Telltale 94

What a holiday and paradise ....LIFE is

It is the end of June and I have been a little busy, not to mention that my website was full and needed more capacity to be able to tell you all about what I am doing. But Rob, again, took care of that, so here we go, with more pics and stories.

Sylphe left Marmaris marina around mid April, after I went to Ayvalik to see Sabri and his boat GISELA, remember this an Abeking & Rasmussen from 1924 and was almost completely overhauled in the last two years. Equipped with a complete new deck, new interior and more. The boat really is a day-sailor pur sang, No complex systems onboard and no need for that either. The boat is a perfect size for an afternoon of fantastic sailing. Sabri and I sailed Gisela two years ago from Istanbul to Ayvalik for this project, well actually we motored as the boat was not seaworhy at all!!!!!!. And now she was ready, in the water and willing to be taken out to sea. The mast needed some more attention, as there was a serious problem with the mast-step alignment. Sails had to be put on, no winches installed yet, no bilge-pump yet, the engine not working, and the anchor was not onboard....but who needs all of that... Still, we changed the mast step, lifting the mast up a bit, had the metal part changed and the mast was put back in place. The next day, we simply went for it........
Don't care about the rest of the equipment, this is a proper sailboat. The marina dinghy towed us out, and we hoisted the mainsail....and off she went. Serious, people, if you want to have the thrill of sailing a boat...go smaller. The accelaration, the ease of handling and the sense of being ONE with the elements...IT ALL COMES BACK, while we sailed around the bay of Ayvalik, one of the most protected waters that exists.
What a blast we had. The grin on Sabri's face is still there....7 weeks later





I went back to marmaris, leaving a happy Sabri behind (and some more varnish work on Gisela!!) I took Sylphe around to Orhanyie, just opposite of Symi. So, I could choose to be in Symi and the house, or ...when the weather worsens, leave to Turkey and the protected bay of Orhanyie. Symi harbor is still (and will never be) safe with any east or south winds, the swell is just bashing everyone on to the quay. Partily due to the fact that they made a concrete quay/road around the harbor and thus taking away the capabilty of absorbing a wave on a beach, where it looses its power, and due to the fact that is very deep in the port. A simple filling it up and bringing the depth back to 8 meters would already solve a lot... But hey, this is Greece, who expects anyone to do that here....

I had a lot more visitors, Steffie, Sabri, Rob, Adriaan, Paul, Annette and Adrian, Andy, and Margot. They all came by and we spent glorious relaxed days at the house or on the boat. The house remains a gem, I guess that 10 years on a boat, makes me appreciate a house again, with steps, rooms, and a garden. The garden is a feat to sit in. The BBQ installed in the garden is the absolute crownjewel and complements the whole thing to a little paradise.












And as you can see Heliodora survived the complete winter in the water and is happily docked next to Sylphe. Andre and I put the outboard of Sylphe on her and blasted through the port...hahahahah

So, weeks passed, a few days in Turkey, a few days in Symi, great anchorages, more varnish and all good friends around. To complement the whole thing Andre, Fiona and their 20 month old son came by on their own boat. A best friend at hand and more fun and good evenings.
That Andre attracted a rat onboard, is not worth the mentioning, but indeed worrying for him and his boat.



As usual, I am having fun, will be off to Palma de Mallorca in a few days, to go and get the first big project for the new yard in Ayvalik, a 29 meter sloop, that is in need of a refit. Will sail her over to Corfu first and than later to Turkey. Definately should keep me out of trouble for the time being. Back on Sylphe by the end of July for my own charters in August and September....

AHOY,