom furlers.

She certainly was NOT "Maltese Falcon" whom I've seen about quite frequently.

How horrid the Ionian is for sailing, compared to the Aegean - I'll be going back round Tainaron as soon as I can. I can understand why so many live on their boats in a marina with occasional little cruises - as their sagas about anchoring bear out.