The Corinth Canal in Greece

The Corinth canal.







The Corinth Canal - Corinthia Peloponnese Greece
The famous Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece, connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. The Corinth Canal, though only completed in the late 19th century, was an idea and dream that’s dates back over 2000 thousand years.

The strip of land that connects the Peloponnese and mainland Greece is called the “Isthmus”. At it’s narrowest point, it is only 4 miles wide, and in ancient times, one could see from one side to the other.

Before the Corinth Canal was constructed, ships had to travel all around the Peloponnese, which added approximately 185 nautical miles, and several days more travel to their journey time.

The Ancient Greeks devised a solution to the problem of the extra length of the ships’ journey when the “Diolkos” was constructed. This was a stoned path, paved with limestone, which ran along from Schinous on the Saronic Gulf to Poseidonia on the Corinth Gulf. The name “Diolkos” means a “movable platform”.

The tyrant of Corinth, Periander, was the first who envisioned the Corinth Canal in 602BC, but the technical capabilities in ancient times made his idea impossible to carry out. Instead, he developed the “Diolkos”, which more than served its’ purpose.

Along the “Diolkos” ran the “olkos”, which was a wheeled vehicle onto which ships were actually lifted onto, and taken over land from one side to the other. Not all ships could use the “olkos” due to their size, but in many cases, the cargo of ships was taken off at one side, and transported to the other, where a second ship would be waiting to load on the cargo. Today, there are still sections of the “diolkos” that one can still see.

There were many others who intended to start the construction of the Corinth Canal, but for a number of varied reasons, the project never took off. Demetrius Poliorkitis, King of Macedon was one who tried in 300 BC, but with no positive results.

Amongst reasons stopping him was the belief that Poseidon, God of the Sea, opposed the joining of the Aegean and the Adriatic. This was also a fear that stopped Julius Caeser and Emperors Caligula and Hadrian from starting construction of the canal.

The first serious attempt at the canals construction was by Emperor Nero, who in 67AD, announced to spectators at the Isthmian Games that he was going to dig the canal that would "connect the two seas".

Nero in fact dug the first piece of land out himself, using a golden pick, and carried this first basket of earth and turf on his own back. However, even though Nero had approximately 6000 slaves who would work on the canal, again, the plan never materialized, for several reasons, including financial ones.

The idea for the canal was left unfinished, until it was revived again during the late 1800’s. After several false starts, the Corinth Canal was finally completed, and put in use, on October 28th 1893.

The work on the canal was carried out by a combination of French and Greek workmen. The Corinth Canal was actually based on the “Panama ans Suez Canals”, and has often been referred to as the “step-child” of these canals.

The Corinth Canal is still in use today, though many newer and larger ships are too large to pass through any more. However, the canal is still used by many smaller ships, and there are also cruises organized where you can travel on a boat along the canal.

For those with a little more adventure inside them, there is also a bungy jump, which is organized by Zulu Bungy, where you can jump off the bridge and experience the bungy jump of your life. For those of you with not so much adventure, you can stand on the bridge and watch the bungy jumps, as well as look down on the passing ships that sail slowly along the canal.


Facts about the Corinth Canal
Length: 6343 meters (3.94 miles)
Width at land level: 24.60 meters
Width at Sea Bed: 21.30 meters
Water Depth: 8 meters
Highest Point from Sea Level: 79 meters

Introducing Bombaloza,a world first

Bombaloza,whats it mean? Dave Hartwanger,its designer and builder says nothing but anything,it describes how it goes he says! either way this new design is a really practical Scull,its made for sea water and small surf,its light too,the design says 35kgs,while the boat in the pictures came out at 36.5 kgs,so very close.This is a great South African design,we can offer the boat as a set of plans,a CNC cut kit or a fully built up boat ready to go.

Hi Roy,

I've attached a few pics of the Bombaloza. I designed it to conform to the FISA specifications for a coastal single (C1x). I've attached the official FISA regulations for interest, but basically the Bombaloza has the following specs:
length: 5.95m
Beam: 76cm
Weight: approx 35kg depending on build. (the boat in the pics weighs 36.5 kg)
Load capacity: 60 - 120 kg.

Its great for novice training and a bit of fun on flat water. Its not too slow either, can keep pace with a decent K2. Its real purpose though is for rowing on the ocean. It handles beautifully through small surf and easily cruises over the ocean swells.

My aim is to promote this boat as a versatile, fun, affordable entry into rowing that is suitable for the whole family.

Henrys Guillemot Kayak build continues.

Pictures are worth many words,so I will let these do their own talking,CKD Boats supplied all materials,plys,epoxy,glass tapes and bare copper wire,all of which are ex stock items,we can ship local or world wide.

Single handed Tasman Sea row boat crossing attempt

Shaun Quincey

WatchMate Joins Another Solo Adventurer
News release 23 November 2009
AIS WatchMate Joins Another Solo Adventurer

Shaun Quincey, 24, is setting out to do what only his father Colin Quincey has done before – single-handedly cross the Tasman Sea in a row boat. The elder Quincey made history in 1977 by completing the first ever and only solo Tasman crossing rowing from New Zealand to Australia. Counter to his father, Shaun will set out to row west to east across the treacherous Tasman, departing the Australian shore later this month.

In preparation for his solo endeavour, Quincey has spent the last two years preparing himself for the physical and mental challenge of a tough two months at sea. In addition his vessel, home and safe haven for the voyage, the 7 metre Tasman Trespasser II must also be prepared for the journey.

Shaun has equipped his small boat with technology that will help aid safe passage. He has considerably more options available to him than his Dad had for his passage in '77 when safety and navigation gear consisted of a radar reflector on a pole and a sextant.

Quincy selected the AISWatchMate RX by Vesper Marine. Designed to help warn mariners of potentially dangerous collisions, this dedicated safety instrument provides advanced collision warning and navigation information about the shipping traffic that is in the vicinity. The low power consumption of the WatchMate RX is especially beneficial for Quincey because battery power aboard is limited. The AISWatchMate sips power and is designed to be left on at all times. The AISWatchMate is made effective because of compulsory requirements for nearly all commercial vessels on an international voyage to be fitted with AIS transponders.

Quincy says “The WatchMate brings me great peace of mind and I appreciate the ability to leave it on at all times since my boat is powered only by a solar panel.” He plans to depart in January and added “it's very reassuring to know I'll be alerted if a ship is on a collision course with me since it's unlikely they will be able to see me otherwise.”

Follow his progress and read other information about his epic adventure at www.tasmantrespasser.com

Endurance 37 drying out in Hout Bay

Once was we had a nice facility to dry out at low tides,we see a good 1.8 meters and a little more at times,so its plenty to service through hulls and do antifoul if you want,except when reconstruction was done on the far end of this harbour wall a few years back,they closed the underside of the wall where we are tied to,before that section was open and the tide washed though,leaving a nice sand bank,its deeper there now and fishing boats use the space,so a good place lost to us,just like the small beach we once had over by the NSRI.

Tom Maben,single handed sailor

Tom and his wife Dale aboard Song of Grace prior to Tom sailing off,all pictures by R McBride using a Canon FT 35mm camera.

Song of Grace,along side a sister ship,Ocean Cloud both boats crossed the South Atlantic but only Toms with its blue transom single handed,well done Tom.
Left click the log book pages to view in a larger size.




I mentioned Tom did a trip on his own,well on checking I find its was all of fifteen years ago,month to month,he left Hout Bay at noon on the 13th of November 1995,sailing 5600 miles to Grenada and arrived on the 8th of January 1995,thats quite a trip.The boat was an Endurance 37 design by Peter Ibold,Tom bought a set of mouldings from the Knysna Boat Yard,in Knysna,Eastern Cape,he had the bare hull and deck delivered to his home in Bryanston,where he completed the boat prior to bringing it all the way down on a road trailer and launching in Hout Bay Harbour,I was there that day.

When Tom decided to leave Song of Grace in Grenada and fly back home,he wrote up his log book and kindly gave me a copy,I have copied pages one and 31 which is the last page on arrival,if you want the rest of the story you had better ask Tom!

Resounds new spray dodger

Jeremy in action (slow motion mode)



This was the first try at such work by Jeremy.



This became easier as he worked into the idea and ended up with exactly what he wanted.


Resound is a Lavranos 39 in GRP,untill now she has not had a spray dodger of any sort,thats no good idea with the winds we can get around the cape from time to time.The boats owner,Jeremy,decided to have a go at making a spray dodger himself,he used our 3mm thick Superform bending plywoods,with a few layers around the boats existing combings,it was an easy bend,as Superform takes that radius with ease.

Around three years later and the hard dodger looks good and works well.

Make it yourself using our Superform bending plywood, in stock right now in 3mm,5mm and 8mm thicknesses.

How easy can it get!

Roy

Jessica Watsons progress,

I note Jessica on the Pink Lady has now crossed the equator,well done jessica,next destination is the Line Islands,wind will decide exactly where,she then sets a course headed to Cape Horn.

Jessica Watson Selects WatchMate
News release 14 October 2009
WatchMate Joins Jessica Watson for Solo World Record Attempt

Australian teenage adventurer Jessica Watson has chosen the AISWatchMate® from Vesper Marine as her on-board AIS solution for her solo around-the-world sailing challenge. The AISWatchMate was installed in Sydney after her earlier collision with a cargo ship off the southern Queensland coast.

The WatchMate is a unique and sophisticated collision warning instrument which is very easy to use. As a dedicated safety tool it provides mariners with advance warnings and features prioritisation and filtering capabilities that eliminate the clutter and complexity associated with other AIS solutions. Vesper Marine believes safety is too important to be buried in complicated menus or user interfaces. As a result the WatchMate's intuitive interface provides concise and relevant data at those times when it's needed most.

Jessica Watson aims to set the world record for youngest unassisted solo sailor to circumnavigate and the WatchMate provides her with a valuable watch keeping tool utilising the safety benefits of AIS to help increase situational awareness of surrounding marine traffic. The very low power consumption of the WatchMate is important to energy concious sailors like Jessica that rely on solar and wind to keep batteries charged.

The system was installed aboard Ella's Pink Lady by Vesper Marine agents Aquatronics Marine in Brookvale.

A boat cover you can make yourself

This looks a little tight inside if you want to work on the boat,if its for storage its really snug,end ventilators may be a good idea?
Roy.








I have already placed info on a neat way to cover a boat for storage or working in,that was down in Gweek,Cornwall,England,this is a nice set of pics found on the web site below.

http://triton680.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog

Tale Teller launches

Tale Teller is a Vertue 26,with sail number 114,she is a wonderfull example of the Laurent Giles design,built in Deneysville (i think) by Henry Vink,she is now forty seven years old,and is not showing her years.A while back Tom Maben bought it,I told him about a previous owner,the boat was once named 'Footloose' when Noel Jacobs (a diver)circumnavigated in her.Tom then took four years to restore her,he took her apart,removed anything that would move,some that would not too,as Tom said to me this boat has many tales to tell,hence the boats new name,Tale Teller.