7th May 2006 - Orhaniye to Gocek

Posted at 5:33 AM, Monday, May 8, 2006

We slipped our lines at 0600, just before dawn, to chug out of Orhaniyes inlet nursing a minor headache from the previous nights affair.  Sue helped stow fenders etc - then promptly went back to bed.

We followed a long line of yachts - now 50 participants in the rally  - strung out like a line of beads bobbing along in the half light before us. 

Todays leg is shaped like a big C, where we start at the top end of the C and end up 70 miles later at the bottom.  We started by going west south west backtracking over our inward course across Hisaronu Gulf, then due south across Yesilova Gulf leaving the Greek island of Simi to starboard (on our right side), and then turned east for a longish open leg of water with  Rhodos being left to our south, to finally turn northeast into the island studded bay where Gocek is beautifully located. 

The scenery (when we were close enough to view the shoreline) has been stunning.  Lots and lots of small Turkish islands set before craggy wooded hills with inside passages between them.

The sun was up and warm by the time we’d completed our first west  bound leg.  I'd hoisted the sails solo but ran with the engine still on.  It was 0900 by the time I turned south, and 1100 when we turned eastward and shaped up a long leg towards Gocek.  The winds until then had been fitful, light and flukey, so along with all others we had the motor ticking over.  Almost immediately after we had rounded the cape to turn eastward, the breeze began to fill in steadily from behind us.  It grew to 20 knots by midday and stayed that way all afternoon with the odd 25 knot gust.

The sea around us was filled with the now 50 paticipating yachts.  Everyone really pally and lots to shared photo taking as boats exchanged positions.  Some (like us) were sailing with spinnakers or gennekers, but many simply had a mainsail up and were motoring. A nice sight. 

We ran around the deck like loonies, enjoying the physical exercise of somehow going through all combinations of headsails several times.  It did mean we kept to our maximum boatspeed as we attempted to catch each yacht that appeared in front of us. 

Most others had departed earlier than us, as most were smaller and  slower.  The organisers had asked we all arrive before sunset - so some left as early as 2.30 am!

We used in rotation our ful main with either our regular jib headsail; the spinnaker; the code 0; back to the spinnaker; then the jib; then the code 0 again....…. 

A real workout under a hot sun, in stiff downwind breezes.  But the boat really trucked along with lots of spray and sun on the fordeck as we struggled to bring in and exchange sails.  It kind of reminded me of the old days, racing in very similar conditions off Fremantle.

It was 1600 and still blowing as we slid around the corner and finally into the wind free shelter of the Fethiye Gulf - where Gocek Marina sits nestled alongside Gocek town 5 miles up in the top corner.  This marina is run by the respected UK firm of Camper and Nicholson – and appears at first glance to be the best laid out / organised marina facility yet seen on the rally. 

Their marineros had some fun helping to park up the 50 rally yachts in the still stiff berreze, as of course all 50 yachts arrived within a one hour window!  But they managed well.

This gulf is also island studded nd very pretty.  It must be fed by a river or stream as we've got bullrushes growing on the marina banks.  I frankly did not expect Turkey to be as beautiful as it it has appeared from seaward – but each new place we visit seems to almost top the last.  Bodes well for the rest of the trip.

Another lay day today.  Another party tonight.  Then onward to our next destination where we anchor as opposed to going into a marina.

That should be fun.

JOHN