Lefkas Canal

Since leaving the Gulf of Corinth, we were heading north in the Ionian Sea keeping mainland Greece to starboard and a cluster of Greek islands to port.

This is a popular place for cruising with lots of bays and villages to poke around in. We have limited time to cruise in most of the EU countries, Greece being one, so we kept moving past this area, making our way to the last port in Greece, Corfu.

Before we got there though, we took the shortcut on May 28th through the Lefkas Canal. This is a well-marked (with buoys) and dredged canal. Halfway through at the modern Lefkas Marina, we re-fuelled and spent the night (N38°49.857' E020°42.686'). This is a protected facility that services a large fleet of charter boats as well as private yachts where they can safely stay year round.

Lefkas Marina

Many masts

The east side of the Canal is mainland Greece and the other side is consequently an island with the Canal as the separator. For transitting road vehicles, there is a bridge ferry that parks itself across the Canal and lowers its ramps on each end to form a bridge. Then at specified times, it stops traffic, raises its ramps, motors to the side of the Canal, and lets waiting marine traffic pass.

Not aware of schedules of the bridge openings, we headed out of the Marina early the morning of May 29th heading north up the Canal. We soon came to a stop at the blocking ferry bridge and had to wait. But not too long. Then it was open waters for day sailing up to Corfu.

Swinging floating bridge