To Finike. The end of the line and the Rookie errors continue

We had decided to move from Ucagiz to Kalekoy just around the corner where there is a magnificent castle and free parking at Ibrahim's mates place, but realising Mark would be with us in two days, we made for Finike instead.

We would be back on our way west after Finike which was the end of the line for this year.

Sal wanted a little dress for Summer, but got 'convinced' into having it made for her, it would only take half an hour and so we readied the boat for departure...

The half hour dragged on, and on until eventually we simply had to leave with the promise we'd be back to collect the dress, which had of course been paid for... $10

By the time Sal got back to the boat, all that was needed was to bring in the passerelle (gang plank), untie and leave... well, almost all!

Sal alighted, passerelle came in, lines to the dock were cast off and off we went... about 10 meters and no further. It took a little too long to realize we had not dropped the fixed mooring line and were still attached in front. A little too long because by the time we realized, the thinner slime line used to pick up the mooring line was now firmly wound around the port propeller! I now had only one engine and we were coming on sideways to the quay with a large audience of veteran Gullet sailors watching on, one of them actually videoing the scene.... not embarrassing at all!

It's called the intermediate syndrome. You start something like this with no idea and then you experience the commensurate nerves that go with that. As you progress, the nerves slowly abate until you think you have this thing down and the nerves are no longer there to keep you on your toes.... Then a wake up call tells you you're not such a natch and you were lucky to get away with it....Again!

However, on this occasion, time was tight. We had an 18 mile sail and wanted to do it in daylight. It was already 1:30 pm. We got the boat tied alongside. This was good because for a change I didn't have to send Al into the unclean harbour waters while I maneuvered the boat, I could do it for a change so I donned goggles and dropped in.

The line was wound so tight it was like a guitar string to the wharf and back to the mooring line. I eventually had to cut it from the prop and rejoin it for them. I then started to cut the line wound tightly and internally around the prop.

Deep breath, down I went, cut, cut, cut and up for air. I did this until it was becoming pointless when the guys on the boat behind us offered oxygen. Well I have no experience, but Al has his Padi licence, so as much as I tried to keep him out of the water.... Sorry AL! It took him a good 25 minutes of constant hacking to free enough line for the prop to turn under motor.


We finally left Ucagiz at 3:15 pm and at full speed headed in nil wind for Finike at least two hours away and it is now dark by 5:30 pm.

The darkness came quickly, but Finike is a winter destination for yachties, the marina is well organised and well lit so arriving in the dark wouldn't be a problem for such 'seasoned' sailors such as ourselves.

We were treated to a sunset that turned the entire sea purple. This shot does little justice to it, but it was an awesome sight.


We docked safely in Setur Marina, Finike at 5:30 pm. I felt absolutely gutted at the simplicity of the errors of the past few days. A wake up call indeed and a very cheep lesson....