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 Oktay, Savas, Sibel and all the staff for our short stay.
 
The weather looked favourable for our voyage across Antalya Bay 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-stowed the kettle I had just about enough.
The saving grace was that we had a wonderful sail (in retrospect) that is.
As we neared the far end of the bay the wind dropped virtually to nothing and we motored the last 18 miles.
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 area lets we hope that both the gods and Turk Meteo are in a better mood.