17m 32sLength

Family sailing from East Ionian to West Aegean. We left Gaios (Paxos island, Greece) to reach Izmir (Turkey). The summer winds are predominantly NE or NW based on whether they are E or W of the Corinth canal. Local geographies create venturi effects and strong local turbulences, some of them known as catabatic winds. On the Ionian side between Erikoussa and Corinth, we had these winds on a broad reach. Fun guaranteed! We often had to tack in 40+ knots and occasionally 50+ in confused seas. This is not the most efficient point of sail for a Lagoon catamaran. So above 35 knots we tend to motor sail to a safe place to rest. Dropping anchor needs careful planning for a location with a good holding bottom and little swell. This goes for harbors too because they require anchoring for the most part. Anchor watch gives us the time to prepare worthwhile visits ashore....never too far from the boat when the wind is subsiding.