Sea of Marmara - Gazelyali / Mudanya

S/V Monterey
Les Crane
Tue 21 May 2013 09:43

40:23.0N              028:52.3E

 

Sea of Marmara – Gazelyali

 

Tuesday May 21

 

Motor 38 miles to Gazelyali a artificial harbour on the South coast of the Sea of Marmara which has been described in the guide as a small fishing harbour. Arrive to find a relatively modern provincial town of perhaps 100k. Most of the buildings look recent including a project that has apparently suffered earthquake damage or subsidence and appeared to be slipping down the hill. The harbour enclosed a varied collection of pleasure boats anchored stern to behind the mole. We are waived to the only available spot and get secure with a line to a mooring chain.

 

After lunch our neighbour enquires in Turkish how long we plan to stay. After 15 minutes of sign language including pointing to the sun and putting hands together at the side of the head to signify sleeping and another sign like we are preparing to dive to signify our departure we get clearance to stay the night. We wander up into the town. Rather than bars there are tea rooms with board games set up – a room of Rummikub, a Backgammon area, checkers. The grocery store is clean and well supplied but does not sell any wine or beer – following Islamic principles.  To find wine we check out a few smoke shops. There is only one brand of white on sale – Biricik 15TL per 1.5l – which is quite good and reminiscent of the house wines we would purchase for 3Euros a ½ litre in Greek Tavernas. 

 

Back to the boat to learn the owner of the berth we are occupying is on his way and we must depart. Our neighbour phones a friend and arranges a berth in Mudanya 3 miles west.

 

We get settled in Mudyana a somewhat smaller harbour but with adequate depth but a bit of rip-rap along the dock that requires us to keep 6 feet off the dock. Luckily there is a boarding plank that gets us ashore. It appears to be a private docking association – not set up for transients. There were 3 vacant slips.

 

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