40 09.129N 026 24.263E Canakkale, Turkey Marina

Pipedream
Thu 5 May 2011 17:32
It took us about 9 hours to go 22 miles today. Left Bozcaada at day brake and had a pretty uneventful trip up to the entrance of the Dardanelles other than lots of big ships all around us. We could literally see six or seven Panamax ships at any given time comming and going. A couple of miles outside the entrance we started to pick up the opposing current. By the time we got to the entrance we were getting at least 3 kts and maybe 4. We had been told to watch the eddies and try to be just outside them on the Asia shore side but in the narrow spots there is just no water to float the boat.

At the worst of it with the 25 kt head wind and the 3 kt current we were making about 1.5 kts over the ground with the engine on full. We passed a French sail boat tacking like crazy between the ships with the engine running. I thought the guy was Joe sailor but when he pulled into the marina he said he had the engine on full and had to sail all out to make any headway at all. At one point we went by a buoy and could see the current pushing it over (like a heavy tidal flow in Florida) and could have walked by it faster.

We got to the marina and tried a crosswind landing (backing up) . I almost lost it into the bows of a row of moored boats spun around in a circle and went in bow first. The guys on the dock were all speaking Turkish and smiling a lot... no English speakers at the marina, a first. Big problems getting on and off the boat from that end but I kissed the dock and we went out for dinner and a big Raki to celebrate and unwind from yet another safe arrival. Are we having fun yet?

The town has a huge Trojan horse in the center of the water front area donated by Brad Pit and likely made of fiberglass. There is some kind of ceremony taking place over there now. Drums and Turkish music. You can see it out the boat windows but I hope the music stops before midnight. We are close to the spot, but are told there isn't much left of the real Troy. The other thing to see here is the Gallipoli battle field and memorials. We'll likely take the ferry across to Gallipoli Island tomorrow and do that.

It is supposed to blow even harder tomorrow so we'll likely stay here and sight see until a more moderate weather pattern arrives. I had to turn on the heat tonight. (about 50 F on deck) We seem to be on the cutting edge (or maybe the jagged edge) of spring as we head north.