NIght time intruders at Korfos

Korfos

3^nd May 2016 We have sailed to Korfos, which is just round the headland from our next destination:  the Corinth Canal. But after a night in the port we hear that gale force winds are forecast for the canal area over the next two days, so we decide to head back to Epidaurus and explore inland.  As we turn the corner out of the bay the wind is on the nose and the horizon disappears into a wall of white.  Then the wind speed suddenly accelerates from 10 to 40 knots, the rain pelts down and the sea begins to crash over the bows.  We don’t fancy the idea of this for another two hours, so we turn back again and tie up on the pontoon Korfos.

The 'pirate' fishing boats

 

4^th May I am woken at 2am by the sound of footsteps on the deck. I climb up the companionway steps and find two Greek men busy undoing our lines! I shout at them to stop, but all they can say is ‘fish’! I then notice that the small motor launch that was moored behind us has been tied alongside our boat. My shouts of ‘No!’ wake Cliff who joins me in trying to evict the men. Eventually Eric, a Norwegian from another boat on the pontoon, arrives along with Takis, the Greek owner of the motor launch. Much shouting ensues in Greek, and Eric explains that the intruders are fishermen from the island of Salamis near Athens, who want to rearrange the boats on the pontoon to make room for their two large fishing boats so they can offload their catch. Eventually we reluctantly agree to move. We later hear that these fishermen are not welcome in Korfos as the pontoon was built for leisure sailors who provide essential income for the many restaurants.

Liz at Palamidi Fort

Liz would like to visit Nafplion, so in the morning we take a cab across to this lovely old town, first stopping at Palamidi Fort that sits high above Nafplion and offers stunning views of the town and the Argolic Gulf.  Then we drive down to the port and wander through the narrow streets admiring the Venetian architecture which has survived from the 14^th Century.

Nafplion town

5^th May At 6am we are woken by footsteps on deck again! The fishermen are busy tying Takis’ boat alongside ours and insist that we should move back. We are planning to leave this morning and so we stand firm – we will move forward so that they can berth behind us, but we cannot have the motorboat tied alongside us. At 10am Takis appears with the police. The fishermen took his boat off the pontoon and anchored it out in the bay - he is furious! The police interview Cliff to confirm what happened and then talk sternly to the fishermen. They are still shouting at each other as we head out of the port towards the Corinth Canal.

Liz helming Sandpiper through the Corinth Canal

Our transit through the canal goes smoothly and Liz gets a chance to take the helm. We are soon tied up on the port at Corinth where we are going for a farewell meal with Liz before she leaves to take her flight to the UK tomorrow.

6^th May 2016 We were up early this morning to wave goodbye to Liz as she took a taxi to the Metro station to go to Athens.  Later we discovered that Liz arrived at the station to find the Metro is on strike! Luckily her taxi hadn’t left, so she jumped back in and headed for the bus station, where she finally found a seat on a bus to Athens.