Hello friends and fellow adventurers,
Welcome to our blog. How it will go is anyone's guess, and how often we will add to it will depend greatly on connectivity, number of alcoholic drinks consumed on the day, the state of our relationship (will it survive?), how many boat jobs need to be done, and whether we can be bothered to stop admiring the world we are in to write about it for you.
Although we are yet to leave the dock for our first sail, we have covered a lot of real and virtual ground in preparation for life afloat SV Kirrikie. So this first post is a bit of a catchup, from leaving Perth to settling in to Finike, in South West Turkey.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZySeT4u5hcLts9Qm8
Finike is a town within the Teke Peninusla region of Anatalya. Although situated on the Mediterrean Sea - referred to as the Turkish Riviera, Finike is characterized by the agricultural industry surrounding the town and area - thousands of plastic covered hothouses are located throught the hills and valleys along the southern coastline. Crops of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers are raised here, while orchards of bright oranges fill the landscape around the hothouses.
The area is also home to many places of historical interest, which we are yet to see. It's a difficult balance between doing the work we need to do to sail away, and paying proper interest in the sites/sight around us. There are no Mondays to Fridays for us, Sunday being a little bit different, as it is the only day that the Turkish seem to take off. So we are attempting to look up from our tasks and appreciate what's around us when we can.
But what about the boat you ask?
Kirrikie is a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.1, built in 1994 or 1995, who's counting... this means she is solid but getting on a bit, so needs some attention. A bit like us really. But not so old that she/we can't move around a bit, or get insured.
There are 2 aft berths, 2 loos or heads, a separate shower 'room' and main berth at the bow. The front. There is also a nav (navigation) table, saloon table and seating for about 6-8 people, a top loading fridge (no freezer), 2 burner gas cooktop and oven, although we use an electric cooker plate when we are in the marina. Outside there is a large cockpit with cushions which will be our living area in warmer weather. Solar power will be our main source of power when at anchor. We only have 2 sails at the moment, a Genoa and a furling main. This means we have a large V shaped sail at the front, and a mainsail which unfurls from the mast rather than hauled up from the boom. The boat also has a bow thruster which assists moving it in out of small spaces, such as marina berths. And our 'car' is a 3m dinghy with a 8hp engine.
So, we took a risk by buying a boat we weren't able to see and check for ourselves. We know that very well. That was the first unwritten rule we broke.
All in all there have been no dreadful shocks, and just a few surprises. Our priorities on what work we would do first up changed with the growing knowledge that Turkey is an expensive place to get work done - strongly discouraged by those with far more experience than us. And if work needs be done in Turkey, don't do it in Finike. And then, do it cheaply. But go to Greece instead.
Fixed by Mike so far - the loo pump that we can't use unless we're in international waters (but the parts were easy to get and cheap, so we consider that a win); the PC that we need for navigation (we got help from Ferhat in Finike with that one), the water pump to provide water throughout the boat (before it flooded the electronics), the shower sump pump so we can use the now pumping hot water and shower in loco (bliss).
Tested so far - engines, sails (one failed and we'll go to Marmaris to get it improved), electronics (AIS, GPS, chart plotter...) , bow thruster, dinghy after the pump was replaced (yes, there is a theme here with pumps), life jackets, anchor and winches. Every locker and board has been pulled apart/lifted, goods inspected and sorted, reallocated, discarded or cleaned. Goods prioritised and vacuum packed, hidden or stored. All so we know what is where, what we need or don't need before we set out.
Apart from the tasks that Mike has been able to fix himself with skills never seen in our family before, we have committed to some expensive changes before sailing away. We quickly realised that the original dodger (sprayhood) and bimini providing protection over the cockpit were threadbare and coming undone in some places. The stainless steel frame providing the support for these, as well as the dinghy davits (the bars that hold the dinghy up when it's not in the water) were unsteady and flimsy. So these became a priority, and we have ordered new metal work and covers, including shade for summer, and enclosures for cooler weather. Add to this some carpentry work to maximise existing locker space, and improve the cockpit 'door'. And we're getting this done in Finike. Second unwritten rule broken.
Other reasons we have not yet set sail? Well, it's been bloody cold, and well, winter, with yucky rain and wind. So, we stay in the marina with other like-minded souls, and turn it into an appreciation of snow glorious snow. We have finally received our new boat decals (vinyl lettering) with 'Kirrikie' on them, so although we're not superstitious about changing the name with appropriate ceremony (which does not, I assure you, require Mandy to swim naked around the marina and please ignore anyone who says so), we don't want to take the boat out until she displays the name she is now legally registered and insured with.
Also, there have been bureacratic requirements to take care of, to allow us to own and sail a boat here and also to stay in Turkey for longer than 90 days. This last one is still in progress and not a given.. then there is the pressure to organise a winter berth for next winter, with which we have not yet had any success. And don't get me started on phones, wifi, deliveries - only madness will follow.
The next post will be dedicated to covering the lovely travels and friends we have made. We cannot overstate what a difference the other sailors we have met in the last month have made to us. We really are in foreign terrority, both physically and in experience, and they made any progress we have made more possible with their wisdom and kindness.
Finally, we have moved to a country that is experiencing unprecedented hardships. Life was challenging for many people, and now Turkiye is suffering en masse from the impact of major disasters. We do appreciate that we are very lucky and continue on with our preparations with this in mind.
