Telltale 115

....And there is plenty..........

It is definately spring and the summer is around the corner. So, more work to do. next to all the work in Harun's Paradise, I also have to start going on Sylphe. So here we went. After not having used her for more than a year, I guess there would be some work to do. And guess what....I was right.

When we hauled the boat out in the marina we had a small suprise........free mussel diner for the next three months to come. Unbelievable what had built up under the boat.



Strabgely enough the antifouling underneath was still in tact and with the help of a wash down the hull was okay and relatively good. Still I decided to get some repairs done, as usual. So the grinder and the sander were taken out and together with Serhat we worked for a few weeks to get all sanded down, filled, sanded, primed and painted. The above the waterline part was also doen and got a new fresh paint of beige. It took three weeks but than the boat went back into the water. After having received a new starter engine for the Yanmar, we were able to happily sail iover to Harunbs Paradise were we put her on her new on own mooring.







Now remians is the eternal varnish work. Sylphe has received new wood in the cockpit. Solar panels to keep her batteries charged while at the mooring (don't worry I will remove them wehen we go sailing, beauty first after all) The sails will come back from the sail maker this week. Than what is left is starting up al the machines and checking systems. It already satrted with all new batteries....woow, boating remains cheap...

In the mean time I had all kind of friends over, partily curious to come and see me, but I have a feeling that because I live in istanbul this added to the incentive to jump in a plane. So, Jochem came (and got stuck for the return flight because of some Icelandic ashes), Anne and Christian (dear sailing friends from the Tunisia-era) came over for 4 days and although Christina spent 4 days in bed as he had hurt his back on the last day before coming over they enjoyed and relaxed. They were also the first official guests we had in the hotel part of Harun's Paradise. A week later it was time for Sandra and Zev (5 year old son...oh no, I have to say 5 and A HALF!!!) and the Kleinvelds came over with the complete family, Liz, Ronald and the twins Isabelle and Stephen) They spent some time in Istanbul at the highlights accompanied by Sanem as a guide and Ronald enjoyed the peace and the tennis court.


And Sandra weas not only here to see me, she came to inspect the progress on the Kancabas rowing boats that we have here in the garden. These are basically ventian Style gondolas, that have been used on the Bosphorus for centuries. We still have two original ones here. When we found out in December last year that the Tall Ships would visit Itsanbul in May the idea was quickly born to invite some of Sandra's rwoing friends from Holland to come over and race these Kancabas on the Bosphorus. It will all happen in two weeks time and I look forward to it.

And for Harun's Paradise, well we are getting there: see www.harunsparadise.com for your self.







More trouble to come.........