Thursday, June 1, 2017

Seawolves-Lavrion-Kea-Lavrion race


Sailboats participating in the Lavrio to Kea race sponsored by Lavreotiki Yacht Club (NOCL) tied at Korisia’s pier.  In this year's race Okyrhoe was first at elapsed time and Elena was first on corrected time (results).  

Downtown Korisia, which together with Vourkari and the island's capital Ioulis are the three main towns of Kea.

The lighthouse at the entrance of Vourkari bay was built in 1831.  It takes its name from the little chapel of St Nicholas and it was built on top of the ruins of a temple dedicated to Poseidon, the God of the sea.

Okyrhoe’s crew preparing for the second leg of the race and with all the running gear secure in the swift white Okyrhoe, they set up cups and brimmed them high with wine and poured libations to the everlasting gods who never die-Athena first of all, the daughter of Zeus with flashing sea-gray eyes-and the ship went plunging all day in the wine dark sea (Homer's Odyssey).

Sailboats maneuvering near the starting line.  The winds were from the north on both days and were accompanied with thunderstorms and torrential rains that made the nearby island of Macronesos invisible and drenched the sailors to their bones.  The weather was as different comparing to last year’s race as it can be.

Suddenly the wind hit full and the canvas bellied out and a dark blue wave, foaming up at the bow, sang out loud and strong as the ship made way, skimming the whitecaps, cutting toward her goal… (Homer's Odyssey) 

Once Odysseus, and in this race captain Nick and his crew, got off plowing the wine dark sea in his ribbed ship, farseeing Zeus decided to give the man rough sailing poured a tempest down upon him, shrilling winds, giant, rearing whitecaps, monstrous, mountains high…(Homer's Odyssey)