Kumbag - a little bit shallow!
Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Thu 16 Jul 2009 19:03
Thursday 15th July.
Quiet night at anchor, but the wind started up quite early this morning so
we set off at 8.00am to take full advantage of it.
In no time we were cantering along with 25 knots of wind on a beam reach
which had us eating up the miles towards Kumbag, this evening's destination.
Highlight was a pod of dolphins that appeared just as we reached 8 knots and
we were royally entertained in particular, by a mother who seemed to be
training a baby to dive under the bow. The youngster was very energetic and
kept leaping out of the water in a display that we have not seen since we
were in the Atlantic, off Portugal. Of course they know all about cameras
and so they make dramatic photogenic approaches, then spot when you go to
get the camera and spend the rest of the time diving and dodging around
avoiding the photo!
By 1.00pm the wind began to die away and by the end of the trip we were
reduced to motor sailing.
The approach to Kumbag was straightforward, but we had noticed through the
binoculars that there were no yachts there, but we went on in as there was
little alternative. The very small harbour was full of fishing boats and one
whole quay was just rocks, however there was a space on the north wall and a
small crowd gathered and an elderly chap wearing an official looking
armband, waved us in alongside the quay. We did this without mishap and
various people got involved in the process of catching and sorting ropes,
but eventually we got tied up OK, but soon noticed that from time to time
the keel was just touching the bottom.
We decided that the best solution was to go out and back up to the quay in
the usual stern-to arrangement dropping our anchor in the middle of the
harbour and hoping that it does not snag on anything.
Having done that we now became the central attraction as clearly they do not
have many yachts visit here. This interest was upped when I winched Sarah up
to the crosstrees to recover the torn Turkish courtesy flag (a victim of
yesterday's winds).
We then enjoyed a very entertaining early evening just watching the world go
by, seeing things that really could only happen here. They really are a
lovely nation and we cannot say enough about their politeness and
hospitality. The town itself is an out and out summer beach resort for
Turks. An Asian Middleton on Sea, complete with sandy beach and hordes of
very sunburnt visitors splashing around in the gently shelving sea.
We love it and depending on how things go tonight (fishing boats and
minarets etc.) we plan to stay another day.