The Crystal Clear Water of the Med.

[Norman_E]

Well it usually is crystal clear in SW Turkey, but on 24th September a violent thunderstorm swept through Gocek (and other places along the coast). At one point the cockpit of my boat was an inch deep in large hailstones. The normally placid little stream that flows in to the harbour next to Skopea Marina turned into a raging torrent of mud, which turned the harbour brown. The photo was taken at least two hours after the storm when the mud had begun to settle.

I was safely tied up in the marina, and fortunately did not clash masts with the neighbouring boat. Friends of ours were anchored in the harbour. Their anchor held but they were frightened by other boats dragging anchors and sliding past them out of control.

 

[Slow_boat]

With water that colour us East Coasters would feel right at home!

 

[DickB]

I was in Marti Marina last week (not far from Gocek), and it was just glorious. 30deg and the sea was 27... Fantastic sailing in a very quick yacht (Elan 40). Could not recommend it enough. Chartered with TopYacht!!! Good bunch. I was well impressed with the whole thing. Even Monarch airways were on time!!!

We did here about the storms the previous week so I guess we were just lucky.

We saw a school of Dolphins too; bottlenose - big creature - glorious!!! 5 came up and swam in the bow wave - unbelieveable!!

 

[Appleyard]

Was anyone around during the storm in the Ionian on 26-27 September ? Apparently it was the worst September storm for 30 years according to locals(Although I'm sure I will be corrected) Where did you shelter?

 

[Norman_E]

I second all you say about cruising in Turkey, the water is very clear (normally) and as a bonus all the marinas, and waterside restaurants help you to moor, which is very handy when you are short handed. I am now getting used to backing up to a jetty or pontoon. At a restaurant jetty near Gocek I was backing in very slowly because I was concerned over limited depth under the rudder. To my amazement a young man did a standing long jump of at least eight feet on to my bathing platform, so that another lad could pass him the tail of the mooring line.
You were very lucky to see the dolphins, in a total of two months cruising this year we have not seen any, though we know they are about, and friends of ours saw a pod in the channel between the islands at the entrance to Marmaris inner harbour.

 

[Rob_Webb]

The Med crystal clear?

Wait til you've been to the S Pacific. When you've dropped your anchor into 80 ft of water and watched it hit the seabed and kick up a puff of sand, then you'll understand what clear is!