Corinth Canal

I’ve been looking forward to this the whole trip: the passage through the Corinth Canal. Ka had already sailed through the canal as a backpacker on a tourist barge at the tender age of 18, with fond memories. I had only seen photos and read stories. It was time for a visit and transfer on our own boat. Corinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

This iconic canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea. A 3 nm long shortcut, it saves up to 150 nm around the Peloponnese. In Roman times, there was already a land transport service here for ships that were pulled across the narrows over land. Without dynamite, there wasn’t much of a waterway. The real canal with water was blasted into the rocks by the Greeks and French within 12 years in 1881. This meant that the French were involved in the most remarkable waterways in the world: Panama Canal, Suez Canal and Corinth Canal. Chapeau.

From 1893, the real canal – with water – could then be used: 24 metres wide, 8 metres deep, up to 80 metres high and good up to a mast height of 52 metres. No locks are required and all dimensions were easily fine for Rivercafe. Initially, I wanted to deploy fenders to avoid hitting the rocks. But when I saw a French warship approaching on the canal, I decided against it. There are several roads across the canal that connect the Peloponnese with the mainland. The very daring also use a bridge for bungee jumping. Corinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

Bungee Bridge

But before we could see it for ourselves, we had to do a bit of organising. Our anchorage in Korfos was 15 nm away from the canal. We wanted to sail through when the weather was fine and that had to be organized. While anchored in Korfos, we checked the weather reports easily 10 times a day. Last week I told them about the forecast for really windy weather and we prepared ourselves for a longer stop in Korfos. Then suddenly the Meltemi did what a good Meltemi should do: move into the Aegean. The weather shifted eastwards and was out of our hair.

When the weather forecast became more moderate, I booked us two days in advance for a passage on the Corinth Canal. You can do everything online (corinthcanal.com), with a request for the passage time, ship’s details, ship’s papers and payment. Or you can simply go there on the off-chance and ask on the radio whether a passage is possible. You then have to moor on the south/east side and complete the paperwork and payment at the office, regardless of which direction you are travelling in.

Great business

If I ever hear someone say that Greeks aren’t enterprising, I’ll just recommend they buy a 10-ticket pass for the Corinth Canal. These are probably the most expensive 3 nm in the world: we paid € 270 for a passage on the Rivercafe.

The construction cost 30 million French francs at the time, which would be equivalent to around 500 million euros today. There are calculations that assume construction costs of several billion Euros if the canal were to be built today. This is due to higher technical, safety and environmental standards. So it’s good that the job is already done. However, the canal is regularly closed for maintenance work, between 2021 and 2022 it was longer than a year. It is also regularly closed today, such as from November 24 to March 2025. The next closure will probably come in November 2025. If the canal remains open for longer, almost 12,000 vessel will pass through each year, generating revenue of over €5 million.

For the not-so-modest price of a passage, however, you get the very best service. When approaching, you report by radio on channel 11. Actually, you are supposed to report well in advance, but only the most accurate sailors do that. However, all communication with Corinth Canal Control will be conducted on VHF channel 11.orinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

On our way to the Canal

In the forecast calm weather, from 10 to max. 20 knots, we cast off from Korfos. All of the 8 (!!!) weather systems we usually check were dead wrong. 30 knots and strong white caps against us, that was our day. What’s wrong with the meteorologists? Are useless AI´s now doing the job that they spend all day in the jacuzzi drinking cocktails?

More stressed than expected, we passed the largest oil refinery in Greece with an impressive fleet of tankers at anchor, all the way up to PanMax. Our meteorologist Woodoo dolls had just finished when we reached the anchorage on the land side of the canal with a sandy spot that should give us good shelter for a quiet night. Corinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

Moonset at the Canal entrance

The passage Corinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

Waiting for our passage the next morning we spent the rest of the day listening to the radio exchange between vessels and Corinth Canal Control. We were deeply impressed by how confidently the guys (they really are just guys) had everything under control. From French warships to sailors with shaky English, everyone is guided through the canal without stress.

Video Impressions

The canal is a one-way canal, i.e. a convoy is organised alternately from north/west to south/east. While one group sets off on the 30-minute passage, Control organises the convoy on the other side and keeps everyone on standby. Sailors like us sail under their own power at the advertised speed. Freighters or large vessels are provided with a pilot and tug vessel.

Registation dock and a bar at the entrance of the east/southerly entrance

As usual, we were awake early and to say it in advance: after yesterday’s used day, we had a fantastic day ahead of us. At 7.00 a.m. I radioed Corinth Canal Control. We gave the booking code, which also confirms the payment, and the friendly pilot waved us over and suggested we pick up anchor, drift toward the canal entrance, and tag along behind a motor yacht already waiting its turn. There were only two of us. We turned into the canal at 7.15 am. Efcharistó – Parakaló. Thanks – welcome.

   

Every single minute was an thrilling experience. The current against us was strong and we needed some speed to follow the yacht in front of us. What a treat. The abraded rocks up to 80 metres above us, super-clear water below us. The sun slowly fell over the edge of the rocks into the upper area and we saw the shadow of our mast travelling along the rock face. We would have loved to stop and go for a swim. (imaginary headline: stupid yachties from Luxembourg block the Corinth Canal).

When we left the channel at the north/west end, completely energised, we immediately picked up speed by a knot as the current disappeared. In a sea of jellyfish, we cast a fishing line, set sails and set course for Galaxidi. What a day. 10 knots of wind from 80 degrees and the sea as smooth as a lake brought us slowly and relaxed along the Gulf of Corinth. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and as the the cherry on the cake, a bonito bit and we had some delicious fresh fish. Corinth: The most exiting 3 meiles

West/notherly exit

After another 40 nm, we headed for the bay of Galaxidi and dropped anchor in another gem of our trip. /Holger Binz