SW-INC-0595SeaWise Incidents

off Peristera - Anchored sailboat breaks free in a north-east gale and is driven onto the rocks; the British couple aboard shelter in a cave until rescuers reach them

They were taken off by inflatable at dawn and treated for hypothermia on Alonissos. The boat was left semi-submerged.

verified · 1 sourceN
Vessel
off PeristeraSailboat
When
2026Aegean Sea
Crew
2 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Rescued
Position
Xero cove, Peristera island, Alonissos, Greece
Sea area
Northern Sporades
Coordinates
39.19°N, 23.97°EApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

Before dawn on 14 October 2026 a sailboat anchored in Xero cove, on Peristera near Alonissos, lost her anchor in a north-east gale and was driven onto rocks. The British couple aboard climbed into a cave. Coast Guard officers on a private boat took them off. They had hypothermia but recovered.

On the night of 13 to 14 October 2026 a British couple had anchored a Greek-flagged sailboat in Xero cove on Peristera, the island next to Alonissos in the Northern Sporades. They believed the cove would give them shelter. A north-east gale, reported at force 8 and at times up to 10, built heavy seas. The anchor line parted, which the couple described as cut, and the boat was driven onto the rocks. She was badly damaged and left semi-submerged. The couple got off the boat and sheltered behind the rocks in a cave, exposed to cold and rain. The alarm went out at about 04:00. Alonissos port officers and two Coast Guard officers set out aboard the private fast boat Axion Esti. The sea at the cave was too rough to approach, so the boat moved to a calmer stretch of coast and the couple were taken off one at a time by inflatable. They were brought to Alonissos with signs of hypothermia, given first aid at the island's medical centre, and are reported to be well.

ConditionsAround 04:00 on Wednesday 14 October 2026. North-east wind reported as force 8 by some outlets and up to 10 by others, with heavy seas, cold and rain. The boat was at anchor in a cove the crew believed would be sheltered. The anchor line parted (the couple said it was cut). Greek-flagged; name and length not reported. Pin is hand-set and approximate. Sources: Efimerida ton Syntakton, Parapolitika, Athens Voice and Voria.gr, all 14 October 2026.
SeaWise noteA cove is only a shelter from the wind it was chosen for. At anchor in a blow, someone must be on watch, with the engine ready and a plan for leaving. If the boat is lost, warmth and staying together come next, and this couple managed both.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    Before a blow, check which way the wind will come from and how strong. Choose an anchorage sheltered from that direction, not the one sheltered now.
    extreme weather on watch
  • 2
    In strong wind at anchor, keep an anchor watch with the engine ready. Protect the anchor line from chafe where it leaves the boat, and use chain where you can.
    on watch running aground
  • 3
    If you must leave a boat on the rocks, take a phone or handheld VHF, a light and warm clothing. Then get out of the wind and rain and stay together.
    abandon ship rescue
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· EU/Med sailing newsΑλόννησος: Ιστιοφόρο έπεσε στα βράχια της νήσου Περιστέρας με ανέμους 8 μποφόρ, σώοι οι δύο επιβαίνοντεςVisit ↗

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Record IDSW-INC-0595
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidenceverified · 1 source
Record typeIncident

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