The weather forecast looked very slightly better for today with 21knot ish winds from dead north. So we decided to go for it, recognising that there would still be a considerable swell.
Siphnos, to Poros is about 70 nm to the north west so a very early start at 0345. We managed to sail westward for about 3 hours, but unfortunately the forecast north wind had some west in it and given the swell there was no way we would make Poros, so for the remaining 12 hours we motor sailed. And the forecast was wrong, with actual winds again of 25-30+ knots. And a 2-3 meter swell again.
Finally at about 1830 and 76 miles we reached the welcoming shelter of Poros anchorage. And was it busy! probably every sailing boat in the Saronic Gulf was here, obviously sheltering from the Meltemi. So a quick run ashore in the dinghy for a well deserved meat feast of delicious lamb and pork.
So after 196 miles and about 40 hours at sea we’ve made our first crossing of the Agean in a Meltemi. Would we do it again? Not unless we really had to, what did we learn, an awful lot! We coped, and moreover, Jacana handled extremely well and although we felt as if we were in a washing machine sometimes, heading diagonally down the odd 4m trough occasionally, she drove through the adverse sea conditions like the proverbial knife through butter. We’ll certainly be better equipped and more confident with the experience if we ever have to do it again. We think waves must have got into the vents as cupboards and cushions got a soaking but all dried out in the sun now.
We can relax a bit now, so a welcome bacon and eggs ashore in Poros while watching departing boats race along the narrow channel between Poros and the mainland.
30 miles to Almira.
