30 April – 1 May 2007, Çeşme visit, Written by David Gerard 

Cesme 

S/Y Mashona

Good Morning 

I am sorry this report was not with you yesterday but the sea conditions between Cesme and Kusadasi were not the best. We had trouble keeping everything in place so trying to sit at the chart table with the computer was not easy. 

Our entry in to Cesme was relatively easy once we sorted out which Quay we where on.

Cesme town marina was built speculatively by the government some years ago and although has been operated by the municipality since it has received little or no maintenance. 

It has been recently leased  to the IC Holding & Camper Nicholson group who will develop it further building a whole range of services including shops and restaurants. 

Can Polat has been appointed the future manager and he gave us an idea of the scale of things and a prospective timescale, with a budget of 9.5 million dollars it certainly is going to be a major marina on this coast. 

Our old friends Mustafa, Levent along with Can had organised a tour of the surrounding district and the nearby castle. 

We also visited the nearby marinas of Setur and Alaçatı; the Setur marina is a well established fully serviced marina while the new marina at Alaçatı is still under development they have of course a travel lift, toilets and a small restaurant as well as hard standing for many boats.

It is part of a new housing project similar in style to port Grimaud in France.

Our cocktail party was to be on the quay side but it rained quite heavy so like last year we moved to inside a large trip boat where the crew cooked us delicious fish. 

Our customary presentations where undertaken by John and Cheryl from Sea Mist and Stephan from Kolakita.

We again had a wonderful time in Cesme as always and we are very grateful to all who put so much work into our visit. 

Dave and Kath and Tilly

S/Y Mashona