Çanakkale, Dardanelles - Bozcaada

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Sun 17 Jul 2011 22:58

Sunday 17th July – Çanakkale, DardanellesBozcaada

39:50.155N 26:04.510E

 

This morning we checked out of Turkey.  The German couple had been quoted a price of €140 for an agent to do this for them and so had done it themselves; they told us last night of their experience doing it and we also had information from Rob and Jacky on Arwen who had also checked themselves out here, so we decided to do it ourselves too.  To check out you need to get your transit log stamped by the Harbour Master, Passport Police, and Customs.

 

We went to see the Harbour Master to start the process but he wasn’t there so went across to the Customs office.  Customs require that the Harbour Master and Passport Police have already completed their bit before they will stamp the form.  So we went off on a 10km dolmus trip followed by a long hike to see the Passport Police who are based down at the cruise ship terminal further down the coast.  The chap was just leaving to go to Çanakkale but stopped and sorted out our papers for us.  He then insisted on giving us a lift back to town and dropped us at the Harbour Master’s office.  Once again we have been impressed by how friendly people are. 

 

Unfortunately the Harbour Master was still not around but a chap from the taxi rank came across and called him for us.  He said he would be back in 10 minutes so we went back to Pyxis for a coffee.  Richard then popped back to see him and was quickly on his way to Customs to finish the exit process – all very friendly.  Apart from the small cost of the dolmus, the entire thing cost nothing!  A saving of €140 J

 

Pleased with the swift progress we made this morning we set off along with the German couple, around lunchtime.  No need for the chute today.  We crossed to the European side, set sail and we had 10-14 knots of wind (up to a maximum 20 knots) just off the stern and a fabulous current to help us on our way; we were clipping along nicely at between 7 and 7.9 knots most of the way down the rest of the Dardanelles.  There was little swell and we couldn’t tell we were moving unless we looked at the log. 

 

As we exited the Dardanelles, the NE wind dropped to nothing but as we motored back across the shipping lanes the wind filled in again from the NW and we were able to sail most of the way down here to Bozcaada, losing the wind with about 6 miles to go.

 

We can tell we are back in the Aegean as the water is suddenly clear again.  Richard went into the water to check the prop and spent the next hour or so diving under Pyxis and cleaning off the rather nasty weed that has grown whilst we have been in the Marmara Sea.  What a pity we had such growth – maybe we could have given the racing fleet better competition if we’d had a clean bottom!

 

This evening we had a stroll around the busy village here and later joined the German couple for a drink.

 

Dardanelles

© Pyxis 2011