Strong winds en route to Greece

The Dutch Tall Ship Tecla is en route to Volos to take part in the Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta after taking part in the Garibaldi Tall Ships Regatta which ended last week in Trapani on the island if Sicily, Italy. Janette Sluik, one of just four people on board Tecla, has sent the following report about their journey towards Volos:

“Saturday 24 April: 37 48 N 18 39 E.

“We are fighting an ESE-ly wind, force 6 to 7, and a sea that is building. The main sail is down as reefing is not good for the shape of new sails, so we are sailing with just the mizzen, forestay and little jib. We are making speeds of between 5.5 and 7 but we are not going where we want to go. The wind turned this morning more easterly and that is a pity as the wind was forecast to turn to the west, but until now, there is no sign of it. 

“We are totally alone, no ships around and no dolphins. Only a pigeon who thinks it is a sea bird and flies with us for hours. Yesterday there was a plane, we think it was a weather plane, which made three rounds, very low, around the ship. We could see the people in the cockpit so we waved to each other. 

“The waves take Tecla up, and try to throw her away again. But she does not seem to care. She was built for seas like this. The only ones to complain are the crew, especially when the whole contents of the refrigerator fell out.”

The Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta starts in Volos on 9 May.