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Date: 07 Sep 2010 11:14:56
Title: Spellbinder Cruise: The Fell family in Turkey 23 Aug - 04 Sept 2010
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Henry, niece Fiona and great-niece Grace Fell arrived onboard Spellbinder at Didim marina on the evening of 23 August 2010. Spellbinder was found in a good state after a two month lay-off afloat for the hot months of July and August. There was no sign of the fouling of the hull that had been such a problem at lovely Fethiye overwinter. Didim marina is an awe-inspiring new marina west of Altinkum in its first full year of operation. It has a 400ton travel-lift, reportedly the largest in Turkey, and a vast area of hardstanding with the requisite technical services for yacht maintenance. The Yacht Club has a pool and gym and it was here that the three of us had dinner on the first evening. Following a day preparing and storing the boat on 24th August Spellbinder set sail into the Gulluck Korfezi on the 25th and enjoyed a gentle sail on a beautiful, sunny morning to Kazikli Iskelesi, a bay at the head of Kazikli Limani, anchored off the Kaptan taverna and swam in the warm waters of the bay. After a day at anchor relaxing and adjusting to time changes Spellbinder sailed for the small bay at Talianaki at the head of the Kuruerik Buku. It was a beat all the way as the prevailing northerly winds bend up the Kazikli Limani and become south westerly. Anyway, it was good practice for the new crew and fun on yet another fine day. We had been wondering what a number of "Admiralty" type buoys were doing in some of the bays, and discovered that Turkish warships secured to them during their patrols of the coast. That evening we took the dinghy ashore and walked over to a holiday village on the northwesterly shore of the Kuruerik Buku. This is a friendly Turkish resort where we were entertained by a game of beach volley-ball played by the locals on the sandy beach. On Saturday 28th August we enjoyed a gentle beat back to Didim marina, Grace at the helm, to meet Hugh Fell who arrived at 0600 on Sunday 29th. Swimming in the pool followed by a traditional Turkish meal in Didyma was to result in Henry catching the "dog" so writing off sailing on Monday. On Tuesday 31 August, moral restored, Spellbinder sailed for Guvercinlik by way of the bay at Turk Buku for a late lunch stop. There is now a mass of mooring buoys in the bay, one of which we used, noting that the old anchoring area is now unavailable behind a boom protecting the bathing area. The genniker was hoisted for the evening sail to Guvercinlik, the wind now moderate in the southerly sector. Spellbinder sped along and dropped anchor in the harbour at 1850 after an enjoyable passage. Guvercinlik was visited and given the thumbs-up for being suitably Turkish. The late morning of Wednesday 01 September saw Spellbinder lashed by heavy rain and violent gusts of wind. This didn't last long, however, and by 1300 was underway to make the passage to "Paradise Bay" on the west side of the Kazikli Limani. Beating through a narrow passage in a F4/5 Spellbinder was photographed from a Turkish fishing boat - an honour indeed we thought. The next four hours were spent beating reefed down across the Gulluk Korfezi dodging the many fish farms in the gulf. With spray over the bows and the boat slamming into the short sea the Fell family enjoyed a boisterous sail to find a delightful anchorage at Paradise Bay. There was more swimming here but the next day Spellbinder beat to Kazikli followed by a meal ashore at the Kaptan taverna. The Fell family took a lift to the village of Kazikli on Friday 03 September, explored and walked the 5km back to the bay. Leaving at 1600 with the meltemi wind well underway Spellbinder sped down the Kazikli Limani and beat reefed-down to Didim marina, again avoiding fish farms and a 1.5m patch that is not marked in any way. As the sun was setting and the wind had eased, Spellbinder re-entered Didim marina and, helped by an an enthusiastic group of Didim "sailors" secured at her berth. The Fell family continued on their travels, some to Ethiopia! the rest back home to Northumberland. Henry looked forward to Sophie, Fi, Felicity and Jaco joining on 8th September, and an opportunity to do those little maintenance jobs that never seem to reduce in number!

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