Logbook Entry

Dates: 5/9/2010 – 5/10/2010
Distance: 75.4 nm
Sailed from: Port Marmara, Marmara Adasi
Lat: 40°52.2’N
Long: 29°05.1’E

A long day which included some exciting sailing in 18-22 knots of wind through the large “parking lot” of ships waiting for the northbound traffic to open in the Bosphorus. They weren’t actually anchored but just sort-of “jinking around” like cars waiting for a parking spot at the shopping mall except these were dozens of very large ships concentrated in a 10 square-mile area southeast of Istanbul and the Princess Islands, our destination for the day. We kept a close watch and had to tack a few times but eventually threaded our way through the ship traffic to the Princess Islands.

We dropped our anchor inside this protected cove on Sunday evening at 19:45 just as the weekend visitors to this peaceful cove were leaving. A few power and sail boats lingered until after sunset. The yacht closest to us had musicians onboard, so we were serenaded with Traditional Turkish music while we tidied the decks and put the mainsail cover on. When we awoke the next morning, we had the place to ourselves. We, too, lingered for a bit in this peaceful spot before making our way to the marina in Kalamis.