Meaning you don’t have to travel all the way around the Peloponnese, shaving off a … The canal was dug through the isthmus at sea level and has … Sitting at anchor outside Parga, Greece watching motor yachts vying for position at the town quay. We spent the night in the comercial harbour in Corinth then entered the west holding area late in the morning. 9 Night - YES210401-09 - Iconic Passages: Corinth & Suez Starting in Dubrovnik with stops in Corfu, Itea, Cruising The Corinth Canal, Santorini, Crete/Agios Nikolaos, Cruising the Mediterranean Sea, Transit the Suez Canal… I really hope those workers weren’t afraid if heights though! As long as the wind is not too strong, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. The journey starts with a tick on the bucket list – the iconic Corinth Canal, on our way to Aegina in the Saronic Gulf. And if your boat is even bigger than 25 meters, you are so lucky for having such a spacious boat! The Corinth Canal (Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου) is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. CORINTH CANAL CROSSING. For example, our sailboat Blue is 10.80 meters (36ft) long. Allegedly he used 6000 Jews to do the hard work, but he never got really far. Use plenty of spring lines and fenders. Going from the top all the way down. Clare Ward from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said the voyage … It best to contact canal operator by either e-mail, telephone (+30 27410 30 880) or on the VHF channel 11 (must do so before entering anyways) for the latest information or to call the Limenarchio (Coast Guard) (+30 27410 37 777 VHF channel 12). This is one of those moments you will very consciously experience (you know, with everybody being mindful and all nowadays) and you will enjoy every minute of it. But there are waiting areas at both ends. Two road bridges at either end of the canal are lowered periodically to allow boats through. The Corinth Canal … Rent a car to do so…. Sailing around Greece for 5 months, we couldn’t skip going through the Corinth Canal. Once you are given clearance you must stay in contact with the controller via VHF channel 11 (a hand held unit on the cockpit is a real help). The Corinth Canal, completed in 1893, is one of the most famous landmarks in the world and sailing down its narrow straits is a must. It connects Gulf of Corinth with Saronic Gulf (aka Gulf of Aegina). Even though the price for passage is quite steep, it is definitely worth the 30 to 45 minutes. In case you wanna cut to the chase and skip this part, go straight to “All you need to know for a stress free Corinth Canal passage”. Passengers on the 22.52-metre-wide MS Braemar cruise ship could reach out and … A lot of sailors do the same and stop in some or all of these towns. There are 3 bridges, a railway bridge, 2 road bridges and 2 hydraulic bridged crossing the Canal. See and learn about the most popular sites in Peloponnese as you encounter the Loutraki, Corinth Canal, and Ancient Corinth. OTHER SPELLINGS. It found us in the Gulf of Corinth where our old boat moved slowly on an idle sea. List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. 2021 cruise year for cruises visiting Corinth Canal (Cruising Canal) with arrival dates, ship names, cruise lengths, cruise names, starting point/end points and prices. Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed that its 929-guest ship, Braemar, will be returning to the Corinth Canal in September 2022 for a third time, offering even more guests the opportunity to experience this record-breaking sailing. This is what we did ourselves. Corinth Canal & Town Corinth is best known for the Corinth Canal. On the 3rd day we were getting ready to leave, other two boats were planning to go through Corinth canal too an Ovni and Captain Kalamity (from previous post). Corinth Canal is located in Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean cruising region). Once you’re tied up, you can fill in the necessary paperwork at the office and pay. If you start at the West End of the Corinth Canal in Posidhonía the normal procedure is to potter around outside until it is your turn. When there are strong westerlies blowing for several days, you sometimes get a 2 knot current. 24% VAT)€150,54 incl. You can pay cash or with credit card. But as always when sailing, check the winds beforehand and be aware of it. The 22.5-metre-wide Braemar cruise liner managed … It is said, that this were steps used by the workers to climb into and out of the Canal. You can just cut it short and have a breathtaking, albeit a bit expensive, experience driving though the Corinth Canal. This means you can go through the Corinth Canal by day or by night, at any possible time. The winds and currents tend to flow through the canal from either direction, depending on the prevailing wind, and the current can run at up to 3.0 knots (although 1.0 – 1.5 knots is more usual). It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.

Follow the footsteps of Apostle Paul from Athens to Ancient Corinth, ideal sightseeing in some of the most beautiful places in Greece, and enjoying the breathtaking views from the Isthmus/Corinth Canal… The Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth, near the Ionian Sea, to the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. For business inquiries contact us at helloseethelittlethings@gmail.com, Messina Strait, Sailing until the Sun goes Down, All you need to know crossing the Corinth Canal by sailboat, Here’s a link to the official Greek website. Depending on where you start, you either pay before or after going through. Note that if they stay red it indicates that E-W traffic is coming though and you must not attempt to enter. September 8, 2017. The canal is 6.3 kilometre (4 nM) in length and only 25 metres wide. Although you will also see very big container ships going through, sometimes with a tugboat. While transiting the canal you must, as advised above, stay in contact with the controller via VHF channel 11 ( a hand held unit on the cockpit is a real help). If you wanna see in detail how we sailed from Cephalonia in the Ionian through the Gulf of Corinth and through the Corinth Canal, then subscribe to our YouTube Channel and check out our mini series. We planned on doing this, but with the 20-25 knots of wind blowing past the coast, this wasn’t gonna make for a nice night. PS. The 2 hydraulic bridges can be found at both ends of the Canal and are lowered down into the water, shortly before transiting. Remember that they are used to large ships and not small yachts. Olsen’s smaller-sized ships. Many of today’s vessels are too large to negotiate the Canal, however with Fred. Onwards via Poros and Ermioni, we head to the Argolic Gulf and the town of Monemvasia … This is the city just north of the Canal. We arrived early morning and there were already some boats waiting. Note that if they stay red it indicates that W-E traffic is coming though and you must not attempt to enter. Yachts are currently (2019) charged on Length Over All (LOA). Danger: While transiting try to stay well behind any large ship ahead of you to avoid losing control because of the turbulence. (see link for requirements). The canal is open 24 hrs a day except for Tuesdays, when the canal is closed for routine repairs. There are several cute towns in the Gulf of Corinth on the way to the Canal. Down below find the video of our transit through the Corinth Canal. The depth is kept dredged to 6.5 metres along its entire length. Built between 1881 and 1893, the Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. In our case we left the office of the Customer Service department with €150,54 less in exchange for a 45 minute lifetime experience; passing the Corinth Canal in our own little Sailboat Blue! The limestone walls, which the canal was cut out of, rises up to a staggering 79 meters above sea level at its highest point! From Salamina, excitement is around the bend as you approach the stately Corinth Canal and sail through its passage. You’ll find the office of the Customers Service Department under the Control Tower. We were waiting around the entrance of the Canal for about 30 minutes, together with 10 other boats. The Control Tower will tell you when you can make the transit. A yacht should call Corinth Canal Control on VHF channel 11 when around an hour from the canal to announce arrival and enquire about the next transit from E to W. If approaching from this E side at Isthmia ( Ίσθμια), you will need to go alongside the quay to port side of the channel and visit the office to complete the paperwork and pay the fee. We didn’t have to wait longer than 30 minutes. The sailing across the canal is a unique experience. Cargo vessels carrying goods and/or vehicles, fishing boats, tugboats, warships, special purpose vessels. PS. Warning: While you are alongside the quay on the E side be aware of the very strong turbulence created by large ships. 11,000 ships per year pass through the Canal and the yacht you will sail … Olsen’s Braemar made history in October 2019 by becoming the largest ship – at just under 186 metres long – to sail the 6.4-kilometre canal… You can still see parts of this road on the North side when going through. A speed of around 5 – 6 knots is usually enough to keep steerage control in the event of turbulence and to keep the controller happy. +30 27410 30 880, In heavy winds, the holding area on the west is a bit tight. If in doubt, call on the VHF. You should contact the Isthmia Control Tower on VHF Channel 11, callsign ‘Corinth Canal Authority’ before entering the canal. Fred. Advertisement. When we went through, there was hardly any wind or even current. Personal experiences? So as long as you have the money available somehow, you’ll be fine! Meaning you don’t have to travel all the way around the Peloponnese, shaving off a distance of about 700km and avoiding the risk of exposing oneself to the fiercely blowing winds at the south end of the mainland. Both experiences are fantastic and the feeling by night is a completely different one. The 6.4km long Corinth Canal separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnesian Peninsula and connects the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs. Unlike the Panamanians, who will measure your boat from bowsprit to davit including your dinghy if it’s sticking out for a transit through the Panama Canal, the Greeks will just take the LOA written in your boat papers. But as long as you don’t have to go against them, this makes for some very fun sailing. We waited an hour for clearance and then were the only boat in the canal. INCREDIBLE images show the largest ever ship to passing through the Corinth Canal in Greece this week. MEANING?? Multiple times the Greek and Roman rulers made plans to dig a canal, but it was emperor Nero who actually started digging. BEWARE: When crossing between Posidhonía and the Corinth Harbour, keep a good distance off the shore. The Corinth Canal(Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου) is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinthwith the Saronic Gulfin the Aegean Sea. Corinth Town Corinth … After damages from the second world war, they used the opportunity to make it bigger. It took them about 12 years to dig it out and is excavated at sea level, so it doesn’t need any locks. The quay is quite high and the bollards widely spaced, although there are some lower sections with steps. an extra 25% is charged for a passage on Sundays or holidays, but possible still. When passing through directly behind big commercial ships, make sure to keep a safe distance. The winds were blowing nicely from west to east, between 20 to 28 knots. I hope the post was helpful and I was able to offer you some insights. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. This page has been accessed 87,931 times. Sail across the Corinth Canal. TRAVEL. You will be passing a total of 8 bridges when crossing the Corinth Canal. I’ve heard that the shallow waters extend further than most charts show. Once you have completed the formalities, keep listening watch on VHF channel 11 for notification when you can proceed. The road bridge will lower (sink) and the lights will go green when it is safe to enter. Shortly before entering, they called every boat again and told each of us which boat to follow. But sometimes it’s better to be frowned upon, than to hit another boat or end up ashore! The canal cuts through a narrow isthmus and separates … The Gulf of Corinth Sailing Map covers the area between the Corinth Canal and the Ionian. We stopped in Mesolongi, Nafpaktos, Trizonia, Galaxidi and then Corinth. The Corinth Canal is one of the most expensive canals per mile in the world! All lined up to go through the Corinth Canal! You would not want to spend the night there. We started off in the Ionian Sea, crossing the Gulf of Corinth to get to the Cyclades. With a minimum cost of 80 euros for boats up to 9 meters. The Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth, near the Ionian Sea, to the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. The canal was planned by Hungarian architects Istvan Turr and Bela Gerster, who were … Each year about 1100 ships pass through the canal, these are mostly small vessels, that fit through the narrow canal and are able to dodge the land slides that sit under the surface. --. The cruise ship is currently sailing on a sold-out 25-night 'Corinth Canal & Greek Islands' cruise, which left from port in the UK in September. When these come out you really wonder how on earth they managed to get through! But the historic town is also an important transport hub. The ancient theatre of Epidaurus known for its acoustics. Aerial photos of Corinth canal ↑ Aerial photo Corinth Canal … After which all the boats neatly lined up and through we went! Happy sailing! In ancient times the people used to drag their ships across the isthmus on a paved road, which they called dhiolkos. If you want to transit the Corinth Canal on a Sunday or holiday, you have to calculate an extra 25% on top. So we put it on our bucket list! Based in the historic city of Corinth Our Saronic Gulf & Corinth Canal flotilla flotilla has it all, a wealth of history and culture with famous sites such as the amphitheatre at Epidauros, Ancient Mycenae and … The Corinth Canal itself is 3.2 miles long, 25 meters wide and the maximum permitted draught is 6,5 meters. In the Gulf we did some of our best sailing (and achieved a speed record of 8 knots!)! Tight squeeze: Cruising the Corinth Canal. Yachts are given the lowest priority for transiting and will sometimes have to follow commercial vessels (at a sensible distance). With strong blowing westerlies it can get a little uncomfortable and even though it is frowned upon by the authorities, boats are known to anchor inside the South breakwater. You can contact them about one mile out. Date of member's last visit to Corinth Canal and this page's details validated: Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos, Athene of Lymington,Monterey, Maelms, Aegean to West/East Mediterranean, Northern Route, http://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Corinth_Canal, Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 or Tel. Here I have listed all the information you need to make sure you have a good night sleep the days before and after your passage. VAT. Here’s a link to the official Greek website, where you can find all the formulas. The western entrance to the Corinth Canal lay about five nautical miles ahead. Sailing through the Corinth Canal is a very special experience, especially on board Fred. So we tied ourselves up in the harbour of Corinth City. Instead of Corinth, some stop a bit earlier and spend their last night before going through the Corinth Kanal in Kiato, which is still about 10 miles away from the Canal. A yacht should call Corinth Canal Control on VHF channel 11 when around an hour from the canal to announce arrival and enquire about the next transit from W to E. Usually on the West (Poseidonia - Ποσειδωνία) side you will have anchor off on arrival and wait your turn, which may take several hours at busy periods. So let’s check what the damage is: 80 + ((10.80-9)*23)80 + (41,40) = €121,40 (excl. Days 9 - 15, Through the Corinth Canal After the South Ionian you will pass underneath the incredible Anti Rion suspension bridge and the next few days will be spent making your way east via the lovely island … The Canal we can enjoy today was started by a French company and in the end finished by the Greeks themselves in 1893, after which the first boats went through! An online cruising guide for yachts sailing through the Corinth Canal. So maybe Loutrika is the better option. Fred. The other two components used for calculating the charge are the flag you are flying (Greek flags from certain areas around the Corinth get a discount) and wether your boat is privately owned or chartered. If you don’t mind spending the money twice, I think it is worth going through by night too! But you will be paying 27 euros for each additional meter above 9 meters, and of course the VAT will still get on top. The passage is unique. Days 15 - 21, Through the Corinth Canal After the South Ionian you will pass underneath the incredible Anti Rion suspension bridge and the next few days will be spent making your way east via the lovely … Cruise passengers held their breath as their ship sailed through the narrow Corinth Canal in Greece in a record-breaking moment last week. We stayed in the harbour of Corinth and contacted them as soon as we let go of our mooring lines. Pretty little town. The other option is to have your last stop in Loutraki. Most importantly: soak in the magnificent view and just enjoy the extraordinary experience! We sure did! A primal dawn, a dawn for gods and men. The prop wash creates a washing machine effect and can make it uncomfortable when getting to close. So you must get permission to proceed from the Canal Zone authorities. When calling the Control Tower they asked us our boat length and told us to wait. Steeped in history. Thank you for reading and hope to see you back here soon :). 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