From the Rion Bridge you can easily navigate the Gulf of Corinth to Corinth and the Canal in one or two days.
We had excellent westerly winds behind us all the way down, and we cruised at 7/8 knots with just the genoa.
Both sides of the Gulf were bordered with snow capped mountains and we were sailing in shorts and T-shirts.
After the Isle Trizonia our first port of call was Galaxia
A charming and very picturesque harbor and town.
A perfect stop over however the quay side was very noisy at night and so we decided to move on further east.
We discovered Andrikiron and what a great find it was. The town is nestled in the NW corner of a very large bay and is totally surrounded by high mountains on all sides.
Easter is a major event here in Greece.
Easter Sunday started at mid night with a large firework display illuminating the entire town.
When we rose the next morning at 7 O clock the mile long quay side was ablaze with dozens of large Bar b ques. Logs were burnt to make charcoal, and then whole lambs were slowly roasted by the men of the town for the day long celebration.
Afterr the celebrations we moved on further east to the ancient city of Corinth and then the next day through the Canal and into the Agean sea, our original destination
In ancient times sailors traversed the narrow isthmus by being dragged on a paved road to avoid the long and often perrilous journey around the southern cape of the Peloponnese peninsular.
Various Greeks and Romans derived schemes for building the cut when not fighting each other. Nero commenced the work but was unable to complete it.
Eventually the canal was completed by a French company in 1893 to provide a short cut to and from the Agean, Athens and Istanbul.
Today most ships are to large to transverse the canal, and it is only used by small coasters and pleasure vessels. From west to east the canal at approx 3.2 mile long and only 25 Meter wide, is said to be the most expensive waterways on the planet.
Upon arrival at the entrance we had to wait for two hours before we could transit through.
We were able to take breakfast and were entertained by a friendly Greek fisherman who caught and then beat to death a fairly large Octopus.
When eventually called through we were the lead boat of a flotilla of 5 yachts.
We encountered a current against us of about 1.5 Knots, and a headwind of 15 to 20. The passage took about 35 mins and cost 244 Euro.
Two years almost to the day since we left Gosport
we entered the Aegean out original destination.
Emerging from the canal we were imediatly confronted by numerous islands.
We made our way to Nisos Poros where we are now, and planning to leave for the Cyclades tomorrow.
RAY & MANDY
POROS
37 31N 23 25E
However if you do you are missing out on a excellent and stunning cruising area. We decided to take our time and took a week to explore the area.
We had excellent westerly winds behind us all the way down, and we cruised at 7/8 knots with just the genoa.
Both sides of the Gulf were bordered with snow capped mountains and we were sailing in shorts and T-shirts.
After the Isle Trizonia our first port of call was Galaxia
 |
| THE QUAY ANDRIKON |
A perfect stop over however the quay side was very noisy at night and so we decided to move on further east.
We discovered Andrikiron and what a great find it was. The town is nestled in the NW corner of a very large bay and is totally surrounded by high mountains on all sides.
 |
| JOSEPHINE SQUEEZED ONTO THE SMALL QUAY BETWEEN TWO LARGE TUGS |
Easter Sunday started at mid night with a large firework display illuminating the entire town.
When we rose the next morning at 7 O clock the mile long quay side was ablaze with dozens of large Bar b ques. Logs were burnt to make charcoal, and then whole lambs were slowly roasted by the men of the town for the day long celebration.
 |
| THE WESTERN ENTRANCE TO THE CORINTH CANAL |
In ancient times sailors traversed the narrow isthmus by being dragged on a paved road to avoid the long and often perrilous journey around the southern cape of the Peloponnese peninsular.
Various Greeks and Romans derived schemes for building the cut when not fighting each other. Nero commenced the work but was unable to complete it.
Today most ships are to large to transverse the canal, and it is only used by small coasters and pleasure vessels. From west to east the canal at approx 3.2 mile long and only 25 Meter wide, is said to be the most expensive waterways on the planet.
We were able to take breakfast and were entertained by a friendly Greek fisherman who caught and then beat to death a fairly large Octopus.
When eventually called through we were the lead boat of a flotilla of 5 yachts.
 |
| POROS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST |
Two years almost to the day since we left Gosport
we entered the Aegean out original destination.
Emerging from the canal we were imediatly confronted by numerous islands.
We made our way to Nisos Poros where we are now, and planning to leave for the Cyclades tomorrow.
RAY & MANDY
POROS
37 31N 23 25E
Hi both, really enjoying reading your updates and wish we were sailing with you :-) I fell off my chair when I read about the 244 euro fee for passing through the Corinth canal. If we're sailing in that area we'll sail south round the Greek mainland ;-) Keep up the great posts :-) Mark & Erika x
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