Short distances between islands can create waves that flip boats faster than the open ocean

In confined waters like the Aegean Sea, the short distance between landmasses creates a phenomenon known as fetch-limited waves. When winds exceed 10 meters per second, they generate 4-meter swells in as little as six seconds. These rapid cycles prevent small boats from recovering their balance between peaks. Unlike the long, predictable rollers of the open ocean, these choppy waves can overwhelm a vessel's freeboard in moments.