GHOST

Well this morning was busy. The lure of chandleries is hard to kick and we had a few loose ends to tie up on purchases that we had (for necessity) and wanted (pure indulgence) to make. The midday departure time came and went as did the cash from my wallet! 2000 euro later we were ready to depart at 1400, fully charged up, watered up and plenty of new kit, but still no wireless windless control (long story but it would have been very cool!).

We headed 30 miles west to the eastern entrance to the Corinth Canal...yeah lets go for it. We started off with a little wind on the nose that soon backed and built so now it was 10 to 15 odd knots from the port quarter (that's the back left hand corner of the boat for you landlubbers!) Let's get the kite up was the call, dust off a few cobwebs from both the kite and ourselves. First attempt not so successful, snuffer lines (snuffer can best be described as a massive sock that allows you to get the kite up and down without the thing flapping all over the place, perfect for cruisers) were sort of tangled, so down it came, but we had it ready to go in no time. Sizzling along at 8.5knots there is no greater satisfaction on a boat than making really good speed under sail but more importantly, down wind. The boat isn't heeled over, nothing feels like it is stressed, the wind (while moving forward) is gentle, its free and looks great! After an hour or so the wind veered around in front of us so we had to put the kite away and set the headsail for a quick motorsail into the harbour at the entrance to the canal.

The Corinth Canal, while only 3.2miles long (25m wide and 6.5m deep with sheer walls some 79m high) is one of the most expensive canals in the world... per mile. So 220 euro later we left about 1915. It was amazing and kind of surreal. It is hard to describe motoring through a huge cut in the land. It's the absurdity and uniqueness of it that gets to you. Bridges way above you (even a bungy jumper right behind us off a bridge!), sheer walls, no direct sunlight, what looked like the cleanest and most inviting water we'd seen in some time. It's just kinda cool!

Alas it was only 3.2miles and soon we were out the other end. Less than a mile on the left of the exit is the town of Corinth and a small yacht harbour. We decided to anchor up out front and settle in for a couple of beers, some tacos and a brilliant red and orange sunset. Not a bad day!!