10 & 11 September 2025 - Katakolon and Zakinthos

We woke in Katacolon to the sound of taxi drivers standing near the stern of Equinox chatting.  The massive carpark area beside the harbour was full of taxis, I don't think I have ever seen so many in one place at a time. The cause was that there was already one cruise ship in, and a second arrived soon after.  Fleets of coaches took people off to Olympia, and then those that either weren't ready for the organised trips, or just wanted to do their own thing, went in the taxis. No one from the cruise ships ever seems to take the train to Olympia.  The otherwise sleepy town of Katacolon was in full swing for those other cruise passengers who didn't want to go too far away from the ship. As we went to the Port Police to check in, we were propositioned many times by folks wanting to sell us something.

By late afternoon the two ships had departed and the town returned to normal. We  struck up conversations with the neighbouring boats, and one was offering shares of a watermelon.  I think that he said that one of the departing boats had given it to him, but it was far too much for him to consume as he was a single hander. In the end it was shared between 4 boats, and our segment was enough for us to have as desert for 3 meals, so you can tell how big the whole watermelon must have been.

An early start on Thursday morning, but we were still the third boat to leave.  We tried to do so as quietly as possible, because we could hear the sound of our watermelon donating friend, gently snoring. 

The sailing to Zakinthos was marvellous, with ideal conditions for the boat, a steady force 3 wind and flat water.  We arrived in Zakinthos in time for lunch and were well secured by the time the classic strong afternoon winds kicked in. 

Distance today -          28 miles

Distance this year - 1023 miles 

Steve (and Tricia) 

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