Captains Log
Star date 15 May 2010
Kekova Roads
36.11N 29.50E
 
Martı marina to me is one of the most beautiful spots on the whole of the Turkish coast, I know I have said this before but I make no apologies for saying it again.
Set in a steep sided fiord type valley, banks covered in pine trees and crystal clear water, it always has featured in my cruising plans each year.
Martı are  renowned for giving a good party  for the EMYR, this year was no exception , the only down point was the Ercan Güneştutar the marina manager and a good friend now for many years was called away on urgent business and was unable to be there.
Lots of wine, draught becks beer, a barbeque and a very talented musical duo made it a night to remember for many.
Our next port was Gocek, the start of the rally for the majority of the boats, 35 were to join us here. Thinking that there may be unforeseen problems I decided that we would sail overnight and be there well before the joining boats arrived. Especially as it was a new marina and even I had some difficulty in finding it, despite being given the coordinates.
My fears were mainly unfounded, most people arrived correctly, some people did a tour of Gocek bay, your names will never be revealed as long as my glass is never empty.
Marin Turk exclusive marina is quite something designed really for large motor boats and super yachts they did very well to adapt the berths to accommodate somewhat smaller clients. Each boat had there own sideways access along with there own dockside space. The larger of the yachts were on the other side of the quay and had either rear or front access. The electric connections were immense 136amp connections, unfortunately they had only 5 adaptor plugs but with some sharing, splitting each connections the majority of the boats managed to get some power for at least some of the time.
Göcek is the home of our rally secretary Faruk, over 3000 emails re answers and sends each year, he was soon on hand to assist me and organised the tour to neighbouring Dalyan, ancient city of Kaunos, Lycian tombs  and the mud baths. Having expecreiced these delights before we decided to stay in the local area. Some very old friends of ours who we hadn’t seen for 7 years and now live in Dalaman called to see us and we had a pleasant lunch talking over old times. Thanks for picking the tab up Dennis.
The weather was very humid overcast and certainly had the look of a storm brewing, the threat of our cocktail party being rained off didn’t materialise and despite a few spots, and the more pessimistic fleeing to close hatches we had a good night under the trees.
This part of Göcek bay is somewhat remote virtually opposite across the bay from Göcek village the marina however does put on a bus service and will eventually have a shuttle ferry, you can if you act cheekily  use the neighbouring club marinas ferry to commute, would I do anything like that??
 
Passage to Kekova
 
Another bad day at sea, very little wind until about lunch time and the motor worked overtime again; however the cat was very happy and snoozed the day away in the sun.
The last part of day was good sailing and many had the cruising shoots and spinnakers, looking at the dockside later on in the evening with some people untangling lines and nylon I will stick to my 150% Genoa thank you.
The new jetty’s have now being installed in Kekova bay and the old rickety piers have been removed, this now provides a safe and convenient mooring point for boats wishing to use the restaurants, shops internet etc. Some say the some of the original charm has disappeared; I make no comment but ask you to make your own minds up. What it does do is provide some income to the local community and removes the obligation for you to use the restaurant that you used to tie up to. This does give people more choice and spreads the crews around a greater variety of the eating places.
We managed with a bit of shoving and judicial anchor placements to get 90% of the yachts on the jetty a few anchored as was their choice.
The following day a lot of the participants ‘went on a boat trip’ to view the sunken city and visit the crusader castle while the rest festered the day away in the local cafes and tourist shops.
The evening was spent in the local square at our rally party wine music and dancing probably the best night we have ever had in Kekova. The band that will be with us in Kemer and Alanya are something special their music is just the type we like; they play what we want rather than what they want. When asked were they came from my answer ‘Was they have been in Mashona’s rear cabin all the time’ and somebody believed me!!!!
The night was rounded off with a meal at Ibrahim’s for us but all the restaurants did well from the yachties.
A not to early start for us this morning, just 18 miles to Finike were will organise the rally’s entry.
The boat has now been washed as we had a small shower witch deposited red sand all over the decks and I am just having a docking G&T (The captain having successfully moored the boat without wiping out half of the marina not getting the lazy line around the prop and definitely not shouting at the crew deserves one)
As they say ‘That all for now folks’