Turkey Trip 0 2008

Malua was shipped from Australia to Palma in Majorca in Spain. From April 2007 to November 2007 we sailed eastwards

through the Mediterranean. Our adventure is chronicled in a

series of post on my blog. This web contains some observations, photos and parts of my log.

I arrived in Marmaris in mid April 2008. Malua was at home under the gum trees in Marmaris Marina when I arrived back in Turkey after the northern winter. The preparation prior to our leaving had paid off with no water ingress down below and no mould in the cupboards. The deck was covered in dust but I soon washed that off and set about running the halyards, sheets and lines. Ian from Remedy helped me replace the clevis pin on the forestay at the top of the mast and inspected the realignment of the engine shaft with the longer bolts. Hopefully this will be the last of these niggling problems left over from the days of construction at Cardiff.

Waiting to go in the water I took a tour to Ephesus, Hierapolis and the white limestones of Pamukkale with a group from the Marina. Great value and good fun.

Malua was launched late in the day after a long wait while the travellift crew made sufficient room between the refurbished power boat and the gum trees to get the travellift positioned over Malua to left her off the blocks. The compensation for being the last in the water at 7:30 at night was I got allocated a berth right next to the launch dock on G pontoon, only a stone's throw away from the shops and shower rooms. Here are some photos Launch

Malua felt much cleaner once she was in the water and I set about bending on the sails and inflating the rib. I was next to an American HR 42 with Bob and Susan. Very gracious neighbours who kindly gave me a 35kg Bugel anchor which is reputed to set quicker than any other here in the Med.

Wendy on Remedy had some dental work undertaken and recommended a fellow to put some caps on the two molars implants I had in my jaw. The fellow convinced me he had the experience and was about a third of the Oz procedure. It turned out the dentist had at least seen the type of implants and had the spanners to tighten the teeth. As is always the case in these situations something was lost in the translations and a vital part was not sent with the teeth so I had to wait a few days for it to arrive. The impressions taken, the teeth made and duly fitted in place with the help of a tiny torque wrench, some minor adjustments and I now have two new teeth to fill the caverns at the back of my mouth - all for about 1/3 of the Australian price.

Time had now passed and Denny had arrived in London and I was expected up the coast at Bodrum.

We are on our way north along the Turkish coast to Istanbul. Thereafter it is anyone's guess where the wind will take us - To Athens or back to Turkey.