5th May 2006 - Turgutreis (Bodrum) to Orhaniye

Posted at 5:18 AM, Saturday, May 6, 2006

D-Marine at Turgetreis is a new marina facility set on the western coast about 15 km from Bodrum.  Very modern marina – very swish – great facilities and a nice small township not yet 100% given over to tourism.

Sue did find a hairdresser she trusted – and I found a fish and chip shop Margate would have been proud of!

We delayed departing Turgutreis until 0800 when their fuel jetty opened for business.  We’ve only consumed 100 litres so far since first leaving Ayvalik, but we suspect others will soon start tanking up also, and with 30 yachts now in the group that could mean hanging around in a queue.  So as most of the others left earlier at 0500 for the 60 miles to Orhaniye, we took the opportunity.

This leg involved sailing 15 miles due south from the Turkish coast and cutting close inside the Greek island of Kos, to then again close the Turkish peninsular at Knidos.  As others had warned us before, the winds around Kos did increase in strength and we made good time reaching before a NW stiff breeze to round the cliffs off Knidos by 1100.

The Turkish coast at this point turns eastward towards our destination set in the Hisaronu Korfezi – meaning the Gulf of the Fortresses. This long thin gulf runs east / west and is bordered by the high craggy cliffs of the Dorian promontory to the north, and the Greek islands of Simi and Yesilova Korfezi to the south. 

The winds eased back to 15 knots as we turned and sailed eastward, and we hoisted the spinnaker for the 40 mile run from Knidos to  Orhaniye which is nestled right up in the eastern end of the gulf. 

We soon caught upwith some of the other yachts.  Only a few were under sail like us - most were motor sailing.  It was a hot day and proved to be a good sunbathing opportunity.

As we ghosted in at 1700 under spinnaker, we could see Orhaniye is more than just pretty.  It is set into a fiord like bay called Keci Buku on the southern side the narrow gulf, and the slopes around are covered with pine.  The marina is shut in by steep rocky slopes which traps the pine scent, the water is as flat as glass, and the restaurants and bars which form part of the marina hotel complex are almost hidden away in the trees.  All very smart but casual.  A stream at the head of the bay keeps the narrow valley green all year round.  In our opinion this would be a highly recommended stop over location for any other cruisers - either at the marina or anchored close to shore.  Here is an early morning shot before the suns come up.

We’ve a lay day today, so our choices will be hill walking; bike riding; a freebie  dolmus over to Marmarus; a beach chair alongside the swimming pool and a good book; or pump up the dinghy and polish the hull.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

JOHN