Sarakawavideo
Greece, Crete, Force 7 close-hauled #010
October 4, 2025 · 32 min · 15K views · East coast of Crete
What this video covers
A Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39i transits the coast of Crete and the surrounding Aegean islands, navigating challenging Meltemi winds and heavy seas. During a 50-nautical-mile passage from the island of Kasos, the skipper encounters sustained winds of 30 knots and steep waves, necessitating a triple-reefed mainsail and a double-reefed genoa.▶ 1:17 The vessel maintains a close-hauled point of sail, often heeling at 30 degrees while managing significant wind-over-tide conditions.▶ 5:04 The skipper prioritizes sailing over motoring to maintain speed and avoid the high fuel consumption and inefficiency of punching into head seas.▶ 12:25 Strategic route planning involves choosing anchorages based on wind forecasts to avoid predicted 54-knot gusts, even when those routes require longer, more exposed passages.▶ 11:39 The journey includes navigating around Cape Maleas, where the skipper stays three miles offshore to avoid Venturi-effect wind accelerations.▶ 27:14 The passage concludes with the vessel arriving at a boatyard for a scheduled haul-out in early October.▶ 30:17 Proper reefing and choosing a wider berth around headlands significantly reduce the physical strain on the rig and crew during high-wind passages.
Boats in this video
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