26 September
We set the alarm for 6.30 a.m. in order to leave Kas marina by 7 a.m. the time at which the sun is rising and the forecast was for a very settled day. We left exactly on the dot of 7 a.m. and made good progress along the coast back to Gocek. We were passing Kalkan when the Captain, in the process of downloading his Guardian, heard on the radio a Turkish warship telling another boat to turn back to either Kalkan or Kas as the Turkish Navy were practising live firing all the way to Gocek until 7 p.m. that evening. We listened for a while still heading in that direction and watching the Turkish warship scurrying around telling all the boats in its path to turn back. Finally the Captain radioed the warship to be absolutely sure we couldn't proceed and we too turned back. The Captain was not happy in view of the very settled weather conditions and a possible missed opportunity of an easy passage. We headed towards a bay, Yesilkoy Limani, close to Kalkan, which other boats were in the process of leaving. By this time it was still only just after 9 a.m. and we found plenty of room for us to anchor and we settled down to enjoy a peaceful day on the boat in the sunshine. Before too long we were surrounded by other boats which presumably had suffered the same experience and had to find somewhere to stay for the day and night.
 |
| Book Club |
September 27
Again we set the alarm for 6.30 a.m. but this time the Captain had to rescue the shore line and re-attach the dinghy to the back of the boat. All went well and we were off again by 7 a.m. But not an original idea at all - practically all the other yachts in the bay were either leaving or had already gone - a lot of them flying the good old red ensign. We have sailed up and down this particularly part of the coast line a number of times now and on the whole we hardly see many other boats. This time there was an armada. We counted at least fifteen yachts and two or three gulets all heading in the same direction. The Captain's fears of not such a calm day were not realised and we had a good trip back to our favourite Twenty two fathom cove, about an hour away from Gocek, where we spent quite a few days earlier in the year. We then spent some time finding a good place to drop the anchor and take a line ashore. We were disappointed that the mooring buoys which had been here earlier in the year seem to have disappeared. We did, however, provide endless amusement for some fellow Brits on a yacht who watched our endeavours and we are now (we hope) secured for the night It has not helped that we still only have one rowlock on the dinghy (the other one remains at home in Bruce's briefcase - it did make its way home from Tubecraft but not as far as Turkey) and the outboard has decided to play up and I am not experienced enough to know how to cope with it. Tomorrow we go to Gocek marina for a couple of nights to visit the lovely laundry and stock up with everything for the last week which we plan to spend in the surrounding bays before heading back to Marmaris when the weather permits. Hopefully it will permit us to stay for as long as possible away from Marmaris.
Again we set the alarm for 6.30 a.m. but this time the Captain had to rescue the shore line and re-attach the dinghy to the back of the boat. All went well and we were off again by 7 a.m. But not an original idea at all - practically all the other yachts in the bay were either leaving or had already gone - a lot of them flying the good old red ensign. We have sailed up and down this particularly part of the coast line a number of times now and on the whole we hardly see many other boats. This time there was an armada. We counted at least fifteen yachts and two or three gulets all heading in the same direction. The Captain's fears of not such a calm day were not realised and we had a good trip back to our favourite Twenty two fathom cove, about an hour away from Gocek, where we spent quite a few days earlier in the year. We then spent some time finding a good place to drop the anchor and take a line ashore. We were disappointed that the mooring buoys which had been here earlier in the year seem to have disappeared. We did, however, provide endless amusement for some fellow Brits on a yacht who watched our endeavours and we are now (we hope) secured for the night It has not helped that we still only have one rowlock on the dinghy (the other one remains at home in Bruce's briefcase - it did make its way home from Tubecraft but not as far as Turkey) and the outboard has decided to play up and I am not experienced enough to know how to cope with it. Tomorrow we go to Gocek marina for a couple of nights to visit the lovely laundry and stock up with everything for the last week which we plan to spend in the surrounding bays before heading back to Marmaris when the weather permits. Hopefully it will permit us to stay for as long as possible away from Marmaris.
 |
| Yesilkoy Limani, near Kalkan |
The bays sound lovely! Any turtles this year? Or jelly fish? Have you been swimming in the sea without your crew? Effie has a great pirate joke for you but hopefully you will continue to stay away from pirates and warships!? I am glad you are a source of entertainment for your fellow Brits. Looking forward to your safe return xx
ReplyDelete