Shamballa Cruising Yacht Club: Setting Sail

After nearly three years it was time to say goodbye to Marmaris and Turkey. We said goodbye to our neighbours Mary Beth and Karl with hopes to catch up in the northern Aegean. Then early on April Fools we cast off the mooring lines and set off for the open sea (well really coastal cruising).

Bye Yacht Marina

Bye Marmaris

Bye Marmaris Bay

Cold but happy Skipper

Sadly there was no sailing our first day out but we still had a pleasant 4 hour motor to Bozukkale where we spent the night. The bay was totally empty. None of the restaurants were open and except for a fisherman coming for a few hours it was just us and the donkeys and goats.

Marmaris to Bozukkale

We were up early the next morning to head for Symi and to check into Greece for the next year.

As it was Sunday when we checked in at Symi and early in the season, we only completed the immigration part of the three part check-in necessary for when we enter a new country with our boat. There was absolutely no problems with my long stay visa being in my damaged passport. I am able to stay in Greece for a year. We then went to customs but it was closed (though I don't think officially it was meant to be closed but it was Sunday and not many tourist and it is Greece so the official had a long siesta and stayed home). Then we went to the port police (Coast Guard). Since the Coast Guard needs the customs clearance before they can finalize the paperwork, they said we could finish the check-in the next day and we should go and have a nice lunch and enjoy the island. So we did and the food was heaven.

Having our Greek Lunch on arrival

What could be better - stifado, fish soup and of course Greek salad

We were the only visiting boat in the harbour and were able to moor along side, which was so much easier for us. Just so one doesn’t think all is beer and skittles in this sailing gig, we returned from the sublime lunch to the reality of unblocking the aft head (rear toilet). Not a pleasant job but it turned out to be less vile than we feared. Much of sailing is boat repair in exotic locations.

Songster along side

When we had finished with the plumbing, we stuck our heads out into the cockpit and at the restaurant 20m away music was playing and a very happy woman was dancing on the table to the joy of her friends who were clapping the rhythm.

Dancing on the table

We completed our check-in on Monday morning and did a bit of grocery shopping to get those items that are not easy to get in Turkey or expensive. As has happened every time we shopped at Symi supermarket, the proprietor gave us a free bottle of wine. You have to love Greece - free wine, locals dancing on the tables and officials who encourage you to have a nice lunch and not worry about paperwork!