Category Archives: Black Sea

Black Sea, Publications, Updates

New Supplement to Black Sea Cruising Guide

Image: The Black Sea cover. Credit: Imray and RCCPF.The latest update to our cruising guide to the Black Sea was published in May. Supplement No 5 for the 1st Edition (2012) of The Black Sea is now available on the RCC Pilotage Foundation (RCCPF) and Imray websites.

From the RCCPF website:

Despite the security situation making the area more problematic for yachts, it remains a very interesting destination. Lisa Borre and David Read Barker have produced a comprehensive supplement giving details of the many changes that have taken place in this area since the publication of the book.

We understand from our sailing friend Zafer Türkmen in Istanbul that there will be a rally along the Turkish coast of the Black Sea this summer to Samsun, Turkey from the 3rd to the 29th of July 2017. For more information or to follow the DADD RALLI 2017, visit their Facebook page. Continue reading New Supplement to Black Sea Cruising Guide →

Black Sea, Publications

The Black Sea Cruising Guide Gets a Good Review

The Black Sea book coverHappy 2013! We’ve been busy in the off-season with various writing projects, including another book, this one about Sierra Leone, edited by David, and contributions to a NatGeo blog on global lake topics written by Lisa.

See our updated Publications page for links to books, blogs, and articles about our sailing adventures aboard Gyatso and other topics of interest to us.

We’re also starting to see reviews of The Black Sea cruising guide and receive feedback from cruising sailors who have used it.

Continue reading The Black Sea Cruising Guide Gets a Good Review →

Black Sea

“The Black Sea” cruising guide now available in North America

The Black Sea book coverWe have good news for those of you who have been asking where to buy The Black Sea cruising guide that we wrote. The guide is now available in North America from the following distributors: Landfall Navigation, Maryland Nautical and The Nautical Mind.

The book was published in April 2012 as a joint venture between the RCC Pilotage Foundation and Imray (both based in the UK) and is also available for purchase through their websites.

A list of suggested reading is provided in The Black Sea. For anyone interested in further reading on the topic, you can find these titles and more in the Gyatso Bookstore hosted by Amazon Associates.

Black Sea, Publications

The Black Sea book launch scheduled for Saturday 28 April in Marmaris, Turkey

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Photo: The Black Sea cruising guide launch.
L to R: Martin Walker, director of the RCCPF, with The Black Sea co-authors Lisa Borre and David Read Barker.

The Black Sea cruising guide is now available for purchase from the RCC Pilotage Foundation and Imray. We will be launching the book at a briefing about the Black Sea in Marmaris, Turkey this Saturday, 28 April at 10:00 AM in the Dining Room Annex at Marmaris Yacht Marina. The timing couldn’t be better. We are back aboard Gyatso in Marmaris preparing for a seasonal cruise in the Med. Martin Walker, our editor at the RCCPF, will be hand-carrying a copy of the book from England when he returns to his boat in Marmaris tomorrow. Continue reading The Black Sea book launch scheduled for Saturday 28 April in Marmaris, Turkey →

Black Sea, Logbook, Turkey (Black Sea)

Istanbul, Turkey: Black Sea Circumnavigation Completed

Photo: Bridge over the Bosphorus near Istanbul, Turkey.
We had a beautiful, clear day in September for our trip down the Bosphorus from the Black Sea to Istanbul. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/16/2010
Distance: 18 nm
Sailed from: Poyraz, Turkey
Lat: 40°58.3’N
Long: 29°02.1’E

Gyatso sailed down the Bosphorus today, returning to Istanbul 111 days after setting out on a voyage around the Black Sea. We visited five of the six countries during our 2,118 mile counter-clockwise circumnavigation, including Turkey, Georgia, the Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. Russian officials could not give us adequate assurances regarding clearance procedures, so we made a 330 mile offshore passage from Georgia to the Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine to avoid entering Russian waters. It was a real disappointment not to be able to visit the site of the next winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

We met friendly people and were welcomed with warm hospitality along the way — the only exception was encountering the occasional Soviet-style government officials in Ukraine and in Georgia. Contrary to published guides about the Black Sea, we found it teaming with life. Dolphins and porpoises made regular appearances in our bow wave. We also met with many experts and scientists about the environmental conditions and were encouraged to learn of some signs of improvement to this highly degraded ecosystem. Continue reading Istanbul, Turkey: Black Sea Circumnavigation Completed →

Black Sea, Logbook, Turkey (Black Sea)

Igneada, Turkey: Our final stop on the Black Sea and a warm welcome back to Turkey

Photo: Sailing on the Black Sea. Credit: Lisa Borre.
A nice September breeze carried us back to the Bosphorus and Istanbul. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/14/2010
Distance: 44 nm
Sailed from: Sozopol, Bulgaria
Lat: 43°53.2’N
Long: 28°01.6’E

We cleared out of Bulgaria in Tsarevo, arriving in Igneada, Turkey well before sunset. Having heard mixed reviews about whether Turkish authorities would allow us to remain in the harbor or require us to proceed to Istanbul for clearance formalities, we were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the officials who stopped by in a coast guard rib shortly after we anchored. The explained what we already knew: “Igneada is no longer a port of entry.” They asked for our passports and ship’s papers and gave us permission to stay in the harbor. In true Turkish fashion, one of the young men asked if we needed any supplies, “Water or bread? A weather report?” David answered, “We’re okay on supplies, but we miss olives!” They returned a short while later with our ship’s papers and a jar of black olives — a warm welcome back to Turkey. Continue reading Igneada, Turkey: Our final stop on the Black Sea and a warm welcome back to Turkey →

Black Sea, Bulgaria, Logbook

Sozopol, Bulgaria: Saving the best for last

Photo: Sozopol, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Credit: Lisa Borre.
A windy day in the picturesque town of Sozopol. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/8/2010
Distance: 39 nm
Sailed from: Sveti Vlas and Burgas, Bulgaria
Lat: 42°25.2’N
Long: 27°41.3’E

We both instantly liked Sozopol and were glad we ended up here to wait-out the first gale of the season. Several yachts had attempted to outrun the gale by sailing south today, but wind and rough seas on-the-nose pushed them back to this protected harbor with its modern marina and sturdy sea walls. Soon after checking-in at the marina office, David found Hristo on Alexandrina, his Greek fishing boat which he uses for day charters. He served as the Bulgarian point-man for the KAYRA Black Sea Rallies, and we had been corresponding with him by email before our arrival. A quiet and friendly Bulgarian and former race skipper, he knows more about yachting in Bulgaria than anyone. He also served as David’s informal consultant during several Bulgarian wine tastings onboard Gyatso. David was quick to justify extending his research beyond what was needed for updating pilotage information: “Is there a better way to pass the time while riding out a gale?” Continue reading Sozopol, Bulgaria: Saving the best for last →

Black Sea, Bulgaria, Logbook

Sveti Vlas, Burgas Bay, Bulgaria: A quick stop in a Spanish-style resort

Photo: Sveti Vlas, Burgas Bay, Bulgaria. Credit: Lisa Borre.
Sea grass washes ashore on the beach in Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/7/2010
Distance: 38 nm
Sailed from: Varna, Bulgaria
Lat: 42°42.3’N
Long: 27°46.1’E

We moored in the modern Dinevi Marina at the seaside resort of Sveti Vlas which appears to have sprung-up out of nowhere on a smaller scale and in the style of places we found along the Costa del Sol in Spain. Brand-new restaurants and apartment blocks sit on the southern shoulder of the Balkan Mountains. The development borders the marina basin which has plenty of space for visiting yachts, as well as day and weekly charter boats available. The resort was fairly empty during mid-week in September, but we could tell that it was a busy place in the high season. Continue reading Sveti Vlas, Burgas Bay, Bulgaria: A quick stop in a Spanish-style resort →

Black Sea, Bulgaria, Logbook

Varna, Bulgaria: Soaking up the energy of a vibrant city

Photo: Varna, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Credit: Lisa Borre.
Local yachts moored inside the seawall at the Varna Yacht Club on the Black Sea in Bulgaria. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/5/2010
Distance: 21nm
Sailed from: Balchik, Bulgaria
Lat: 43°11.4’N
Long: 27°55.3’E

We departed Balchik after lunch with a brief stop to see the marina in the Golden Sands beach resort before arriving at the Varna Yacht Club. Except for freshly painted bright graffiti on the seawall, the harbor doesn’t seem to have changed much in the 10 years since our guidebook was published. Volen, the son of the same Bulgarian sailor who helped us in Balchik, helped us when we arrived in Varna even though his parents had rushed to the hospital because his mother had injured her hand. He and his grandfather moved their smaller yacht into a tight space to make room for us alongside the wall in the inner basin where we had protection from the wash of passing pilot boats and freighters in this busy commercial port. We expressed our appreciation with a Gyatso t-shirt, and he returned awhile later with a gift of some delicious homemade quince jam — what a treat! Continue reading Varna, Bulgaria: Soaking up the energy of a vibrant city →

Black Sea, Bulgaria, Logbook

Balchik, Bulgaria: A Black Sea resort fit for royalty and full of pleasant surprises

Photo: Balchik, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Credit: Lisa Borre.
Gyatso moored at the marina in Balchik, Bulgaria, a convenient port of entry. Photo by Lisa Borre.

Black Sea Logbook Entry

Date: 9/3/2010
Distance: 65 nm
Sailed from: Eforie Nord and Mangalia, Romania
Lat: 43°24.2’N
Long: 28°09.7’E

Pulling alongside a large tug in the dark of night at the commercial dock in Balchik, we had low expectations for a positive experience with Bulgarian entrance formalities. Our guidebooks indicated that they only process foreign yachts on Mon-Fri from 9-5. It was now 8:45 on Friday night.

After setting out this morning, we realized that there was no way we were going to make it to Balchik before 5:00 p.m. We also needed to stop briefly in Mangalia, Romania to clear-out. It was a beautiful day on the Black Sea, and even though the wind was not strong enough to speed us along the 65-mile passage, it was just enough to keep us stable in the cross-swell left-over from the wind of the previous few days. It was such a pleasant sail, we gave up trying to arrive before sunset. Continue reading Balchik, Bulgaria: A Black Sea resort fit for royalty and full of pleasant surprises →