The Corinth Canal

It was to be a big day. Not because it was the Corinth but from Perdika to the eastern end of the canal was 28 miles. No idea how long we would wait before we got waved through, then another 26 miles to our planned anchorage in the Gulf of Corinth. 10:40am we scored the eggs, milk, water and left.

I made the drastic error of welcoming Al to the Ionian Sea, by which I meant the nearly always nil wind 'Motorterranean'. It had been that way coming over from Poseidon's Temple the day before where we'd seen dolphins for the first time this season and it was like glass all the way to the canal.

So, to get you oriented.... 

The Peloponnese is the large claw like land mass below the little red marker. By virtue of the canal, it is now deemed an island. On our way out, season one we sailed around the bottom, the canal saves us 180 miles at a cost of 230 Euro.
The white line traces our journey from Poseidon's Temple to Perdika. Then on to the canal and up to our evenings anchorage on the northern side of the Gulf. From there to Galaxidhi, a most beautiful town where we now find ourselves.

The Canal was completed in 1893. It is 3.2 Miles long and 25 Meters wide (just over twice the width of our boat). The limestone walls rise to a height of 79 meters above sea level at their highest point. We were to radio the tower an hour out and were then instructed to call again at 30 minutes out, then one mile out. All the while trying to decipher the traffic levels and from which end of the canal so as to get an idea of how long we would wait.




We moored alongside at 3:45pm paid our money and waited. One other yacht going in our direction, but something big coming from the other end. it was hot. The kids decided to have a swim. Bad idea, ended by a sharp radio message from the tower. "Too late, they're wet now sorry!"

Photos Courtesy Al Reid



An ominous easterly started to build which threatened push us through the canal. So much easier to control a boat going into the wind... The pilot boat appeared towing a large tanker just small enough to get through. 

No sooner had they passed and we were instructed to get going. We followed the other yacht in and being a yacht and taking the tail wind into account, I dropped us back a bit and we just enjoyed the moment. 












It is a really cool place to experience and every bit as enjoyable as we'd imagined. Some Aussies saw us from a road bridge 52 meters above us and we got the Ozi Ozi Ozi Oi Oi Oi. The bridge is open for bungee jumping but not on that day. Would have made a great shot.

Then "Summer Amy, Summer Amy, full speed, full speed" came over the radio as we noticed in our revelry just how far we'd dropped back from the leading yacht and realised there may well be a whole slew of boats waiting for us at the other end.... oooops. Two disciplinary radio calls in one day.... bloody typical!

If you would like to take the trip yourselves, Al did a time lapse video on his GoPro and you'll find that here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFtRghZQq-E

Do not wipe your screen, the blury bit was a little sun screen covered finger that adjusted the camera angle at the start....

We exited the canal into a strong westerly wind. It was strong easterly when we entered?? Now we had to punch into it until we turned north, put up all the sail we've got and headed for our night anchorage Ioannou. As it turned out and contrary to the description, a thoroughly unpronounceable and forgettable bay. It was 7:30pm we had to anchor in 30 meters depth, (don't like more than 10) and the wind howled all night meaning little or no sleep for anybody.