EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN YACHT RALLY
 
DAILY EMYR NEWS


   
   
   
 

S/Y Mashona 

33 41N   33 21 E 

On our way back to Cyprus from Herzliya 

Well now the rally’s well and truly over and we are on our way back to our home in North Cyprus for a short rest before spending the rest of the summer in Turkey and the Greek islands. 

It seems time to catch up with the passage notes and some final reflections on the 2007 EMYR. 

Alanya to the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus 

We left fairly late from Alanya but taking the right option of heading far out and the uneconomic use of the iron jib we arrived in Delta Marine Girne. 

Turkish Republic of North Cyprus 

It’s always nice to come home and that’s how we felt approaching Cyprus the fleet was split between the new harbour (Delta Marine and the old harbour next to the castle) 

Ilkin who has become one of our closest friends since we made our home here was on the quay to welcome us. 

Lots of hard work by Kasim and Chick in the rib and myself in our dinghy soon had everybody safely tied up. 

Delta marine is a fully serviced marina with good facilities and Ilkin and his staff have worked hard over the years to improve the facilities here. 

The first night we were entertained by the presidential office to a reception in the castle a good time was had by all even though it was a little windy we all dispersed to different venues for an evening meal myself I am sorry to say fell asleep over the first course (who said sleep was not compulsory) 

The next day saw rally participants taking tours around the island including Famagusta Bellapais monastery and St Hilereon castle. 

One of the big nights on the rally is the Pirate party held in the Dome Hotel in Girne.

We all assembled at the old marina and walked accompanied by flags and music along the Promenade to the Hotel.

The costumes were excellent but I have to say Ilkin dressed as Jack Sparrow took for me the first prize even I didn’t recognise him. 

We had a wonderful evening and were entertained by a joint Greek and Turkish dance group ‘Dance for peace’ 

It was very tired and weary pirates who wound their way home that night. 

A late departure from Delta and Girne meant lots of time for shopping and relaxing before Mersin. 

Thanks again Ilkin and all your staff especially Gunal in the office who made our stay so pleasant.

And also to Numan from the old harbour who came out of retirement to organise our berthing there.

There is a desperate need for more marina facilities in the TRNC and the most obvious place is in the town of Girne. I know that some plans have been already drawn up and I hope the government will support these.

It would not only increase tourism in the summer months with visiting yachts but could become an important wintering place for yachtsmen. With it would also grow an associated industry of yacht servicing and repairing, thus benefiting the local economy on an all year round basis.

I would urge you all to support Ilkin and Delta marine in their efforts to secure this emails in support can be sent to  

Mersin 

Mersin is Turkeys 3 major port and the rally use the fishing harbour right in the town.

The municipality and the chamber of shipping really go out of their way to welcome us and provide as good facilities as they can including water electricity and showers. 

The first night we were entertained by the municipality at the sports centre what a superb venue and a magnificent night with lovely food lots to drink and again the dancing.

Tours the next day to Tarsus and the caves of heaven and Hell was well attended.

The rally dinner this year was a new venue the Armada restaurant and we all again had a wonderful night thank you so much to the chamber of shipping who made a gift to each yacht. 

We hope next year the new marina will be open but I personally like the town quay with all the people visiting the boats. 

Thank you again Mersin and especially to the navy who’s staff helped to tie up the boats. 

Iskenderun

The town of Iskenderun is close to the Syrian border and is a modern and vibrant place with good shops and very friendly people. 

We moor on the fishing quay and although the facilities are somewhat a little primitive we had electricity and water. 

The tour goes to Antioch and the mosaic museum is one of the best in the world. 

Our dinner and reception again was well organised and we all enjoyed our stay there. 

The town of Iskenderun is worth including on any itinerary you will be assured a warm welcome. 

Syria  

Lattakia was to be our host port in Syria situated inside the commercial harbour close to the fishing port it is an ideal safe haven to leave your yacht while you visit the interior of Syria.

The fleet was split between the main quay and a small part of the fishing port.

We had a rally dinner on the first night which in some ways was better because it gave us a day free before we sailed the next leg. 

The main trip here was to visit Palmyra (a ancient city in the desert that at one time controlled access along the silk road) and to visit the city of Damascus including the Umiaid mosque which is the next most important place next to Mecca for Muslims. 

Unfortunately three boats left us here two were unsure about the political situation in our next country Lebanon and Liz on G Wiz with a badly twisted ankle. 

The marina at Lattakia is run by our good friends Messa and Riad who will smooth the way for any boats wishing to visit Syria independently all you need to do is to E mail them a few days before giving all your details including passport numbers and they will arrange visas on arrival. 

Other trip were taken to Aleppo and Saladin’s castle certainly culture we are getting loads of. 

Syria- Lebanon

The passage was fairly uneventful apart from the confusion entering the waters near to Beirut, since the war last year it has been under control of the United Nations, we soon sorted things out with operation control and we all managed an easy access into Jounieh marina. 

Jounieh marina is administered by the Automobile touring club of Lebanon and boast tennis scours a wonderful restaurant and an Olympic size swimming pool.

Nabil the marina manager was there to welcome us and soon made us feel at home. 

The trips to Byblos and the caves went ahead without trouble but there was some concern about visiting the city of Balbek which is at the head of the infamous Beaka valley.

After taking some advice we decided the Hezbollah cant all be bad and the trip went ahead as planned,

Coupled with a visit to the Kasara wine caves and a superb lunch we all had a great day.

The rally dinner at Jounia is always a special night on the rally and we were not disappointed good food, good wine, and lots of dancing. 

Lebanon is at the moment a country of unrest I hope the problems will soon be resolved and peace again will reign.

It is truly a beautiful  country with such a variety of landscapes from mountains to sea to fertile valleys we certainly will visit again. 

If you are visiting Lebanon independently make sure you have no Israeli stamps in your passport and you have a clearance form from your last port. 

Israel 

We sailed and motored down the coast to are next port which was Haifa the Israelis guard there coast line very carefully and as well as lots of questions over the VHF we were all visited by a gun boat just to make sure we were what we said we were. 

Haifa was one of the original ports visited by the rally at the very start and although the facilities there are not the most sophisticated we all managed somehow to fit into the small fishing harbour of  Kishorn.

The Camel sailing club were promised a new marina  but the promise up to now has not been honoured so if the mayor of Haifa is reading this “please give them a new marina it will benefit your city because visiting yachts will call’

We had a barbeque and reception along with the dancing it was another great night.

One of the things that happen in Haifa is the hosting of crews by local people.

We were again hosted by our old friend Shabty Levey another tipsy night im afraid. 

We left Haifa for the marina of Ashkelon not to far from the Gaza border Ashkelon is a fully serviced marina and is regularly used by boats exiting the red sea being the first port in Israel.

From here people visited the Dead Sea and Masada Herods winter palace and a site sacred to the Jewish people as they committed suicide here rather than be made roman slaves. 

Egypt

A day and a nights passage saw us all in the morning outside Port Said it was a wonderful sail 9yes sail no motor) most of the way. 

We were to stay in the Arsenal basin which is right in the town but necessitated transiting the first part of the Suez Canal. We all formed into a circle and with dressing flags flying we went line astern down the canal. 

One of the main reasons for coming here was to visit Cairo and the Pyramids a two day trip saw us see all those along with a night in a 5 star hotel.

Got into our room had a gin and tonic switched on the TV and England were playing new Zealand at rugby and they won what a perfect end to the day. 

Nagib who owns and runs Felix ship agency could not do enough for us during our stay and organises most things for yachts who transit the canal. 

The dinner at a local hotel was again a well organised affair with dinning around the swimming pool this with a very professional show of local dancers we had another memorable night. 

Herzliya 

This was the end of the rally and from here people will disperse some staying for a few days some for longer as it is a good base from which to visit Israel in particular Tell a Vive and Jerusalem and also the neighbouring country of Jordon. 

Our  plaque presentation and dinner was on the last night and went according to plan. 

And now the rally’s over and we can get some sleep no more miles of sailing on the ocean deep’ 

Some thoughts and tributes (I apologise to anybody I have overlooked) 

People have asked me how this rally compared with others answer they are all different its people who make the rally ot the places we visit. 

It is hard to single out people but i will try 

Alan and Olwen Taralee- are long suffering tour organiser and dinner lady 

Monique on Rainbow who never forgot anybody’s birthday 

John and Cheryl on Sea Mist who handled the AIS on night passages as well as offering us hospitality for the first three legs of the rally. 

Ush on Kari who recovered Venus’s anchor in Alanya 

Kevin on Sunset Sam on only the second day with a hangover said another two months of this. 

Anna on Abracadabra our keep fit person 

Ilkin at Girne who looked more like Jack Sparrow than Jack Sparrow did. 

Orhan and Malcolm for doctoring everybody so well. 

Peter on Stentor for the use of his dinghy

All the group leaders for their patience

And last but not least our crew Angela and Alan 

We hope you all enjoyed it, we did and we hope to see you down the line always remember you are only 7 handshakes from someone you know. 

Dave and Kath

S/Y Mashona