Thursday 26 April 2007-04-26
Yacht Sea Mist (just entering the Dardanelles) 040 29N 26 54E
Good Morning
The rally has started and my hangover confirms it. Six boats assembled at Atakoy Marina for the start of the rally, we took the easy option and left Mashona at Ayvalick and took the overnight bus to Istanbul.
We are guests of John and Cheryl on Sea Mist (a 56 feet Oyster is a little different from a 12 m Moody, I do hope I can get Kath back on board)
Hasan and Umut met us at Atakoy for the pre rally briefing and subsequent barbeque and party.
It was great to meet up with old friends and a wonderful night was had a sailing club.
Back to reality the next morning with a 5am start, a positive wind from the North east meant we had a good sail down to Mureftte we all arrived around 1600.
By 1800 everybody had tied up had the customary anchor down slurp and where ready for partying.
This is only the second time the rally has visited Mureftte and if this years visit was anything like last years we were not going to be disappointed. We started with a visit to the Wine museum along with wine tasting. The mayor of Mureftte met us and officially welcomed us to his town Zack and Talia from Sunset Sam presented him with a pennant to mark our visit.
Dinner was in the port restaurant and a fine affair it was the meal which was started with the usual mezes uncluded calamares (so fresh it was still swimming) muscles and a main fish dish the not fish eaters had steak (not bad hey)
They had laid on live band and Edval’s crew led the dancing (Kevin Sunset Sam was heard to say I’m shattered and there are 60 nights to go yet. He must remember ‘Sleep is not compulsory’
The wind had increased overnight to one point 30knts over the decks but it decreased nearer dawn to around 18knts on our departure.
We were sorry to leave Mureftte we were made to feel so welcome and everybody really enjoyed themselves.
Today we pass through the Dardanelles on our way to the Island of Gokceada we remember the men lost in the Gallipoli campaign this will be particularly moving for the Australians and New Zealanders with us but we must not forget the thousands Turkish soldiers lost. Anybody who has visited Gallipoli will remember the last words of the poem.
Your sons are now our sons they are all now Memets.
We have the Turkish Coast guard accompanying us and they have been in contact this morning.
We have again a positive wind with us and are sailing goose winged.
Ok that’s all for now we will be in contact tomorrow.

Dave and Kath and Tilly Mashona