The Corinth Canal, a highlight on my journey. I stayed 2 nights in Vracháti taking the opportunity to book and pay for the passage down the Corinth Canal online fearing that I may have booked to late for payment to go through on time. I left Vracháti early morning to be at the Canal approach around 08:00. 2 Miles out I radioed in on VHF 11 and asked for permission to enter the Canal — “Captain continue to the entrance” Just before the entrance I was asked to maintain position as a yacht was on exiting. I waited around 5 mins then was asked to proceed into the canal — just me, there was no other boat in sight 🙂 Here are some images of the passage along the Canal
Week 06 making good progess, here some images
Week 06 Passages
Week 07
The trip took me south around the east side of the Peloponnes. The passages became shorter and I spent a few days often in the same spot, I was well within the time frame set and the months of planning since September 2024 had paid off. There were a few adjustments to the list of original passages but I had planned for that. One storm getting a across to Greece and then one set of high winds and gusts during the passage from Velanidia to Elafonisos and finally the Anchor got stuck at the last anchorage before Kalamata in Kitries. It came out eventually and I finally arrived in Marina Kalamata following 1135 NM of fun, adventure and sunburn.
Images of Week 07
Week 07 Passages and final destination Marina Kalamata
That was it, enjoyed every moment except perhaps the passage between Croatia and Italy where I sailed into a non forecasted storm in the Canale dÒntranto suffering some damage to the upper an lower furlex swivels. The storm was tiring, cost a lot of energy and called for a lot of concentration and appropriate reaction to the situation and that on the second night passage so I began to feel the tiredness creeping in. Got through it safely at the end and was I was extremely pleased when it was over and I finally reached the safety of N.Othonoi, a small island WNW of Corfu.
This is the final route taken (blue line), there were few adjustments to the original plan but I had left these options open at the outset. The plan proved to be well organised and I and “Colinsbav” arrived unscathed in Marina Kalamata.
Finally I stopped at the following, mostly one night, a couple I stayed 2 and in Gouvia due to the damaged Furlex 5 nights:
(Croatia) Camping Vestar – Medulinkski – Krijal – Zverinac – ACI Zut – Kaprije – Stupin – Duga Hvar – Vela Luka – Zaklopatica – Mljet – Sudurad – Marina Frapa – Gornji Molunat – (Greece) Avlákia – Gouvia – Potamos – Pátra – Galaxidi – Vracháti – Kórfos – Pórou – O.Kapari – Pláka Leonidiou – Marina Monemvas – Velanidia – Elafónisos – Pórto Kágio – Dirou – Kitriés – Kalamáta.
Now moored in the Marina Kalamáta where “Colinsbav” will remain for at least a year.