catmandoo
Well-Known Member
Wind is manageable but what about Swell? No 4 metre waves perhaps? Or cross reflections?
South Pelepponese
- Thread starter catmandoo
- Start date
Tony Cross
Well-Known Member
You mean in Monemvasia? No waves or serious swell when we were there in windy conditions. The strong winds come off the land (WNW) and blow straight along the small E-W quay. So if you're stern-to that the wind is on your beam so your anchor needs to be very well set. Several yachts (including us) took long lines ashore from the bows to hold the bows up against the wind. The second time we went there we moored alongside on the outer quay so that any wind would blow us on. Of course that time it was dead calm......
duncan99210
Well-Known Member
Monemvasia in an easterly is distinctly entertaining! In the marina, the east/west quay is untenable, only the inside of the outer wall is ok and get as far in as you can. The waves come in through the harbour entrance and break over the roadway, sometimes over topping the quay wall. The shelter is better in the ferry port when the wind is from that direction.
On the other hand, in a westerly, the marina is ok but make sure your fenders are well positioned as if you're on the wall in the marina, you will be blown on quite hard. In the ferry port, we put out a kedge to hold us off the wall which also proved useful in getting us out of the place with the westerly still blowing.
On the other hand, in a westerly, the marina is ok but make sure your fenders are well positioned as if you're on the wall in the marina, you will be blown on quite hard. In the ferry port, we put out a kedge to hold us off the wall which also proved useful in getting us out of the place with the westerly still blowing.
Palarran
Well-Known Member
We went around the Peloponnese this summer East to West starting at Monemvasia. We didn't spend the night there as I didn't trust the holding anchored outside the marina. The wind was howling. Sailing from there to Elafonisos we had solid 40 knot winds with gusts to 55 knots. It was crazy as the wind would come off the mountains and make the water explode when it hit. Eventually we dropped all sail and motored around Capo Maleas and anchored in the dark in the bay Simos (?). The wind stayed blowing all the next day and we sailed to Porto Kagyo. It took forever beating into the wind and once we fell into the lee of the peninsula the wind shifted again onto our nose from the South. Crazy wind patterns and Palarran didn't perform well into them.
We really liked Porto Kagyo but again the anchoring was very difficult. I would say that over half the boats dragged anchor in the small harbor. The wind came gusting down that ravine cut with some serious force. I personally think it's best if you have the chain to anchor further out from the group of boats off the village and let it all out. We were in about 60' of water and had about 300' of chain out. Never moved with that much weight in the water.
From there we went to Limeni. Beautiful village but the anchoring sucked. We were the only boat in the bay and I can see why. We again anchored in about 50' of water but our anchor fouled with some old mooring lines. We donned the dive gear to get it untangled. Had an excellent meal ashore there though and would return via car some day. Probably not by boat.
At this point the wind died to near nothing and we slowly sailed to Methoni. The castle was interesting and the village nice but not really interesting enough for more then a night. The next day we headed to Pilos and refueled for the season. Very nice guy with the tanker truck and we enjoyed the afternoon in the large bay. Did a night passage motoring to Zakinthos and that was it for the Peloponnese. We didn't dwell long but enjoyed it. Rugged, beautiful, and challenging would sum it up for me.
We really liked Porto Kagyo but again the anchoring was very difficult. I would say that over half the boats dragged anchor in the small harbor. The wind came gusting down that ravine cut with some serious force. I personally think it's best if you have the chain to anchor further out from the group of boats off the village and let it all out. We were in about 60' of water and had about 300' of chain out. Never moved with that much weight in the water.
From there we went to Limeni. Beautiful village but the anchoring sucked. We were the only boat in the bay and I can see why. We again anchored in about 50' of water but our anchor fouled with some old mooring lines. We donned the dive gear to get it untangled. Had an excellent meal ashore there though and would return via car some day. Probably not by boat.
At this point the wind died to near nothing and we slowly sailed to Methoni. The castle was interesting and the village nice but not really interesting enough for more then a night. The next day we headed to Pilos and refueled for the season. Very nice guy with the tanker truck and we enjoyed the afternoon in the large bay. Did a night passage motoring to Zakinthos and that was it for the Peloponnese. We didn't dwell long but enjoyed it. Rugged, beautiful, and challenging would sum it up for me.
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twizzr
N/A
I was in the north harbour 2013 when a 34 footer was smashed on the rocks inside the harbour. No one could move into the south marina because a barge was doing work there and blocked the entrance .If you tried to get round the barge you ran aground .
Then when they eventually moved the barge after the sinking, nearly all of the yacht had ropes around their props.
The local dive shop on the quay made a lot of money removing them, in fact it was rumoured that months later he was caught tying rope onto boat moored there.
catmandoo
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately depending on which side of the fence one is, One may have a critical SWMBO to satisfy . Once a place is seen for more than a couple of times then it's time to move on to pastures new or the threat to sell the boat . Just now I am struggling to keep up the pace of interesting places to visit . Personally I am quite happy to play about with tools , engines and the like ad infinitum but not so for SWMBO on the other side of the fence
However I have threatened that if that becomes the case then it's salmon fishing for me and knitting for her in remote glens - never mind the ticks . However that becomes a weak threat when the eyes light up and the thought of the possibility of having a large dog to care for and walk particularly in the Perthshire hills comes to mind . So it's low key just now and hoping for another two years of boaty things .
Wish me luck !
Happy New Year by the way
However I have threatened that if that becomes the case then it's salmon fishing for me and knitting for her in remote glens - never mind the ticks . However that becomes a weak threat when the eyes light up and the thought of the possibility of having a large dog to care for and walk particularly in the Perthshire hills comes to mind . So it's low key just now and hoping for another two years of boaty things .
Wish me luck !
Happy New Year by the way
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jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
If you're in the lee of a high mountain ridge (as going south from Monemvassia to Cap Malea with some NW F6 forecast) you can expect the local wind to be some 20% to 30% over the forecast strength. Summer winds forecasts in the S Peloponnese very rarely reach F7 (3 to 5 days a summer). Afternoon NW F4 to 5 are usual maxima, and these curl into the Kalamata and Gythion gulfs giving SW F4 into those gulfs most afternoons.
Stony bottom, bad holding. In any wind, go 400m NW to the westernmost part of the inlet. Shallow slope, hard sand bottom with some patches of weed to avoid. Or just under 2nm north, tiny inlet with a 100m wide beach, and nothing else, is a lovely quiet spot. In fact, there's a great range of possiblities about every 4 or 5nm along the coast to Gythion. Everything from long sandy beaches to tiny hamlets.
The west coasts of these peninsulas are places to avoid if any westerlies have been blowing - Limeni, for instance. Usually very rolly as an anchorage.
It's an area which is great for those who like to potter and explore. Not so hot for voyagers, though, who prefer time under sail.