Au Revoir Finike
 
 
Friday 2nd of May arrived and it was time to say Au revoir to Finike marina, which has been our on and off home for the last six months. We (super smooth bot) and Moli (barnacle bum) slipped our lines at 8.00am and headed West into the prevailing wind. Our early start meant we were able to cover a bit of ground before the wily wind got out of bed and really started blowing. 20 Knots sur le nez, less than ideal when your trying to ‘SAIL the dream’! The new prop and bot made a difference, how do I know you ask? We were still able to keep moving I answer! We arrived in Kas and anchored in a bay in zero wind, I know it came as a shock to us too. Then it was on to Moli for a well earned beefy burger BBQ and a few of the old grown ups lemonades. It was early to bed that night as we had a 5.00am start the next day (not for the faint hearted or the crew of Stella really but it had to be done). Next stop Fethiye bay to meet up with chums Carillion (Rod & Mary). Once again we were motoring into the prevailing wind but to make things even more exciting this time we had to pass by the ‘treacherous seven capes’. I can see by your face this means nothing to you, let me explain we now have wind sur le nez and a soup-son of swell which, if you let it could put you off your cheese sandwich! Goes without saying it takes a lot to put Team Stella off their sarnies. We arrived in Fethiyre around 4.00pm and it was straight on to Carillion for tea and cake, very nice it was too. We spent the next 3 nights at anchor in Fethiye bay (took us that long to get over the 5.00am start). The sun shone and despite a rather chilly wind at shower time (no the Stella Maris al fresco shower facilities have not been upgraded) it was all very pleasant. We had a Potluck meal on Carillion and visited the local fish market in Fethiye, you select your fish from the market and then choose a restaurant to take it to and they cook it for you. Absolutely brilliant place they have a huge, simply huge range of fish. Captain Ian & Team Carillion plumped for a ‘lamb-fish’ I know it sounds like cloning gone wrong, but it’s not a lamb it’s a fish and a blooming big one at that! On our last day in the bay, Mary from Carillion challenged Mandy (Moli) and myself to a dinghy rowing race. When we saw her rowing in her dinghy with the outboard still on we should have heeded the sign and retired there and then. We were getting ready for the race to begin, ladies gripping the oars, men ready with the instructions (no change there then). The plan to row out to Carillion, which was about 200 yards away and back again. Just as we were about to start another boat arrived in the bay and promptly started to lay it’s anchor a tad close to Moli. Now call it intuition or the fact that said boat was drifting towards Moli. But the ‘Fethiye Bay Rowers’ felt the crew of this boat didn’t have a clue about anchoring and they were.. dare I say it ‘Charterers’ (folk who hire boats, we were those very people in our previous lives). Team Moli rowed over (I was hoping it might tire Mandy out a bit before the race). They placed their dinghy between Moli and the numpties, I mean Charterers boat (as a sort of giant fender). It soon became apparent that not only did they have all the gear and no idea, they’d been at the grown ups lemonade! To avoid a rather nasty situation Rod from Carillion boarded their boat and helped them to anchor. His work there done he rejoined Mary in the dinghy and we got down to the serious business of rowing! As we approached Carillion, Team Carillion were in the lead (no surprise there). Team Moli were second (no surprise there) and Team Stella Maris were in third place, yes that is last (no surprise there, they don’t call me Spaghetti arms for nothing). As we rounded Carillion for the return leg, the men took over rowing and the ladies sat back, I mean offered up words of encouragement and important tactical advice. Carillion crossed the line first gaining Gold, Moli got Silver and Team Stella Maris, well they got the booby prize!! We all had a wonderful few days and nights in Fethiye and were sad to leave. Moli and ourselves left the next day at first light. Next stop Yacht marine in Marmaris for Alan’s 60th birthday party (Alan & Genie from Crete on Aldabaron, I tell you it’s all go). Yacht marine is a huge huge marina with good facilities, chandlers, travel hoist and more importantly a pool to die for. We’d rung them to make a reservation and been told they were full!! A little disconcerting as we were two boats and we knew of a couple of Crete chums that were on route for the birthday celebrations!! Wish us luck shipmates, Yacht marine here we come ready or not!! Love & lamb-fish Captain Redgrave & Spaghetti arms XX
Wednesday, 7 May 2008