Datça

The source of the leak and the temporary repair   

Just before we left Bozburun we found the source of the engine leak (or possibly just one of them). One of the pipes feeding salt water into the impeller had a small split in it where the jubilee clip held it on. When we removed the pipe the split got even larger and it was clear that that part of the pipe was very weak and could have failed completely at any moment, worst of all whilst we were motoring .

There are some mini-chandleries and hardware stores in Bozburun but none seemed to have the correct right-angled pipe so we bought a short length of reinforced straight pipe which had the correct internal diameter. It would get us going but was very much a temporary repair because the walls of the pipe were far too thin. I thought I might have more luck at at car repair place but we couldn’t find one in Bozburun so the repair would have to do.

Leaving Bozburun harbour   

So at 1030 on 14 April we motored out of Bozburun with barely a breath of wind to help us along. We aimed towards Datça where we would look for a better solution for the engine and complete the paperwork for clearing from Turkey.

Last year our anti-clockwise route around the Aegean took us up the Turkish coastline where we saw the fabulous ancient ruined sites. Sadly that meant that we bypassed most of the eastern Greek islands. Our plan for this summer is to also sail anti-clockwise around the Aegean but this time to try to get further north and also to visit those missed Greek islands.

Kızıl Adası passage and the full boatyard   

We made our way through the shallow Kızıl Adası passage a mile to the south of Bozburun and then on west past some boatyards full of gulets being prepared for the tourist season.

With no wind to merit hoisting sails we continued our passage west under engine keeping ourselves busy with some sun sights including a meridian passage. During the YM Ocean exam we could both work the calculations from a sight in just a few minutes to plot our position but we are very rusty now. One of our objectives for this year is to work on our astro-navigation so that it becomes second nature again.

Approaching Datça   

Datça stood out clearly on the coastline ahead and, as we got closer, the harbour breakwater became clear. There was just one other visiting yacht moored to the harbour wall. We dropped our anchor and reversed into position beside it and shortly afterwards were joined by a Swedish yacht. He had arrived just after us and anchored in the bay but to complete the clearance from Turkey process you have to be moored to the quay.

We only spent one night in Datça and had quite a lot to do. The main priorities were choosing an agent to sort out the clearance for us and seeing if we could find a proper pipe for the engine. Sometimes you can complete the clearance process yourself but generally, it seems, you have to use an agent. We found one that wanted to charge 100 Turkish Lira and another that wanted 50 Turkish Lira; the latter got the job and proved to be very helpful. Having left part of the paperwork with him we set off to scour the shops for pipes and Turkish goodies.

We quartered the town visiting various hardware stores but eventually found the solution in a solar water heating shop. They use a thick rubber right angled pipe as part of the pipework for the hot water from the solar panels. The internal diameter was a couple of mm less than perfect but in a comedy charades moment we resolved that a little lubricant and some elbow grease would make it fit snugly. It actually fitted so well and so easily that I went back the following morning to try to buy another as a spare. Sadly, the shop was shut but later the agent rang the mobile number for us and the solar panel guys left the job they were doing at the hospital and came down to open the shop for me so that I could get the parts I wanted. Typically Turkish, they seemed to get great pleasure from helping us out despite the fact that the sale was just for a few pounds; we’ve experienced this genuine desire to help throughout Turkey and it has been one of the pleasures of visiting the country.

Quiet seafront bars (until the evening!)   

Our other task was stocking up on Turkish goodies. The fresh fruit and vegetables are very good and we knew that we’d have far more choice here than later on the islands so we scoped where we’d shop in the morning. We also got some of the nuts for which the Datça area is renowned, some store cupboard items, a good bagful of the fiery hot chillies and we treated ourselves to new flip flops and swimming shoes.

With all that charging around town we took very few photos and found that our time disappeared rather quickly. Iolanthe turned up and we helped Helen and Tony with their lines. They too were only staying one night and were equally busy shopping before moving on to more remote areas so we chatted briefly and resolved to try and meet up further along our routes. By evening we were ready for a quiet dinner and bed but one of the local bars had live music. One of the rules in Turkey seems to be that bands have to play their music so loud that it can be heard clearly for miles around. Earplugs and a midnight noise curfew resolved that problem and we both slept soundly.

Leaving Datça   

The following day’s canter around town dealing with the agent to get our passport leaving stamps, buying the spare pipe from the solar panel guys, the fresh veggies and bread from the food shops all filled the morning. However, by midday we were ready to go and shortly thereafter the outline of Datça was slipping away behind us.

Datça, Turkey