Hippo on the High seas

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 18:57

Captains Log Star date 5th April 2010

Alanya Marina 36.33N 31.56E



It didn’t seam a year since we were packing up Mashona for our departure from Cyprus bound again for Istanbul and the East Mediterranean Yacht Rally.



The transition from land to sea is always a traumatic time in our household the living room floor looks more like a laundry and chandlery than the calm living space it normally is.

The cat (Tilly) has to have her annual injections and I swear she knows she is being torn from her garden and has to suffer that instrument of torture ‘The Boat our one continuing fear is that she will do a disappearing act on the day of departure to those ends she is confined to the house.



Bills to pay, arrangements for looking after the garden, television contracts downgraded for our absence, why do these always seam to be have to done in the last two days.



We have had an unseasonably wet winter in Cyprus but none of us are complaining we needed the water, but what it has mean

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 18:59

meant that the planned relaxed annual maintenance had to be compressed into the last few weeks.

Then of course comes the constant watching of the weather reports. Looking for a perfect window for our first leg across to Turkey.

April can be a difficult month, it is still quite cold at night and rain can still be around as are strong winds.

What we wanted was a North or South Easter at about 15knts.

Some chance?

We left on the Saturday Afternoon with a forecast of SW to West but no more than 5 to 10knts what we got was a Westerly at 20knts with a quartering sea, one hour out we were making no more than 2knts rolling and pitching.

The cat was certainly not impressed and proceeded to do Technicolor yawns both over the cabin sole and the Captains Chart table.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:00

Whilst I have every sympathy for people who are sea sick the thought of regurgitated cat food over the log didn’t impress me one little bit.



We decided to bear off eastward for Anamur and although it was taking us away from were we wanted to go we made 6 and half knts I thought the wind would come round or at least decrease in the night and I was proved right for once and we managed to round Anamur point virtually on course.

Although the wind had dropped the sea continued to be unkind and the role was still there.

As dawn approached things got better and we soon had the precincts of Alanya in sight.

We were bound for Alanya Marina as our first port of call, I have always loved Alanya since my first visit here now over 40 years ago, of course apart from the castle in bears absolutely no resemblance to the town of 1972.

Turkey had a fine system of building marinas unto a certain stage of construction and then seeking investors to complete and run them for a certain time.



Alanya

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:00

was just one of these marinas, Hasan Kacmaz was appointed to be the overall consultant and co-ordination a better person could not have been chosen. With his wide experience of marinas management from the grass roots upwards he was certainly the individual to see the dream realised.



Work had begun well over a year ago and despite some temporary setbacks is now virtually completed.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:02

Good luck Hippo, you're a brave man.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:02

Captains Log Star date 9th April 2010-04-09

36.17N 30.08E



Despite meeting up with old friends and enjoying Alanya marina we had to say goodbye because time is our master and many sea miles have to be covered before the start of the rally.

We enjoyed our stay there very much, so much has been achieved in what really has been a short space of time, granted there have been some teething problems as there is with any construction of a new facility but now things are really coming together and Alanya I am sure will be on most yachties agenda in the coming years.

Certainly the facilities there along with the excellent caring staff are amongst the best we have encountered throughout the Mediterranean.

I understand they are to maintain there discounted prices again this next year and a lot of people spoke to ,will be there again for the winter.

Thanks again to Okty Savas, Sibel and all the staff for our short stay.



The weather looked favourable for our voyage across Antalya Bay and

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:03

and onwards to Finike but again the weather gods were not kind despite a promise of only 2 to 4 beaufort ,10 minutes out of the marina we were had winds in excess of 35knts and 3 metre seas.

This was the time we found out that correct stowage is an important thing and fridge door catches aren’t as reliable as they seem in calm weather.

We reefed everything in and with only about a quarter of the Genoa out we were soon doing 8.5 knts.

It had been a long time since we had been in such a sea and although Mashona is generally a fairly dry boat we took a good amount of water in the cockpit.

To say the skipper wasn’t feeling to well would be an understatement, I put it down to Nev and Sarah’s hospitality on Taralee and Doug and Kath from Kelebek’s encouragement to have just one more.

A hangover and a big sea is not the best recipie I can asure you and both Kath and Kim reminded me constantly.

Having put back the contents of the fridge a dozen times, cleared up after the cat, and re-sto

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:04

Finike is one of the Setur marinas and we are always assured of a warm welcome here the joker boat met us at the entrance and we were soon moored and the day’s events seemed an age away.

We cleared up in a short time dinner on and the skipper was well with the world.

We decided to take today to rethink things below and complete those outstanding small jobs, like the rear Nav light and the most important catch on the fridge door.

Finike is very full and it looks like the live aboards have enjoyed a pleasant winter here unfortunately Tuncay the marina manager was away but I spent a pleasant half hour or so with Osman the front office manager.

What has impressed me here at Finike is the chandlery they have a good range of yacht parts and as we all know to keep the boat happy just like a mistress you need to buy them lots of bright shiny things.

I love Finike town still very Turkish and normally has a good range of vegetables and fruit.

Tomorrow being well we will leave for the Gocek

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 19:11

dear me the thought of being seasick hippo .



keep the post coming on the high seas ,but dont be very discriptive when it comes to the waves ,lol



take care



kav

tanwg


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 24

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 21:04

Best of luck with your cruise, sounds fantastic, hopefully we can join the flotilla in a few years time, once the marina's ready just North of Esentepe and we've retired to our home in Girne.

We're presently in La-Coruna in North West Spain and on our way to the Med, expect to arrive in Gibraltar in two years time. There's too much to see and do and we've only got six weeks in the summer to achieve our goals. Don't expect to get much further than Oporto this year and it's already taken us two years to reach La Coruna from the U.K.

Look forward to the next episode of the Hippo travels and may you have a fair wind, from behind.

Regards

Tanwg

tanwg


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 24

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 21:05

Best of luck with your cruise, sounds fantastic, hopefully we can join the flotilla in a few years time, once the marina's ready just North of Esentepe and we've retired to our home in Girne.

We're presently in La-Coruna in North West Spain and on our way to the Med, expect to arrive in Gibraltar in two years time. There's too much to see and do and we've only got six weeks in the summer to achieve our goals. Don't expect to get much further than Oporto this year and it's already taken us two years to reach La Coruna from the U.K.

Look forward to the next episode of the Hippo travels and may you have a fair wind, from behind.

Regards

Tanwg

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
09/04/2010 23:34

Hipps i envy you, your freedom. never mind the cat and i know its dear to you.Just enjoy wish i was with you but with all these dogs dumped on me im tied/ you and Mrs hipp enjoy xxxxxxxxxxx

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 18:23

Hippo is now in Kos =the internet here is even worse than in Kibris hope we can update you in the next couple of days we will be back in Turkey. Kushadasi area and upm to Cesme

We miss you -well we miss the corner bar

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 18:27

Keep posting your whereabouts Hippo. Good Luck.

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 18:35

Oh Hippo, the corner bar has been taken over by a big burly Russian guy, no Efes on sale now, just vodka,and no more popcorn, just chewing tobacco if you want it.

Hakki has left the country, he was too heartbroken to carry on without your support, and as for the quiz night, you do not want to know. To ensure we all enjoy ourselves President Putin joins in, but he does not like losing.

Sorry to be the bearer of such tragic news but hope you enjoy your trip just the same, try to be brave, stiff upper lip and all that stuff.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
13/04/2010 21:12

Hippo. If you stop off at Cesme find the No Problem Bar around the Harbour/Castle area, very friendly owner Torros and his waiter Ibrahim. Always have plenty of nice cold Effes. I will be staying in Cesme in June for 2 weeks one of my favourite places.

BigMart


Joined: 26/02/2009
Posts: 423

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 09:41

Cyprus Queen is managing to cope without you.



Hope you are looking after your crewman well, not too much hard tack and grog, is he on the dog watch every night ?



Martin.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 10:13

Did you have a drink for me in Gocek, Hippo..?



I think that the Bay of Fethiye is one of my 'yachtie heavens ' ;)

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 17:37

Captains Log Star date 14 April 2010



A Good Day--The Birds-Dinner to die for--A soulless marina--No Wind



I apologise for not keeping up the log but internet has not been the best this year but we are now in the new marina at Didim (D Marine) were things could not be better.



I received an e mail from Hasan saying that we would have a good day, he was not wrong our passage to Kapi Creek in Gocek was the best this year a steady wind, clear sky’s and a quiet sea meant that the problems of the last couple of days faded into insignificance.

We arrived at late afternoon in what is one of our favourite spots and were soon partaking of the usual Mashona cocktail.

Unknown to us friends that had read our log thought we were in Gocek bay and spent the whole day looking for us around the marinas, sorry Dennis and Linda we hope we can meet upon our way back down.

I knew something wasn’t right when the restaurant owner started putting all the cushions into plastic bags, bad weather coming

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
14/04/2010 17:41

The report is toolong on here for it all

If anybody is interested they can read it all on

http://www.phpbb88.com/northerncyprus/viewtopic.php?t=22967&mforum=northerncyprus



or http://www.emyr.org

under daily news wait 24 hrs and it willbe on.



We are now in Altinkum and if you thought Cyprus was scruffy you want to come here

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
18/04/2010 17:01

We are now in a small Greek island call Ounassi just off the north of Chios we will be in Lesbos tomorrow hopefully.

Weather good a bit windy.

We arrived here from Cesme today



Capt Hippo

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
18/04/2010 17:06

well hipps you are well out of the election fever, the traffic and the awful music here, still we will be out of the misery tonight. Are you finding it expensive with the euro. have fun, it will all be the same when you return x

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
18/04/2010 17:08

Its not as bad as we feared, obviously drinking out is expensive anout 3 euroes a beer but we get tanked up on the boat first.

mean old Hippo

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
18/04/2010 17:47

Good Luck Hippo.