Lemeni Bay

Late start out of Kalamatta, but come what may, we were leaving. It's become clear that we like the smaller more intimate places, small enough to get your head around in a couple or three days. Lemeni bay sounded like just such a place, 24 nautical miles away.

If you take a look at the Peleponesos on Google Earth, you'll note that toward the eastern end there are three long peninsulas which add miles to a journey if you are prepared to investigate each one. If you have time, as we do, you investigate and the benefit is that you get to do so without having to compete for mooring space with too many other sailing boats. For travel distance between ports we usually aim at around 15-25 nautical miles, say 25-40 kms. This results in a 4-6 hour sail so if we leave around 11:00 we can be in the next anchorage or port somewhere between 3:30 and 5:00pm. I gets dark at 8:30ish so there is usually time for a plan B if needs be.

12:15 we dropped the slime lines and left Kalamatta with a 25 Knot sail if front of us.

Deep and mysterious caves all along the route the and the rocky shores drop away sharply into the water allowing us to sail close in deep water keeping the kids interested all the way... not to mention the adults.





The entrance to the bay is quite dramatic. It is expansive and safe in anything but a westerly wind. The north eastern end of the bay has a small hamlet and a quay. The only taverna advertising free showers and water for yachties.....









....but across the bay on the southern side, literally resting in the bosom of the imposing mountain behind is Mani, this picture perfect Greek secret. The buildings are all built from local stone and give a clear picture of what all the forts and castles would have looked like in their prime.








Absolutely beautifully built, condos in the surrounding hills we surmised that here is where the well heeled Greeks take their break.

Nowhere to moor, so we anchored in the most sheltered part of the bay and dropped the dingy to get us to and from the town.
A swim was the order of the day, the water crystal clear and when anchoring we try to make a habit of diving onto the anchor just to make sure it is in to stay no matter the conditions.

As the day cooled we motored in, excited to take a close look at a place that would rival any place on the European coast. We were not disappointed.

Raised waterside restaurants with menu's you'd find in Athens... prices not far off either but what the hell!


This guy cleaning freshly caught fish literally at the steps of the restaurant below.









Just too many to choose from and we were only staying the night, all with fantastic views of the setting sun.

Sometimes you just have to pinch yourself.