Alanya
Yachtforeverfreedom
Sat 1 Aug 2009 11:22
| 36:33.5667N 031:56.9040E. After the night crossing from Latchi, we arrived just off the new Alanya Marina at about 1230 on Tuesday the 28th July. The 92 nautical miles had taken us almost exactly 16 hours and had been uneventful. Apart from about 4 hours, there had been almost no wind so we motored all the way. We called the marina about 4 nautical miles out to let them know we wanted a berth and they said to call back again when we were at the entrance and we would be met by the Berthing Master in a RIB and assisted into a mooring space. Getting into the marina was a bit more complicated than we anticipated as firstly, the marina did not answer our call on the VHF then secondly (more about that later), the marina entrance was surrounded by huge wooden Turkish tripper boats called Gulets who were taking advantage of the shelter from the slight swell and then, thirdly, the marina entrance was closed off by a large pontoon and a line of buoys all connected together with rope - presumably to keep the Gulets out. Having motored slowly up to the line of buoys whilst calling on Channel 16 we then went into reverse and tried to get back into open water away from the Gulets - as we were doing this the Berthing Master arrived at the line of buoys waving frantically to attract our attention (we then discovered that the VHF Working Channel for the marina is Channel 73 and that they do not always listen to the International Calling Channel, Channel 16). He undid a rope and moved the buoys out of our way - closing the gap quickly after we had passed into the marina. We were greeted by a huge open space with just a few boats moored on the single pontoon and a few more around the edges on the quays - we knew the marina was under construction but, clearly, there is a lot more to be done before all the live-aboard boats start arriving for the winter. We were shown to a space beside the Travel-Hoist Berth (where they lift boats out of the water) and, with the help of the Berthing Master, were quickly moored alongside - usually you have to Med-Moor (with your stern or bow to the quay and the other end of the boat secured by your anchor or a warp to a mooring block) but at the moment they have so much space it is not necessary. Within a few minutes Peter is dragged-off to the marina office to complete the initial check-in procedure - yes, there is more than one, as this is Turkey, the home of Byzantine procedures. Having completed the initial check-in, the marina receptionist, Sibel, then takes both of us the 3 miles into Alanya town, to the port area, to do the full check-in with the Port Authority, Harbour Master, Marine Police, Health Authority (new special form for Swine Flu!), Immigration for visas, Customs, and finally back to the Harbour Master to hand over all the forms which have been stamped and signed. Needless to say, the offices of these departments are scattered around various parts of the town so we are in and out of the car each time. By 1600 we are finished but Sibel has to stay on with the Customs to check-in a boat which is staying for the winter and for which she is acting as agent because the owner has left Turkey. We are hot and very tired so, rather than risk a bus (there is one past the marina every 10 minutes - but we have to find the bus depot) we spend €10 (about £ 8.60) on a taxi back to the marina. When we arrived back in marina 10 minutes later and just flopped for a couple of hours, catching-up on sleep lost last night during the crossing. Wednesday morning, the 29th. After a very good night's sleep, a visit to the marina office to pay our mooring fee for the next 3 months relieves our bank account of € 746 (£ 640) - it seems a lot but, at just over £ 7 per day including unlimited electricity (think air conditioning as the temperature averages 33℃ during the day), is probably a lot cheaper than anywhere in UK. By now we have realized that our mooring spot is not ideal. It is too close to the building works, so we are constantly tramping through dirt and then trying to keep that off the boat when we come aboard. A request to the Marina Deputy Manager to move into a spot that a departing yacht vacated this morning is met with instant agreement and the assurance that the Berthing Master will be round in 15-20 minutes to help us move - 30 minutes later we are in our new spot on the quay and hooked-up to the electricity, drinking water on tap, and boat wash water (this is a new thing to us - must be to save potable water) also on tap. Every silver lining has a cloud and Peter has been fretting about the "House Bank" of batteries again and has asked the Marina Technical Manager for help - after a short phone call, an appointment is made for electrician to call at the boat at 1600 to do a full discharge test on the batteries. At the appointed hour the electrician arrives, accompanied by an assistant and the Marina Deputy Technical Manager who does all the translating. Each of the batteries in the main "Domestic" bank is tested and, sure enough, one is found to be completely duff, one almost duff and two 50% duff. We are given a quote for 4 replacement batteries of the same type at € 120 each (£ 102) - we agree - they will be delivered to the boat by teatime tomorrow - despite the cost, Peter is happier! This afternoon we also erected our new American built “Shade Tree” for the first time. It’s a 2-part sunshade which covers nearly all the boat and keeps most-of-the-sun off the deck most-of-the-time. It is held up by fibre-glass rods which loop over the boom and are attached to the guard wires each side so it is possible to walk around they deck without having to duck - well, Pauline can. Thursday 30th. Another good night’s sleep - we are more relaxed now and, despite things going wrong, like the batteries, feel a bit more in control. We decide to get some shopping done so, upon the assurance of Bob off the yacht Trilogy that it is not far to Migros, the nearest proper supermarket, we set off along the path towards town. 15 minutes later we pass a mini-market and within 30 minutes have reached Migros, which seems to have everything we need. A leisurely wander round the shop picking up a few items, and enjoying the air conditioning, and then we are off back towards the marina. It proves to be a bit harder walking back as it is slightly uphill for most of the way - we stop about halfway and sit on a bench in the shade - very OAP! The batteries which are due at 1600 do not arrive - I suppose we should not be surprised - Turkey was proving far too good to be true! At 1730, having disconnected all the electrics and lifted out the batteries, Peter wanders around to the marina office to find out when they are going to be delivered. The marina office staff are in a management meeting and 4 brand new batteries are sitting outside the main office entrance. Peter wanders back, puts the old batteries back and reconnects all the electrics and utters words to the effect of “If they think I am going to carry those all the way to the boat (there are no trolleys in the marina and each battery weighs 27 kg) . . . . . “. At 1830 we observe the “Marina Deputy Technical Manager” humping the batteries into the office for the night. Tomorrow we will no doubt discover that we “misunderstood” the agreement with the marina, but we are now fully retired and tomorrow is another day . . . . . Friday 31st. After breakfast, Peter pottered about doing odd-jobs, adjusting ropes and sail-covers and making grumpy noises about the “To-Do” List just getting longer and longer. He wandered over to the marina office to ask about the batteries and is told that the electrician will come this afternoon to fit them. After a discussion it is agreed that they will be delivered into the saloon and Peter will fit them and the old ones will be taken away for re-cycling - what time today we do not know but who cares, the sun is shining - but the wifi is off following a power-cut. Have heard from Doug (yacht Kelebek) that a contractor is delivering bottled drinking water to the marina but no one knows when, or how much it will cost. The marina drinking water has a definite taint and people are complaining about it - the pipework runs on the surface everywhere so it is well heated by the time it reaches the boats (we are still using our own water produced by the water-maker so do not have that problem yet). Bob and Rosie (yacht Trilogy) also mentioned that Friday is the day of the farmers’ big fruit and veg market in town next to the bus depot - all you can carry for about 20 Turkish Lira (£ 8). The batteries are duly delivered and, although the same make and apparently identical, they differ in the post arrangement on the top, and also prove to be slightly longer and wider - so they don’t fit the battery box - Peter is surprisingly calm about it all and just sets about making everything fit as best he can. The boat is back to normal by 1600, although we are going to have to get a new battery box made in due course. Saturday 1st August. The day started with no shorepower so, to save the new batteries, the generator goes on to boil the kettle! Subsequently, we discover that, because there is no shorepower in the marina, there is no water in the showers/toilets  |