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Hilda May wintered on the hard at Marmaris Yat Marina, going in the water on 25 April, so the first blog of the season is somewhat overdue!

With help from fellow Tattingstonians Ned and Sheila (aboard Dawn Strike) I managed to get all the neceessary preps down and endeavoured to enjoy the social scene at the marina, in particular the Summer Party. Spurred on by the change in Turkish visa regulations this will be the last winter for a while in Turkey and we plan to head across back to Greece to winter in Messolonghi (bailout/austerity permitting!).

Wieland arrived on the 5th May and we set off on 6th with the first shakedown sail to Ciftlik.  Despite really concentrating when I attached the reefing lines I still got them on the wrong way around but was able to do a quick swap over as we sailed to Ciftlik.

From Ciftlik we headed down to Bozu Buku for  a pleasant stop, before heading around to Dirsek.

From Dirsek we headed to Ogun’s place at Ova Buku where we spent an extra day R&R&W (rest, relaxation and washing, which Ogun does for a mere 15 L including hanging out to dry).

We decided to miss out Knidos where the floating pontoons were reported to have been blown away in the recent storms, and head around to the north of the Datca Peninsular to a lovely little anchorage in the cove off Mersincik. Wieland was excited to find that John and Jen were the only other occupants on Grand Slam, their Hanse 46 – a lovely boat and great hospitality!

After sitting out a short thunderstorm in the morning we motored over the 15 miles to Bodrum, dropped an anchor by the castle and prepared ourselves for the all-night disco – this I did by finding and inserting Sue’s earplugs!

For Wieland’s last two days with me we had too gret sails – first around to Gumersluk where we ancored in a sheltered bay, and then the next day further around to the north of the Bodrum Peninsular to pick up a buoy at Gundogan just off the baech and harbour.

There is a small harbour at Dudogan, with a few yachts but pretty full mainly with fishing boats, and only Turkish registered boats are allowed to tie up on the outside.

No matter, the buoy will do nicley.  This is a good pickup/drop off point, and Wieland caught the Resorthoppa bus (only£6) to Bodrum airport, and Roger will be arriving after about 10 pm tonight.  Just time to get the boat ship shape and write the first blog.