24th-26th May - Iskendurum, Turkey
Leaving Mersin was very straight forward as most boats were moored alongside. It was about 80 miles to Iskendurum so
another overnight passage was inevitable except for the larger power boats. The pack basically followed the coast SE
trying to avoid fishing traps and each other, not always successfully! "Vision" as always was first in at day break and
were dismayed to find that the harbour had not been cleared for us as promised. One quay was clear but the other was
full of fishing boats. Frank found the person in charge and started negotiating some more space for us and then
rearranging his plan for berthing the boats. It became obvious that half the boats in each group would have to raft and
the power boats from our group would have to back into the rocks as that was all the space left. The boats began to
trickle in and everybody tired after a night passage, the berthing became a bit fractious. Walt and Evelyn from s/y
"Nefetari" won the award for berthing having originally gone to the wrong harbour, then dropped their anchor too far out
and the end not tied on so the anchor and chain all ended up on the bottom, and the engine was stuck in reverse to make
matters worse! They bounced off "Sooty" and were manhandled into a berth and later went dredging for their anchor,
successfully. The power boats arrived mid-afternoon and managed eventually to back into their allotted space.
The welcome on the quay was incredible with the local talent come to entertain us with music
and dancing. Very colourful and noisy. That evening we had the rally dinner in an outdoor restaurant in town. The
usual good and plentiful food and presentations from Hasan for the Mayor and other dignitaries. Even the press was there
and we got our photographs in the local newspaper. Quite tired we returned to the harbour for a welcome night's sleep.
