After calculating the time to catch the stream going from North to South in the Messina Strait we left Tropea at 06h00 and made our way South. We entered the Strait right on time and were making over 8 knots (engine 6, mizzen 1 and stream over 2). In the first part of the Strait there was very little merchant traffic but we were highly entertained by the fishermen on their strange boats (see photos) who were chasing swordfish and trying to harpoon them. Definitely not a job for Caryn!
As soon as we reached Reggi de Calabri the wind came at last and we quickly changed the genoa so that we could take full advantage of it and managed to sail for 3 hours. We rounded the toe of Italy (unfortunately with the engine running as the wind did not last long) and began the crossing over to Greece. We had calculated that it would take us 48 hours from Tropea
During the first night we managed to get in just over 4 hours sailing but most of the crossing we had to motorsail. The sea was very choppy and there was a good deal of swell which did not make for the most comfortable of journeys. However in the afternoon of the second day we were able to hoist the sails again and we managed to sail for nearly 6 hours.
Caryn got her monthly haircut which was successful despite the swell!
Another night at sea with the risk of a thunderstorm this time (fortunately it went much further North) and by the next morning we still had a few hours left before we would see the Greek coast.
It came into view eventually and we made our way to Argostoli harbour in order to register our entry to Greece. We moored on the town quay at 11h30 local time and took a well earned rest after a long and tiring crossing.
Wind is such a fickle thing. We have several weather forecast sites and they all agreed that the wind for these dates would be SW 3 to 5 that should have given us the perfect crossing under sail. We met everything but.
In the 942miles we have come in 173 hours we have motored/motorsailed for 145 hours and managed to sail for 28 hours!!!!!!. However our average speed has been just under 6knots.