EMYR
Thursday 19th June 2008
(Herzliya, Israel).

The evening before we departed Port Said we gathered at a local hotel for the Port Said rally formal dinner. On this occasion there was no flag ceremony. No one asked why and no explanation was offered. We are, however, aware that many participants of this year's earlier Med Red Rally had recently been denied access to the Suez Canal, at the time when Israel were celebrating 60 years of independence, maybe this is the reason? The next morning, Monday 16th June, we departed Port Said on an overnight 136 mile passage towards Herzliya (Israel). We were presented with some of the most favourable winds and everyone took advantage enjoying a cracking good sail 'till the early hours on Tuesday 17th. Once inside Israel territorial waters we were again met by a very efficient Israel Navy warship who ascertained our good intentions! Herzliya marina is outstandingly modern and well equipped. The marina management entertained us really well and this is a great place to conclude the rally. Many people enjoyed the organised tour to Jerusalem and many people will be visiting Jordan over the next few days. Each yacht now has a personally engraved commemorative plaque "EMRY 2008". Group members organised surprise gifts to our illustrious group leaders and collections were made to offer surprise gifts to Hasan, David & Cath, in appreciation of their hard work and for making EMYR 2008 a wonderful experience.
On the morning of Friday 20th, Sue & I departed our marina berth to the louder than normal rendition of "When Will I See You Again?" (Three Degrees) echoing from Ticketeeboo's cockpit speakers, to share with everyone.
Our memories of EMYR 2008 are cherished recollections shared with many friends over the past six weeks. We have visited some of the more remote parts of Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt, in complete safety. Will we want to go back to these places in the future? Well, we have no immediate plans to revisit the Levant again because there are so many other places in the eastern Med & Aegean we have yet to visit & experience over the next couple of years. Will we recommend a future EMYR Rally to others? A resounding "YES" with the advice........ Pace yourselves, always wear a welcoming happy smile and be prepared to enjoy the whole experience.
On a personal note, Sue & I want to express our thanks to Faruk and all the other 'behind the scenes people' who have given up their time and made good use of their organisational talents. We also want to express our personal thanks to Hasan (our ambassador and natural EMYR leader) and to Cath and David, for their relentless energetic input, keeping the rally moving along from start to finish. Lastly, and not least, we want to thank Jean Claude and Marlene (helped by Alain and Gladys) on s/y Anthea, our Group 6 lead yacht with an outstandingly friendly character for a skipper, from the land of chocolate mountains. (That said, we are sure the other five groups feel the same way about their group leaders as well!)

On last ..........Best wishes and regards to all our friends.
Sue & Alan
s/y Ticketeeboo.

Footnote:

Sue & I are now heading back to our base. Whilst on passage between Herzliya & Famagusta (Cyprus) we were 'intercepted' by a UN warship, who wanted the most detailed info from us, to establish our good intent. We spent the night of the 21st on the hook inside Famagusta breakwater (having helped s/y Annya of Christchurch, when they found themselves perched on a local sandbank). On 22nd we moved on to Monastery Bay, on the NE end of Cyprus followed by another overnight sail to Girne, where we recently visited as part of the EMYR. From Girne we will head north to Turkey, planning to visit Bozyazi, Gazipasa and Alanya, before returning Ticketeeboo to our berth in Kemer before month end.