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This is our experience on this quiet September night. When we have been here before we have had<br />
different encounters. Once a General from the military establishment came to dine and the surrounding<br />
cornfields were filled with armed soldiers and the boats were searched, with the exception of ours. The<br />
relaxed restaurant suddenly displayed white tablecloths and all the waiters dressed in crisp clean shirts.<br />
Another time, it was local entertainment under the stars on the warm summer nights. A couple of<br />
Turkish guest played their violins. We were invited to join a group of German and Dutch sailing people.<br />
Soon a German yachtsman produced a guitar and we all sang English popular songs. Then a Dutch<br />
guitarist joined in. He was fantastic, probably a professional classical guitarist. He looked like a Greek<br />
God and played like an angel. The raki flowed and we lost our inhibitions. The dancing started, songs<br />
were endless and the night rolled on. A lonely Turkish soldier was having such a good time he wanted to<br />
contribute too. All he had was his gun, so he fired it into the air in time to the music. We all hit the<br />
ground and the party broke up. Before returning to our various boats we were sworn to secrecy. We<br />
must say we saw nothing. We heard nothing. It was long ago, so I feel it is safe to break my silence and<br />
tell a much-shortened version of a story of this most amazing night.<br />
In these two restaurants the food is delicious, the prices reasonable and there are some facilities now.<br />
There is a small shop, good showers and toilets. We could not swim this time, as the bay had been<br />
invaded with enormous golden-brown jellyfish, complete with barnacle-like skirts of black beads.<br />
Deceptively, they looked like a reflection of the sun in the water and they could move with<br />
considerable speed.<br />
Yedi Adalari (Seven Islands) East Creek<br />
Nothing to it really, as the owner of one of the restaurants in English Harbour said when he described<br />
Yedi Adalalr,<br />
"Yedi Adalari. Finish."<br />
The new marina at Turgetreis<br />
It is just a large bay scattered with islands. There are no restaurants, no ancient ruins, nothing. In<br />
places it is rather barren. The water is clear but deep, and it is good for swimming. We decided to<br />
anchor in the East Creek which is one of the inner most bays. What we did not appreciate at the time<br />
was that this anchorage offers excellent shelter from a SW storm. As we cooked our dinner the sky<br />
darkened. Boats that had moored at the entrance of the bay re-anchored and joined us in this<br />
sheltered inlet. We looked across the 35 miles of sea towards Bodrum. There the sky was black.<br />
Thunder crashed and fork lightening split the sky, hardly a second’s beat between electric bright<br />
flashes. The show was phenomenal.<br />
The wind reached storm force 11 with a speed of 55 knots. We did not know it then but Bodrum was<br />
experiencing a hurricane. We were told that the streets became rivers and trees were blown down.<br />
Chairs and tables left outside were picked up by the wind and blown at speed past restaurant windows.<br />
An outside pontoon in the Marina was torn free and the expensive motorboats tied to it were damaged.<br />
Two boats outside the harbour were blown against the rocks and sank, and there was countless<br />
damage to others. Holiday beach boats and wind surfers were blown out to sea. The power supply to<br />
the city failed and the water supply ceased, except for the deluge supplied by the vengeful hand of<br />
Mother Nature. For us the night was relatively calm. Our anchor was firmly dug in and we were<br />
completely sheltered from the wind. How lucky to be in The Right Place at The Right Time.<br />
Yedi Adalari to Bodrum<br />
Ray was becoming increasingly worried about the strong south westerly wind, so it was an early start<br />
next day so that we could have the best possible chance of a berth in Bodrum Karada Marina. If we<br />
could not get a berth, then it would be a further 15nm, three hours to the next suitable harbour –<br />
opened in May 2003 is Turgetreis Marina with excellent facilities, north of Bodrum. The strong wind in<br />
this unusual direction enabled us to make excellent speed towards Bodrum. We covered the 35nm in<br />
just four hours.<br />
On arrival, we were told that the Marina was full but we should anchor in the outer harbour. This is<br />
unheard of. Anchoring in the outer harbour is illegal. Even more surprisingly the harbour was full of<br />
boats jostling for positions, often bumping into one another. This was not an ideal situation. Ray and I<br />
took the dinghy into the marina. In the marina office we learnt of the devastation to Bodrum the night<br />
before. It took the rest of the day to negotiate with the manager but eventually we got a berth there. It<br />
was good to be safely tied up and be able to step off the boat and use the fabulous marble showers in<br />
the marina and get dressed up to eat on shore. Even more importantly, we needed to be near civilisation<br />
as Caroline and David needed a taxi to the airport. Sadly, their holiday had come to an end.<br />
Sadly this was our last sailing holiday on Sky Blazer. During last year, we sold her to Geoff and Maureen<br />
Florence and they are enjoying their first experience of sailing in the Bodrum area. We have had so<br />
many wonderful sailing adventures in Turkey and we wish Maureen and Geoff fair winds and calm seas.<br />
Rozlyn Walsh<br />
Skyblazer's new owners, Geoff and Maureen Florence<br />
Fact Box<br />
GETTING THERE<br />
Turkey has 14 international airports and<br />
there are several scheduled flights daily<br />
from Europe. Turkish Airlines has direct<br />
flights from many European capitals,<br />
including Manchester and London,<br />
to Istanbul.<br />
British Airways: www.britishairways.com<br />
Cyprus Turkish Airlines: www.kthy.net<br />
Turkish Airlines: www.turkishairlines.com<br />
PILOTAGE<br />
Turkish Waters and Cyprus by Rod Heikell.<br />
Published by Imray, Norie and Watson.<br />
MARINA INFORMATION<br />
www.turkeyyachting.com<br />
TURKEY NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE<br />
UNITED KINGDOM<br />
Tel: 44- 207-355 4207, 629 7771<br />
Email: info@gototurkey.co.uk<br />
Web site: www.gototurkey.co.uk<br />
USA - NEW YORK<br />
Tel: 1-212- 687 2194-95-96<br />
Email: ny@tourismturkey.org<br />
Web site: www.tourismturkey.org<br />
VISAS<br />
British and US passport holders<br />
require entry visas to enter Turkey.<br />
These can be obtained on arrival<br />
at the port/airport of entry.<br />
For other countries or more<br />
information see:<br />
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs:<br />
www.mfa.gov.tr<br />
CURRENCY<br />
Local currency is the Turkish Lira.<br />
Outside the main tourist areas Euros<br />
are not well known.<br />
FURTHER INFORMATION<br />
www.bookinturkey.com<br />
www.voyagerbook.com<br />
www.gototurkey.co.uk<br />
The information shown is believed correct<br />
at time of going to pres,s however readers<br />
are advised to make their own enquiries<br />
before travelling.<br />
www.oystermarine.com<br />
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