I Must Go Down To The Sea Again......

I must go down to the sea again
To the lonely sea and sky.
I left my vest and socks there.
I wonder if they're dry?
Spike Milligan




Visit ten countries this year. It seemed to be an achievable target when I resolved to do it on New Years’ Eve. After all, 5 days later I was due in Austria for the first ski trip, then Italy for the second, and I was taking my father and brother to Malta at the beginning of March. A yacht delivery from London to the south of France would take in Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar. Add an invite to visit friends in San Francisco to watch the America’s Cup, and ten countries –no problem.

Then life took a couple of unexpected turns - no Italy, no delivery. No sailing either. Poor Avocette was in for a lean time too, as my wrist meant I couldn’t climb on board, and sorting Dad’s estate took a lot of time.

Slowly I have got back into sailing. A wrist operation failed to “mend it” so now I’m just making do and finding other ways of achieving tasks. Avocette is starting to look good, but is yet to break free of the Solent.

The best form of defence being attack, I leapt at the chance to deliver another boat from Marmaris, in Turkey, to Greece. Dragon Song is a boat I know well. Owned by friends Jim & Trish, I had re-wired the switch panel in 2003 prior to sailing her down to Gibraltar in the Autumn that year.



If you can’t see it – you won’t hit it, was the “advice” I was given on arrival, and in Turkey, it’s pretty much true too. Mountains tumble into sea…and keep-on going down. 40m, 50m, even 60m of chain and the anchor is only 20m in front of the boat, so it’s over the stern and a swim ashore to attach a stern-line, or two, to the rocks. This is mooring Med Style.



The sun is warm first thing. By breakfast temperatures are in the top 20’s and rising. The wind does the same, so it’s early starts. As the temperature rises, so does the wind, to 35⁰C and 25-30kts. Sun overhead, wind on the nose! Great sailing, dramatic scenery, no shipping, topped-off with a cooling dip in crystal clear water, then, at the end of the day…. a well-chilled beer and a BBQ.



We left from Marmaris, and have explored the myriad of coves and bays. Greek Islands rise ruggedly just a few miles off-shore, as close as the Isle of Wight is to Portsmouth.

The ruins of ancient Knidos tumble into the sea a stone’s throw away. It’s amphitheatres, surrounded by the walls and columns of once proud houses, clearly visible on the hillside around the twin harbours. The triremes, like their owners now long gone, replaced by Gulets and visiting yachts.

Next it's Bodrum, to clear-out of Turkey, then Greece………..