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First solo night sail — 3-day crossing between Greece and Sicily (top)
February 9, 2026 · 42 min · 5K views · Ionian Sea
What this video covers
A self-taught solo sailor departs Kefalonia, Greece, on an unplanned 260-nautical-mile crossing to Sicily, aiming to complete it in two to three days.0:26 He checks the forecast on Windy before leaving, finding favorable beam-wind conditions for most of the passage.0:17 Departing at 04:00 on impulse — unwilling to wait another day at an uncomfortable anchorage — he carries two reefs in the mainsail and a full genoa in 13–18 knots, initially making only 3–4 knots close-hauled before the wind clocks to a beam reach around 01:20, pushing him to 5–6 knots.11:06 The autopilot handles steering throughout; he monitors battery drain on his phone and runs the engine in half-hour bursts to recharge when voltage drops.7:35 A thermal AIS alarm alerts him to a passing ferry at night.41:19 He admits to being genuinely frightened — his first time out of sight of land — but manages anxiety by keeping busy: cooking Thai rice, watching a series on a tablet, and fishing with a trolling line.9:35 He is entirely self-taught, having learned by watching videos and sailing alone rather than from formal instruction.5:03 Solo night passages in open Mediterranean water demand a reliable autopilot, a battery management plan, and collision-alert gear when the skipper is below.
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