37:55.90N 23:38.86E

Three nights in Itea were very nice.  We did get one German sailboat who decided in a completely empty marina they were to berth right behind us and wanted us to move when the realized the generator exhaust was facing them.  The generator is needed since there is no electricity at the marina.  The “asked” use to move our boat further down the quay to give separation.  We said no since we had rented the quay and they actually were not supposed to be there.  After a negative response from us they tried to blare there stereo and run their engine to make fumes for use.  Sorry to say this is becoming typical of German sailors we are meeting, not all but a significant number.  They feel they have the right to go anywhere and force others to make adjustments.  Never had this with a British, French or Italian (though they are different!) flagged boat.  Anyway our agent set them straight about where they were berthed.

So we left Itea and our helpful and cheerful agent at 7:00 AM.  As planned actually there was no wind.  The prior two days were strong winds and a one day gap was coming so a quick sprint to Athens was planned.  Heading south into the Corinth Gulf we hit a few gusts of strong wind but nothing bothersome. 

The highlight of the trip was passing through the Corinth Canal.  The mainland of Greece has an inland sea that almost bisects the country.  Like a miniature Panama Canal this canal was built to shorten the distance from the Ionian sea and the Aegean near Athens.  It saves about 100 miles by using it.  During the past centuries they actually started work on the canal with slaves but never made any real progress.  The current canal is by today’s standards small but a great shortcut for sailboats and small commercial ships.

Being cut through soft limestone the canal is closed on Tuesdays for dredging and wall repair.  Seeing the sides of the canal I am glad they perform this work.  Soft limestone and boats wakes do not mix well over a long time.

The process is simple to pass through.  A call on Channel 11 to inform them of your position.  They confirm your LOA and ask you to take a waiting position ½ mile off the entrance on the west side.  When the westbound traffic clears they allow the eastbound boats to enter.  At each end of the canal are hydraulic bridges that they lower to allow the boats to pass.  In the center sections where the wall are very high two car and one train bridge cross over top at 54 meters in air height.

Once in the canal they will ask the boat to make 7 knots speed.  There was a normal 1.8 knot current against us so we ran the boat at 8.8 knots, not the most economical speed but well within our capacity.  Running along against the current and the canal only being 25 meters wide means slight movements of the wheel produce large changes in direction and the walls loom quickly.

At the east end you are required to stop at the dock to show the ship’s papers and pay the toll.  Not cheap but better than 100 nautical miles around the cape.

After the canal we headed to Athens and Zea Marina.  As we left the canal I discovered that my chart plotter software ended and did not cover the rest of the trip.  Hum.  We had paper charts but they did not have the details I wanted.  So of course the iPhone came into play.  I had already downloaded all of the Med charts.  So with the GPS giving us position and the iPhone providing the details we easily and safely made it to the marina.  New software is on order for the chart plotter.  Always good to have two or three backups and in this case we had the iPhone, paper charts and the pilot book giving detailed directions and landmarks.

Zea Marina is well protected, good help from the marina in berthing and located with mega yachts.  Not bad.

So far we have covered 2,200 nautical miles on the trip.  We spent the last two weeks at anchor or at Itea tied to a quay.  However this is the first time in two weeks we are plugged into shorepower and have city water.  All electricity and water in the past two weeks were self produced.  Keep in mind the water maker is good and makes enough so we did not have to be skimpy.  Showers and laundry were fine.  Just didn’t wash the boat much!

Entering the canal making 8.5 knots.  Fenders downs and mooring lines ready in case.

One of the two hydraulic bridges lowered to allow the passage over it

Beginning of the higher wall section

One of the car bridges

Catamaran following us, not much room for error.