Time zone UTC + 0.00
Local time (Italy) +2.00
Local time (Greece) +3.00
06.15 - Departure Preveza, Greece
Coordinates 38º57’893N 20º45’556E
Destination: Siracusa, Sicily, Italy
06.50 - Mainsail up
Coordinates 38º55’542N 20º43’107E
Heading: 225 degrees
Cloud coverage: 10%
Visibility: 80%
Barometer: 1033
Sea state: rolly
SOG: 3.5 knots
14.25 - Mainsail and Genoa
Coordinates 38º31’011N 19º56’556E
Heading: 235 degrees
Wind speed: 12 knots
Wind direction: 60 degrees from starboard
Cloud coverage: 20%
Visibility: 90%
Barometer: 1023
Sea state: swell
SOG: 6 knots
17.00 - Mainsail and 2 Reefs on Genoa
Coordinates 38º22’717N 19º39’228E
Heading: 240 degrees
Wind speed: 16 knots
Wind direction: 70 degrees from starboard
Cloud coverage: 20%
Visibility: 90%
Barometer: 1023
Sea state: swell
SOG: 6.2 knots
01.00 - Mainsail and engine, furl Genoa
Coordinates 37º58’514N 18º42’103E
Heading: 245 degrees
Wind direction: 40 degrees from starboard
Cloud coverage: 10%
Visibility: 80%
Sea state: calm
SOG: 6 knots
10.00 - “When it rains it pours”
Coordinates 37º38’809N 17º44’516E
Heading: 245 degrees
Caught a Mahi-Mahi, 15 minutes later caught a Bonito.
As we were bringing it in, all of a sudden, we see in the horizon a big styrofoam box chasing us, jumping like a dolphin. First thought was that it was caught on one of our fishing rods that we were still trailing, but the direction seemed wrong.
As we look in the water, just behind our stern, we could clearly see two white lines that got caught on our keel. We had just hit a fishing pot/net without even coming close to one of them (or so we thought) and in more than 3000 meter deep waters!
We stopped the engine immediately, dropped the swimming platform and tried to get the line with the boat hook. A click forward, a click reverse on the engine to force the line to surface and we managed to get the line. John quickly cut it and we were free once again.
In less than 5 minutes of us getting free of the fishing pot/net, we catch a little plastic mesh on our propeller. A bit of discussion between the two of us, because I recognised the vibration we were experiencing from the times I was at the helm and we got stuff stuck on the propeller and John was at the bow dealing with the anchor. After a bit of discussion we decided to stop the engine again, drop the swimming platform again, but this time (I) Ana had to get in the water.
Quite a scary experience because the boat was still doing around 2 knots, fuelled by the mainsail. I undress, step down the swim ladder holding myself with my arms and legs while checking the propeller with my goggles. Once again by clicking forward and then reverse we managed to get the little plastic mesh free from the propeller.
The drama was not over yet, within minutes we get an overheating batteries alarm. We turn the entire boat off and sail only with the iPad as navigation tool for awhile while we wait for things to cool off and while we think what to do.
30 minutes later we turn the engine back on, all windows open, fan pointing at the batteries and trying to drain the batteries as much as possible - we think the system is not “understanding” that the batteries are at full capacity.
14.35 - Mainsail and 2 Reefs on Genoa (batteries still overheating)
Coordinates 37º31’591N 17º15’918E
Heading: 250 degrees
Wind speed: 8 knots
Wind direction: 40 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 10%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: calm
SOG: 3.5 knots
18.30 - Change of plans - new destination Rocella Ionica
Coordinates 37º29’581N 16º56’789E
Heading: 325 degrees
Wind speed: 14 knots
Wind direction: 90 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 10%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: swell
SOG: 5.2 knots
The weather is not as per forecast and to get to Siracusa we need to motor into the wind or tack our way there at a very slow pace. Best option is to turn 90 degrees to north to get the wind more on the beam and sail straight to Rocella Ionica.
05.00 - Arrival to Rocella Ionica Marina
Coordinates 38º19’425N 16º25’658E
Total hours of the trip: 46h
Total hours sailing: 10h30
Total hours motoring: 1h
Total hours motor-sailing: 34h30
Maximum Speed Over Ground: 8.3 knots
Distance: 266.8nm
***In the spirit of sharing our dreams and experiences we have shared this blog post in the NOFOREIGNLAND.COM website sailors community.