Onwards via Poros and Ermioni, we head to the Argolic Gulf and the town of Monemvasia … You can still see parts of this road on the North side when going through. In ancient times the people used to drag their ships across the isthmus on a paved road, which they called dhiolkos. We stopped in Mesolongi, Nafpaktos, Trizonia, Galaxidi and then Corinth. The canal was built between 1881 and 1893, cutting through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth that separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, effectively making the former an island. INCREDIBLE images show the largest ever ship to passing through the Corinth Canal in Greece this week. --. Maybe even more exciting. 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. Depending on where you start, you either pay before or after going through. 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. Olsen you … BEWARE: When crossing between Posidhonía and the Corinth Harbour, keep a good distance off the shore. (see link for requirements). The road bridge will lower and the lights will go green when it is safe to enter. We followed them out and radioed in to request permission to go through, we were told to wait in the NE of the canal … There is a current in the canal of about 1-3 knots, depending on the wind direction. 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. If you are a normal cruising sailboat (with foreign flag) like us, you’ll fall into the category “ST” and you can calculate your fee using the formula: 80 + (LOA-9)*23,00. 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. Even though the price for passage is quite steep, it is definitely worth the 30 to 45 minutes. Currently the canal is operated by Greek government staff, but is due to be privatized again during 2012-13. 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”. 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. When there are strong westerlies blowing for several days, you sometimes get a 2 knot current. But there are waiting areas at both ends. Sailing through the Corinth Canal is a very special experience, especially on board Fred. The road bridge will lower (sink) and the lights will go green when it is safe to enter. 24% VAT)€150,54 incl. Note that if they stay red it indicates that E-W traffic is coming though and you must not attempt to enter. We arrived early morning and there were already some boats waiting. We spent the night in the comercial harbour in Corinth then entered the west holding area late in the morning. You would not want to spend the night there. But as always when sailing, check the winds beforehand and be aware of it. Sailing around Greece for 5 months, we couldn’t skip going through the Corinth Canal. We picked out the one day with low winds to make it easy on ourselves. MEANING?? Aerial photos of Corinth canal ↑ Aerial photo Corinth Canal … The 2 hydraulic bridges can be found at both ends of the Canal and are lowered down into the water, shortly before transiting. Going from the top all the way down. But you will be paying 27 euros for each additional meter above 9 meters, and of course the VAT will still get on top. Meaning you don’t have to travel all the way around the Peloponnese, shaving off a … The harbour in Corinth is a bit tricky with all the mooring buoys floating around and the many fishing boats. Let’s trust the locals on this one! An online cruising guide for yachts sailing through the Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal itself is 3.2 miles long, 25 meters wide and the maximum permitted draught is 6,5 meters. There is only one place where you can pay the passage fee: on the Isthmian/Eastern side of the Corinth Canal. The limestone walls, which the canal was cut out of, rises up to a staggering 79 meters above sea level at its highest point! 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. If you want to transit the Corinth Canal on a Sunday or holiday, you have to calculate an extra 25% on top. Cruise passengers held their breath as their ship sailed through the narrow Corinth Canal in Greece in a record-breaking moment last week. The Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth, near the Ionian Sea, to the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. Most importantly: soak in the magnificent view and just enjoy the extraordinary experience! The four-mile-long Corinth Canal is one of the world’s smallest canals designed to link two bodies of water and save sailing time for ships. The Corinth Canal is too narrow for ships to pass each other, since it is about 25 meters wide. The Gulf of Corinth Sailing Map covers the area between the Corinth Canal and the Ionian. This page has been accessed 87,931 times. There is a waiting quay at the E end where yachts can complete the paperwork and pay the dues for transiting but none at the W end, where yachts need to anchor or mill around waiting for the signal to proceed. +30 27410 30 880, In heavy winds, the holding area on the west is a bit tight. A primal dawn, a dawn for gods and men. Location of the Corinth Canal The Corinth Canal separates the … The canal is open 24 hrs a day except for Tuesdays, when the canal is closed for routine repairs. Clare Ward from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said the voyage … The Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth, near the Ionian Sea, to the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. The western entrance to the Corinth Canal lay about five nautical miles ahead. It took them about 12 years to dig it out and is excavated at sea level, so it doesn’t need any locks. Corinth Canal - Cruising Arrive , Depart 7 Athens (Piraeus) Arrive , Depart There are several cute towns in the Gulf of Corinth on the way to the Canal. 11,000 ships per year pass through the Canal and the yacht you will sail … Yachts are given the lowest priority for transiting and will sometimes have to follow commercial vessels (at a sensible distance). The 6.4km long Corinth Canal separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnesian Peninsula and connects the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs. Personal experiences? You can contact them about one mile out. List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. This is what we did ourselves. When we went through, there was hardly any wind or even current. If you don’t mind spending the money twice, I think it is worth going through by night too! After which all the boats neatly lined up and through we went! Olsen’s smaller-sized ships. So you must get permission to proceed from the Canal Zone authorities. So we put it on our bucket list! The canal was built between 1881 and 1893, … 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. Explore every corner of Corinthia! The canal links the Ionian and Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Peloponnese. But the historic town is also an important transport hub. There is a restaurant where you can pass some of the waiting time. Steeped in history. The other option is to have your last stop in Loutraki. Everybody was just floating in place, waiting for the Control Tower to give us the final GO! 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. Use plenty of spring lines and fenders. The winds were blowing nicely from west to east, between 20 to 28 knots. Many of today’s vessels are too large to negotiate the Canal, however with Fred. As long as the wind is not too strong, you shouldn’t encounter any problems. A must do! 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. So maybe Loutrika is the better option. We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. an extra 25% is charged for a passage on Sundays or holidays, but possible still. Here’s a link to the official Greek website, where you can find all the formulas. We waited an hour for clearance and then were the only boat in the canal. We started off in the Ionian Sea, crossing the Gulf of Corinth to get to the Cyclades. This means you can go through the Corinth Canal by day or by night, at any possible time. Most of the ruins at the archaeological site at Ancient Corinth … Two road bridges at either end of the canal are lowered periodically to allow boats through. 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 … When coming towards the “end” when going through from West to East, or in the “beginning” when going through from East to West, you can notice there are a lot of neatly cut out holes in the walls. The Corinth Canal is one of the most expensive canals per mile in the world! Because with winds this strong, there will be waves building up in the Gulf. We were waiting around the entrance of the Canal for about 30 minutes, together with 10 other boats. For example, our sailboat Blue is 10.80 meters (36ft) long. Advertise with NZME. The sailing across the canal is a unique experience. See and learn about the most popular sites in Peloponnese as you encounter the Loutraki, Corinth Canal, and Ancient Corinth. It is also possible to anchor in front of Corinth instead of going into the harbour, but this is only comfortable in light winds. Pretty little town. Multiple times the Greek and Roman rulers made plans to dig a canal, but it was emperor Nero who actually started digging. Instead of sailing the Corinth Gulf, there is the option of sailing around the Peloponese peninsula - compare the northern (Corinth Canal) route and the southern route. Sitting at anchor outside Parga, Greece watching motor yachts vying for position at the town quay. Corinth Town Corinth … I’ve heard that the shallow waters extend further than most charts show. OTHER SPELLINGS. When arriving on the Eastern side, after going through, tie up the boat next to the Control Tower. But sometimes it’s better to be frowned upon, than to hit another boat or end up ashore! It is said, that this were steps used by the workers to climb into and out of the Canal. The Corinth Canal is always opened, except for Tuesday from 0600-1800h, due to repairs that need to be done on the crumbling limestone sides and for dredging. 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). Some Greeks have told me that this is a nicer city than Corinth itself. Once you’re tied up, you can fill in the necessary paperwork at the office and pay. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Corinth Canal & Town Corinth is best known for the Corinth 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. In the Gulf we did some of our best sailing (and achieved a speed record of 8 knots!)! You should contact the Isthmia Control Tower on VHF Channel 11, callsign ‘Corinth Canal Authority’ before entering the canal. I really hope those workers weren’t afraid if heights though! We sure did! 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! Cargo vessels carrying goods and/or vehicles, fishing boats, tugboats, warships, special purpose vessels. The journey starts with a tick on the bucket list – the iconic Corinth Canal, on our way to Aegina in the Saronic Gulf. The canal was dug through the isthmus at sea level and has …

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… All lined up to go through the Corinth Canal! Warning: While you are alongside the quay on the E side be aware of the very strong turbulence created by large ships. 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… 14 Oct, 2019 10:06am Quick Read. Fred. The Control Tower will tell you when you can make the transit. Passengers on the 22.52-metre-wide MS Braemar cruise ship could reach out and … 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. 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. The depth is kept dredged to 6.5 metres along its entire length. It connects Gulf of Corinth with Saronic Gulf (aka Gulf of Aegina). The canal was planned by Hungarian architects Istvan Turr and Bela Gerster, who were … Built between 1881 and 1893, the Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The Canal, which is 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, making the former peninsula an island. Fred. If in doubt, call on the VHF. When these come out you really wonder how on earth they managed to get through! PS. The Corinth Canal (Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου) is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. 0:09. Down below find the video of our transit through the Corinth Canal. Remember that they are used to large ships and not small yachts. 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! We didn’t have to wait longer than 30 minutes. 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. 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… If in doubt, call on the VHF. Tight squeeze: Cruising the Corinth Canal. Meaning we did some lovely downwind sailing, and surfing! Danger: While transiting try to stay well behind any large ship ahead of you to avoid losing control because of the turbulence. Once you have completed the formalities, keep listening watch on VHF channel 11 for notification when you can proceed. Most reliable yacht charter firms will arrange all paperworks for your crossing through the canal. With a minimum cost of 80 euros for boats up to 9 meters. Although the maximum hight for vessels going through is limited to 52 meters, because of the several bridged you’ll be passing under on your way through. 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. So we tied ourselves up in the harbour of Corinth City. From Salamina, excitement is around the bend as you approach the stately Corinth Canal and sail through its passage. 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. Advertisement. 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). 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. So let’s check what the damage is: 80 + ((10.80-9)*23)80 + (41,40) = €121,40 (excl. When calling the Control Tower they asked us our boat length and told us to wait. 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