Jason and the Argonauts sail again

Their mythical forbears made it past clashing rocks, harpies and fire-breathing bulls, but a new voyage charting the route of Jason and the Argonauts was sunk by Turkey before even leaving port.

A replica of the Argo sails in the Corinth canal in Greece
The replica of the Argo sails in the canal of Korinthos in Greece Credit: Photo: AFP/GETTY

The voyage assembled oarsmen from all 27 European Union nations for a symbolically fraternal recreation of the quest for the Golden Fleece.

But unfortunately for the expedition from Greece to Colchis (in what is now Georgia) the spirit of brotherhood failed to extend as far as Turkey, an­ EU hopeful but historic Greek foe.

Turkish authorities said they could not guarantee the safety of the modern Argo, ­a 93ft replica of a 14th century BC Greek warship, in the congested shipping lanes of the Bosporus, which measures 765 yards (700m) at its narrowest point and was the mythic location of the Symplegades – moving rocks that smashed boats.

So the voyage from Volos, on Greece's eastern coast, across the Black Sea is sailing a different course.

"We had to reschedule the trip, following Turkey's refusal," said Vangelis Constantinou, the trip's spokesman. The route now bypasses Turkey and, instead of entering the Black Sea via the Bosporus, emulates the detour that Jason and his men made on their way back to Volos, then known as Iolkos.

Jason fled up the Danube towards modern Belgrade, switched on to the Sava, emerging through Slovenia into the Adriatic. From there, he sailed back to Volos ­– a voyage that is being recreated on the Argo of today, except in reverse.

The Argo set sail last month with 50 oarsmen from 27 nations, but without the mythic strength of Herakles, the modern Argo is hardly breaking speed records. It is due to complete its epic 1,300 nautical mile voyage on Aug 11.