Monday 20^th June – Poyraz, Bosphorus - Yalova

40:39.680N 29:16.603E

Today we awoke to find a yacht had come in and anchored behind us in the night.  The wind had gone around to the south west and was blowing gently into the anchorage.  Out in the strait we could see the steady procession of ships through the Bosphorus.

After breakfast we set off for another day trip, this time down the Bosphorus, retracing our steps of yesterday, this time hoping for help from a favourable current.  We had a knot or two at times and remembered to avoid the counter-current and we were back to Istanbul in double quick time.  Once again we had to dodge the ferries around Golden Horn but they proved not to be much of a problem (years of training in the Solent being put to use), and we passed close by the small island used in the James Bond film.

At the end of the Bosphorus we motored out into the Marmara Sea, dodging through the many tiny fishing boats out for the day.  There was fog and an eerie stillness around Istanbul but as we approached the Princes Islands it became more of a haze.  The forecast showed quiet in the morning and then northerly F4 at lunchtime, and suddenly there it was behind us.  Out came the genoa and off went the engine and soon we were sailing along in 14-20 knots of wind enjoying a very comfortable sail with the wind astern.

The wind settled down to 8-12 knots and we continued sailing, albeit more slowly.  I got my fishing tackle out and tried again but we were probably still going too fast to catch anything.  There was quite a chop following us on the water which suggested it was very windy back up at Istanbul and the Princes Islands.

We arrived at Yalova, around 25 miles from Istanbul, around 5pm where there is a new marina recently opened.  The wind and swell increased as we covered the last couple of miles and we practically bounced in through the narrow entrance – indeed the marinaro’s rib leapt completely clear of the water as he came to meet us just outside the entrance (though of course he was enjoying it).  So much for the forecast saying it would be quieter over here.

The narrow entrance and sharp left turn soon got rid of the swell and the marinaros passed me the lazy line to tie on the bow whilst Richard backed Pyxis up into the wind onto the pontoon – all went fine.  By the time we had moored up and checked in at reception there was quite a blow going on.

The marina is quite small but very pleasant – the manager described it as a ‘boutique’ marina and that seems a good description.  The staff are friendly and most of the facilities complete, including some restaurants on the front and a travel lift in the yard.  Being quite newly opened there is quite a lot of empty space here at the moment, with only a few yachts and motorboats moored.  There is one other couple here on their yacht across from us and they are flying home tomorrow so we could be the only ones on board tomorrow.  However, we can see it becoming popular as a weekend destination for boats from Istanbul and as a place for people to leave their boats while flying home (there are some good introductory deals for longer stays). 

Tonight I have checked out the facilities and they are nearby, excellent and unused; I had a fabulous shower ashore J.

Poyraz, Bosphorus - Yalova

© Pyxis 2011