SV 'Onset' as pictured from the ruins of an ancient fortification.

Keci Buku is a large protected bay with the small village of Orhaniye at the head of the bay. It is surrounded by steep slopes covered in pine trees. We anchored on the inner side of a small islet that is topped by the ruins of a fort that dates back to Byzantine times. We take a morning hike up through the ruins and are rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding bays. We catch up with many friends who are on their yachts here as well and enjoy sundowners on 'Onset' and a dinner at one of the local fish restaurants. This area is a popular anchorage for many yachts because of the scenery and the protection it offers, mainly from winds that blow out of the north. We spend 5 days here and during this time a strong SE wind is forecast. More and more boats arrive to weather the blow and some anchor a little too close to us for safe swinging room. Fortunately we had chatted to a local (an aussie guy) a day or so before the predicted blow, he told us of a bullet proof anchorage out of the bay, just around the corner, if in his words " everything turns to custard"! The wind pipes in early morning as forecast and we are particularly worried about the two boats who are anchored too close to us as there is no room for us to pay out more anchor chain in the blow. Time to move! So we quickly up anchor and dash around the corner to the recommended safe anchorage. Although we still experience strong wind gusts they are not as strong as experienced by friends still in the main bay where by all accounts 'it turned to custard' with wind gusts over 50 knots and dinghies upturned. We only have one other boat to keep us company for most of the day and by late evening the winds started to moderate. The next morning it was calm and we headed off to our next anchorage Ciftlik.