It’s the same every year. There’s a last minute rush to get everything done. Finish the boat maintenance jobs; shelve everything we haven’t got around to; rig the sails; stock up on food; top up the water tanks and squeeze the last drop out of the bank account to refuel. And then there are the goodbyes to friends and the meals with cruisers we never got around to inviting aboard over the winter.
This year, we had two more reasons to put off our departure. An invitation to a Turkish wedding in Kas and a farewell party at the marina.
Finally we slip the lines on 24th April and head out. Going northwards to the top of the Aegean we’ll have the wind mostly on the nose. The best we can hope for is for the wind to be light so we can make headway against it. We make the most of a favourable forecast by making early starts and doing two long hops of fifty miles each under engine from Kastellorizo to Lorymer.
Two exciting wildlife moments: we spotted a couple of sea turtles mating. Then the highlight of the trip was seeing a small pod of pilot whales. It is the first time we’ve seen whales in either the Atlantic or the Med. We slowed down to watch them blowing as they rolled lazily along. One breached and rolled and another raised its tail out of the water in classic style as it dived. Wonderful stuff.
We’re travelling in company with Jim and Jane on their catamaran Orchid.
Jim is basically single handed as Jane’s severe arthritis means she can’t help much around the boat. We think they’re very brave to be out on the water at all. When Orchid starts having engine trouble, they decide to divert to Bozburun and we say our farewells. We want to get north before the meltemi starts.
This year, we had two more reasons to put off our departure. An invitation to a Turkish wedding in Kas and a farewell party at the marina.
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| Newlyweds Samet and Hurriye take to the floor |
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| Cathy reaches out to pin money on the bride |
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| Toasting the beginning of the seaon with fellow cruisers |
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| Getting up close with the belly dancers |
Finally we slip the lines on 24th April and head out. Going northwards to the top of the Aegean we’ll have the wind mostly on the nose. The best we can hope for is for the wind to be light so we can make headway against it. We make the most of a favourable forecast by making early starts and doing two long hops of fifty miles each under engine from Kastellorizo to Lorymer.
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| The diesel berth alsation doesn't like to let go the lines either! |
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| Look what he did to our mooring line! |
Two exciting wildlife moments: we spotted a couple of sea turtles mating. Then the highlight of the trip was seeing a small pod of pilot whales. It is the first time we’ve seen whales in either the Atlantic or the Med. We slowed down to watch them blowing as they rolled lazily along. One breached and rolled and another raised its tail out of the water in classic style as it dived. Wonderful stuff.
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| On whale watch |
We’re travelling in company with Jim and Jane on their catamaran Orchid.
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| Jim checking his anchor in Kasto |
Jim is basically single handed as Jane’s severe arthritis means she can’t help much around the boat. We think they’re very brave to be out on the water at all. When Orchid starts having engine trouble, they decide to divert to Bozburun and we say our farewells. We want to get north before the meltemi starts.
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| Sunrise over Fethiye bay |
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| Summer is here - crossing the 4m bar in the Nemou channel |
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