EMYR
Sunday 15th June 2008
(Port Said, Egypt).

We were one day late departing from Ashkelon. This was due to likely prospect of high'ish winds and heavy seas 'on the nose'. So we prepared to depart Ashkelon Thursday 12th on a 125'ish nautical mile overnight sail towards Port Said. Whilst in Ashkelon the committee worked especially hard and Hasan worked long hours to successfully reschedule the programme at Port Said. One big advantage of the delay meant people could indulge more in the booze and food served by Ashkelon Marina on the Tuesday night because we al knew we would be able to have a lazy-type next day!

Some yachts left Ashkelon very early in the morning. Others, like us, had arranged a 7 a.m. departure (or so we thought!). The Israel customs officers had different ideas when they woke everyone 'ordering' us to collect passports pronto - four hours earlier than expected. What a pleasant surprise this was? Following instructions, all yachts sailed 20 miles out from Ashkelon before turning towards Port Said. We were instructed to do this because we had to stay clear of the Israel gas rigs and also to stay more than 20 miles from the Gaza Strip coastline. The donk was put to use for the fist few hours then a pleasant wind meant the remaining 80 miles or so could be done under sail. There was plenty fish caught en-route. We heard Joe (s/cat Zea) telling how a big one got away after they had started cutting it up! We heard many more claims from s/y Silent Wings, s/y Rumpus, s/y Eirene as well as others. We even saw s/cat Zea landing a BIG fish towards dusk. The claims became well proven when fresh tuna pieces were handed out! Group 5 even had a tuna barbecue the next evening. Yachts arriving Port Said anchored outside the breakwater then the whole Rally moved up into the Suez Canal to berth in the Arsenal harbour.......... and filled it!
Yesterday we set-off on the organised tour to visit Cairo. We visited Saladin's citadel, an important mosque, the museum, spent three hours in the bazaar and sailed felucca boats on the Nile. A night in the Intercontinental Pyramid Hotel presented the opportunity for a welcome rest. Today we visited a papyrus gallery, the pyramids and the sphinx at Giza and are now safely back on board. Whilst at the pyramids some people took camel rides and some people visited a pyramid inner chamber, deep inside. An experience not to be missed. On entering the inner chamber Gus, s/y Indigo, took a nasty fall and could easily have ended up being the latest pharaoh, had he not bounced back before entering the deep black hole of the open sarcophagus tomb. It was very hot and humid inside the pyramid even before Gus fell!
It is Sue's Birthday today. Sue is 53 years of age. This will be a day not to be forgotten, especially when recalling the splendid audition of 'Happy Birthday' delivered to Sue, courtesy of the EMYR Giza Pyramid Choir, lead by Jean Claude, Marlene, Alain and Gladys s/y Anthea, plus many more, as well as me!
Tomorrow we expect to sail from Port Said towards Herzliya, Israel. Let's hope there will be enough wind in the right direction for another good sail.

Best wishes and regards to all our friends.
Sue & Alan
s/y Ticketeeboo.