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40 Knots & Crosswind Docking in Greece | Mediterranean Mooring Under Pressure
22 March 2026 · 18 min · 45K views · Kanala, Greece
Sailor braces on heeling boat near Greek coast
What this video covers
Mediterranean stern-to docking in 40-knot crosswind conditions at Loutra, Kythnos, Greece forms the core of this passage. Alexandros Retsinas sails from Finikas, Syros to Loutra, Kythnos during the second week of August, expecting 30 knots but encountering gusts to 40 knots.0:19 The passage runs at 9–10 knots under a third reef, with heavy spray into the cockpit.1:46 At 35 knots, the headsail is handed manually by heading into the wind, killing the sail, then furling — a technique Retsinas demonstrates is viable by hand even at 30–40 knots when timing is right.3:56 On arrival at Loutra, the anchorage offers little protection; swell and strong wind make the stern-to approach difficult.6:11 The windlass cannot keep pace with the boat's speed on the first attempt, causing loss of maneuverability, and Retsinas aborts and repositions.10:39 On the second approach he drops the anchor earlier, carries more speed for steerage, and uses slack in the anchor chain to improve control.10:40 Dock master Stavros assists with lines.7:03 With 25 knots still blowing and the anchor dragging, Retsinas explains how to use a bridle and weight on the anchor chain to reduce snubbing load and keep the boat off the dock.15:23 Dropping the chain weight before reaching the previous drag point, rather than after, is the key adjustment that made the second docking succeed.14:36
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