Pyrrhus of Epirus Illustration

[Paralus]

I don´t think Corinthians were unskilled plus Thukidides is an Atheninan!

They and the Spartans - more so - were much less skilled than the Athenians. They were still fighting in the "old way". This is the point of Thucydides' observation. He counterpoints it with his vivid description of the out-sailed Peloponnesians off Naupactos some five years later. In that action he has Phormio point out the lack of naval skill of the Peloponnesians when he claims that the Peloponesians wish to catch them in narrow waters so as to turn the action into a battle on land at sea. Just as was Sybota. Conversely, the Peloponnesian commanders, including Brasidas, wax lyrical about their courage all the while trying to shoot the elephant in the room: the Athenian's clear advantage in naval tactics and skill (1.87):

So far as you are concerned you may lack the enemy's experience, but that is more than made for by your superior daring. This skill of theirs, which is the thing which you fear most, has to be combined with courage.

As with others of his speeches, Thucydides is working the theme. Here it is the fear of Athenian naval tactics and skills which were, demonstrably, better than the Peloponnesian.

That Thucydides is an Athenian is of minor import. He spares neither himself (Amphipolis) nor the Athenians (take your pick) throughout his narrative. He is most definitely an imperialist and enjoys the descriptions of power and its use and those who wield it: the Melian dialogue; Mytilenian debate; Brasidas' rise and undermining by certain Spartans and more. He is not often caught out favouring the Athenians and in these scenarios he is demonstrating for readers what, in his time, was an accepted fact.

This likely is not the place for a 'source criticism' essay on Thucydides...

If you have your decks full of combatants and you fight in a narrow place, why bother with elaborate tactics? You just let your marines clear the enemy decks and you acquire less damaged ships, spoils and slaves.
You investment is partly returned.

A pity the skilled Corinthians were in no way interested in your economic analysis (1.50):

After their victory, the Corinthians, instead of taking into tow and dragging away the ships that they had put out action, turned their attentions to the men. They sailed in and out of the wreckage, killing rather taking prisoners. Thus they unknowingly killed some of their own friends...

They were pursuing vengeance pure and simple. A precursor of the hatred that would now fester between 'founder' and 'colony' and which would see Kerkyra fall into that particularly bloody Greek city state stasis. And they showed a little sailing skill in so doing. This they had no intention of attempting in the battle.

Given the number of hoplites, archers and javelineers aboard the ships there was not ever any intention to fight a naval engagement. Rather a “land engagementâ€