40 09.13N 026 24.26E - Çanakkale

Yachtforeverfreedom
Mon 28 May 2012 10:08
Çanakkale is at the mid-point of the Dardanelles, on the Southern side.  It is where they are at their narrowest; where the Royal Navy attempted to force a passage in the Gallipoli campaign and lost seven ships to Ataturk's artillery.  We departed Avşa Adasi at the usual hour of 0600, with clear skies and no wind, and motored steadily West the 60 miles to Çanakkale arriving there at 1500.  The harbour is being modernised and part of it has been split off as a marina; a new project which is still developing - we discovered that the one-and-only shower does not have hot water yet!  Nevertheless, we are right in the centre of everything and five nights has cost us about £105, including electricity, water etc - not a bad deal for us as we use a lot of electricity for cooking, water heating etc.  We are having a rest day tomorrow (Sunday) and are arranging to visit the Gallipoli Battlefields on Tuesday - Pauline's grandfather served there; one of the lucky ones to return. On the pontoon are one Irish boat, two more English boats and one Italian; the first time we have had contact with other boats to speak to in 4 weeks.  The area relies on agriculture for a living, but there is a pilgrimage to the site of Gallipoli where so many Australian, English and Turkish lost there lives.