SUEZ CANAL

Approach to Suez Canal was a nightmare as our engine overheated due to cooling pipes perishing. We were towed into Port Tewfik by a pilot boat and sustained damage to our stantions as a result. The canal transit was straightforward but the pilots demanded backsheesh for everything. The transit took 14 hours leaving early in the morning and we were dumped outside Port Said with no option but to carry on in the dark with strong headwinds, swell and lots of shipping. We arrived safely in Crete but our autopilot gave up and we had to hand steer for 6 hours (hard work). Boy are we glad to see the last of Arab countries.