36:17.58N 30:09.09E

Sunday 16^th May

Woke early to the sounds of the 4.00 am minaret, several cockerels, the pitter  patter of rain and a man with a pickaxe working on the top of my head – or so it seemed.

We were all up and about at 7.00 am as we had to set off for Finike which was admittedly only 18 miles but our group had to rendezvous at the destination around 12.00am and there was little or no wind at this point.

We left at 8.05 am and soon had our fishing lures deployed as we motored between the islands under the watchful gaze of a guardian coastguard armed fast patrol launch.

The wind came and went several times encouraging us each time to set our sails only to have to put them away again just minutes later. To make the process of getting so many boats into a marina or port the rally has divided the fleet into 6 groups. Based on size. Each group is given a 30 minute  arrival slot and as you come within half a mile of the destination you call in and are given a docking number within your group. This worked very well today and with the rather inevitable exception of two of the French yachts that had not quite grasped the concept, it all went well. We arrived rather ahead of schedule, but sailed slowly past the marina downwind and duly caught a fish only minutes before we were due to come in, but it did not matter as it wriggled off the hook before we could land it.

We came into the marina as directed and backed up to the quay and moored between a yacht from Canada and one from France. After washing down Serafina to remove all the sand which had been deposited by the rain earlier (or is it ash?) we enjoyed a lovely lunch on board, based largely on the delicious tomatoes that we were given last night by the carpet shop owner.

The afternoon drifted by with little happening, which is probably about right for a Sunday. Drinks in the cockpit led to a latish supper and an early night for all.