Canal then Korfos and Aegina
31 August 2012 | Aegean sea
George, very warm still.
We left Itea then Andikiron after our successful fact finding trip to Syos and headed to the Corinth canal. The wind had died but the seas were uncomfortable and choppy. I called up the canal on the radio as requested when five miles out, but no reply. Same again at one mile out. The Greek radio operator had probably gone out for a smoke. Eventually we managed to make contact and we had to wait a short while for the westbound boats to leave the canal. The water in the canal was a lovely turquoise, a combination of the overhead sun and sandy bottom, it was about 5 metres deep. At each end there were two low road bridges which sink under the water to let the boats pass. At the end of the canal we were efficiently dealt with when we paid the fee off 155 euro (£121).
We then headed for Korfos, and actually managed to sail all the way for a change, averaging over 6.5 knots with just the genoa. We really haven't seen much wind at all while in Greece, or it is from the wrong direction, ie on the nose.
Korfos was situated in a large sheltered bay and we anchored close to the shore near the tavernas. We were there for two nights and met up with our Dutch friends again.
We then headed to Aegina, a three hour trip due east from Korfos and were lucky enough to be able to use the private pontoon of the Aegean Sailing School, who I used to work for in 2008 and had still kept on touch with. Their boats were out until Friday night so they were happy for us to use their berth. The town was much as I remember it, although a little more up market, with several art galleries, nice jewellery shops, and even the scruffiest tavernas had bought new tables and chairs. We had a lovely lunch with Melody who runs the sailing school the following day.
On Thursday evening we had an entertaining evening watching a large number of boats come into the harbour all hoping to find a space, of which there were few. Early the next morning when one yacht left the harbour, we quickly decided to move into their space to vacate the berth for the returning sailing school yachts, and we were glad we did as the same entertainment happened tonight, with more and more boats competing for few spaces. They all seem to go somewhere in the end, and the less brave ones anchor outside off the beach.
More news soon .....