Serenity: Kalamata to Crete

Leaving Kalamata for a 50 mile trip to Porto Kayio we were 15 miles out when the engine failed! Steve and Dave investigated and decided that it must be diesel bug. With very little wind we were expecting 15 hours drifting back to port. However, Serenity was kind to us and the engine eventually started so we could motor back, willing her to keep going until we were moored up. Once in they changed filters and drew off fuel, strained it and returned it to the tank. This is the black slimy gunge that came out of the pipe. Hopefully all set to leave early tomorrow.

Left Kalamata at 5.00 am and motor sailed down the Peloponnese down to the point which apparently is the second most southerly point of mainland Europe after Gibraltar.

Arrived mid afternnon at Porto Kayio - an amazing little village tucked away on the east coast of the Peloponnese . Serenity is in the background moored alongside a plastic floating pontoon - hope it is stronger than it looks! A very sleepy place that really is the "back of beyond" but... they do have a bar with beer!

Once at the bar we decided to come back later for dinner so out goes this little boat and you can see our fish being brought in - it doesn't get much fresher than that! Probably the most expensive fish we have ever eaten but it was good and well cooked - none of us can remember what it was called but one fish was plenty for 3 of us.

Walking out to the end of the headland I came across this tiny church full of icons and well kept - obviously not a large congregation - there were only 4 chairs in there!

Another 5.00am start leaving Porto Kayio and heading for Kapsali on the island of Kithera. Before the sun came up we practised recognising lights as it is a fairly busy shipping lane for commercial vessels. As the sun came up we watched dolphins that came close to the boat - never seem to have the camera handy for such moments!

Arrived in Kapsali mid afternnon and moored alongside the quay - we were the only boat in there. Walked round the village and stopped off for ouzo and internet. It may look beautiful and sunny here but not long after this we had a terrific thunderstorm. Luckily we saw it coming and had chance to secure the boat. The storm didn't last long - looking on the forecast it seems like we caught the edge of some bad weather they are getting further north where we have come from.

This turtle was just swimming around the edge of the bay all the time we were there. She is about a metre across and swam round to check out the boat.

The view from our ouzo stop looking back to the boat on the quay. We were later joined by one other boat but that was all.

A very early start saw us leaving Kapsali at 4.00am - some interesting night navigation round various rocks at the entrance but soon out for a good sail across to Crete. Not far from Crete the wind died down so the engine went on .... for a while until diesel bug hit again! The sludge in the bottom of the tank had been stirred up and more gunge in the pipe. Luckily Steve and Dave we soon on the case and after a very short drift we were on our way again. This is Chania in the north west of Crete where we have spent several days. A lovely buzzy place - we are moored stern to on the quay.