The now iconic small ferry boat Skopelitis maintained its scheduled route despite winds reaching 8 to 9 Beaufort, as strong northerly winds disrupted ferry services elsewhere in the Aegean and prompted sailing restrictions from Attica ports.
Dramatic images from the Aegean showed the well-known Skopelitis battling rough seas Saturday as gale-force winds swept across the Cyclades islands in the central and south-central Aegean.
Despite the strong winds and heavy seas, the small ferry continued its scheduled service, maintaining the vital maritime link between the islands of the lesser Cyclades isles and Naxos. Winds in the area locally reached 8 and 9 Beaufort, according to reports.
The Skopelitis serves the smaller or lesser Cyclades islands of Donousa, Koufonisi, Schinousa and Irakleia, connecting them with large Naxos and, on some routes, the more distant islands of Ios and Santorini. The vessel is particularly important to the smaller islands, providing a regular connection that can become difficult to maintain during periods of rough weather.
The strong winds were part of a broader spell of intense northerly winds across the Aegean during the peak Aug. 15 holiday travel period. Forecasts had warned that the seasonal meltemi winds would reach 8 Beaufort and locally 9 Beaufort, with the strongest conditions affecting the Aegean and eastern mainland Greece.
