38:21.55N 21:25.27E

Departing from Ithaca toward the Gulf of Patras eventually to Athens via the Corinth Canal.  We decided to take a few day or more crossing the two gulfs, Patras and Corinth, and see some of the sights.  Now Mesolongion is not a sight to see in my opinion.  This may get the Lord Byron fans mad since this is when he died from a fever when we came to help the Greek in a war.  The northern shore of the Gulf of Patras is composed of large sandbanks extending very far out.  Quite a change from the Ionian and Adriatic Seas where water depths can be well over 100 meters just a few meters from shore.  Need to keep an eye on the depth sounder and not cut any corners and run aground.

As it has been there was effectively no wind.  Yes a few diehards insisted that they were going to sail in the few knots of wind but we needed to cover 40 nautical miles and prefer motoring in such conditions.

The entrance to the harbor is a couple mile long canal cut through the sandbanks to the town.  Supposedly dredged to 8 meters but silting has filled in some areas to 6.5 meters.  Still not a problem.  It is well marked with buoys and is straight as an arrow.  With cross winds and cross current you need to keep on course and not get pushed to the sides as the canal is only about 25 meters wide and the edges are less than a meter in many areas.

Once in the anchorage there is plenty of depth, 5 to 10 meters, and a marina.  The marina has been around a while and now is in the hands of a new company trying to complete it.  There are some permanent docks in place with mooring lines.  We called them to see if we could get a space.  After a bit of confusion when all of a sudden too many boats arrived at once it was clear people with contracts had priority and no spaces were left for our size boat.  Not an issue since the anchorage is very large and good holding.  We anchored nicely in 8 meters and had a quiet night.

The marina is not as well advanced as the website projects.  It is supposed to be fully operational next spring with 350 berths but progress is very slow.  Looks like some boats are already beginning their over wintering hear afloat.  Not the most scenic place but the town is not too far away and it is very well protected from the waves.  Winds rush through since the surrounding land is flat, maybe one meter above sea level in most places.

A couple of boats at anchor and the marina behind.

“houses” along the canal.  They are old fishing sheds upgraded to summer places.  Looks like Louisiana to me.

Houses at the entrance to the canal.  One good storm and should be gone.  The water though is only a couple meters deep for about a ½ mile out so waves are broken down before they reach the houses.  The area also has some aquatic birds to be seen along with supposedly turtles.  Judging by the pea soup water color there is plenty of alga and small fish to build a productive area.  Not a place I would swim but many locals were in the water.