EMYR
Friday 16th May 2008
(On passage Alanya towards Girne, Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus)

Berthing 80 yachts at Hasan's newly constructed Alanya Marina last Wednesday went smooth as clockwork and Commodore David (s/y Mashona) let it be known he was pleased as Punch with everyone's yacht handling. Each yacht was invited to take part in a 'pot-luck' dinner with their group. Like the other groups, we in group 6 held our little gathering on the quayside where our yachts had moored alongside each other. Monsieur Jean-Claude nabbed a couple of passarelles for use as tables and on the given seven thirty signal people appeared laden with delicacies galore to share. The piece de resistance has to be the freshly caught fish, which was caught by s/y Silent Wings. We are told it was a Dolphin Fish of about a metre in length. A real whopper! Other delicacies prepared and provided by others included an unbelievably good selection of salads and pastas, vegetable curry, devil eggs, spicy chicken & beef, as well as other foods which tasted great, even though I haven't got a clue what to call them!
The next day most people went on the organised tour, visiting the local bays, two magnificent caves and Alanya's castle. In the evening we boarded the coaches, for the second time in the day. We were taken first to a local posh restaurant for cocktails, then back on the coaches to be off-loaded at a second local posh restaurant for another brilliant evening entertainment, in the form of a formal dinner and dance, hosted by the Alanya municipality and Hasan's business partners.
After this morning's group gatherings the Rally yachts are now on passage and it's dark, except for our old friend Mr Moon. This single, overnight passage is a nat's nudger close to 100 sea miles. Sue & I departed Alanya at mid-day and expect to drop the hook outside of Girne commercial harbour, in a safe anchorage, at about five in the morning. The SSW 2-3 Beaufort wind isn't really strong enough so we are sailing along with a little bit of help from the donk.
Earlier in the day we overheard Robert & Christina, on s/y Quest. Unfortunately they were having a problem with Quest's donk, needing them to return to Alanya to sort things. In the Med' it's wise to have a fully operational donk at the ready because winds can come and go very quickly and without a reliable donk a single overnight passage can take much longer to complete. I know Robert & Christina won't want to miss the Pirates Party in Girne so they will undoubtedly get there safely and in timely fashion.
Like everyone else, Sue & I are looking forward to meeting the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (no name dropping when we're out with friends in the future!).

Best wishes and regards to all our friends.
Sue & Alan
All ticketeeboo on s/y Ticketeeboo (in the dark!).