1st May 2006 - Cesme to Kusadasi

 

A pleasant but uneventful sail today down the coast from Cesme (pronounced Sheshmay) 60 miles to the larger town and marina at Kusadasi.

 

As appears to be the norm for this rally, the day started for us at 0600 with absolutely no wind.  We were not quite the last boat to leave today, and motored well over flat glassy seas until perhaps 1000. 

 

The earlier hours were overcast and damp, but at 1000 the sun broke through and with it we got some wind from the north.  We'd made good time under engine so having time to spare (as we were not due in until 1700) we hoisted the spinnaker and turned off the negine to run before the light breezes.

 

Under engine we'd been making 7 knots boatspeed.  With only 7 knots of wind initially, our speed dropped to 4.5 knots.  But no worries.  A nice day.  We bowled along the rest of the way taking turns and having a nap and a shower below before arriving  off Kusadasi at 1600.

 

Kusadasi Marina is the largest and most modern yet visited by us in Turkey - in fact possibly anywhere!  All faciliteis one could wish for (swimming pool / laundry / guards / attentive marinaros / wide choice of bars and restaurants etc).  The location is possibly 1 km or more from Kusadasi town centre - but we'll take an early run along the forshore tomorrow morning and see how far away it actually is. 

 

Apparently Kusadisi town is a booming tourist spot, with as many as 8 cruise liners parking up in the summer to deposit their guests ashore.  Today there is only one ship - The Rotterdam - suprisingly enough from Rotterdam and I assume full of Dutch tourists.

 

Tonight the organisers have a BBQ type party set up here in the marina grounds - and tomorrow we've elected to join a day trip to visit Ephesus which is close nearby.

 

Ephesus was once the Roman capital of Asia - circa 300 BC.  The temple there is apparently huge.  Four times the size of the Parthenon, and ranked as one of the seven wonders of the world.

 

We've already met some of the new rally yachts joining with us here for the ongoing legs - so the fleet is slowly building!  Should look good tomorrow if the forecast northerlies continue, and we possibly see the whole fleet under spinnaker.

 

Anyway.  It's that time when G & T's beckon, so I'm off.

JOHN