Due to the lighting strike on the last October we were forced to spent the winter 2011-12 in Alanya Marina (Turkey). It took several months to replace it all, but at least we were still alive and still have a sailing boat. Apart from anything else it was an expensive disaster. We lost all electronics, while the engine and fridge needed major, costly, repairs. Our insurance company paid only 2/3 of the total lost (and that total amount we received it 4 months later). First of all they sent a non qualified surveyor who has never seen a boat in his life. As a result he sent his report after 3 (three!) months from the accident but they paid only for one month marina. No need to say all the mistakes and non understandable points in his report. For example, our chart plotter was 7inch and he wrote for a 5inch advised by the Raymarine dealer of the region that he got angry since we did not buy anything from him due to an overpriced offer. On the other hand, they invented a mistake in the insurance policy. When first we decided for this company two years ago, they sent a qualified surveyor who made a detailed inspection of the boat and checked every device on it. He decided a price for the boat and according to that value, which was logical, we made our policy. Inexperience made us trust in our agent from Istanbul who omitted to write in the policy our agreement with that amount. Now this new "surveyor" after staying on the boat only 10(TEN) minutes and never coming again nor asking anything, searched by internet a price of a Jeanneau ketch (never like our boat), with many differences and decided a higher price for it. The company accepted this unbelievable fact as a reason for paying less. Moreover, they still refuse to pay back the tax of the bills which is law to be paid. And they charged 500E for the old devices which the technical report says "damaged and not possible to be repaired". No need to say all the stress and unhappiness that we suffered. And no need to advice to choose very careful your insurance company...

We left the marina on 17th march heading Marmaris but sailing slowly, enjoying some places on the way. Then we sailed around Marmaris, from Bodrum to Kaş, visiting some places we already knew. It was a tired year and we did not sailed far. Later in December we put 'HB' at Marmaris Yacht Marina for the winter

We spent again the winter 2011 in Bencik Bay. In January Ana went to Argentina for 2 months and Barış spent time working on the boat. In May we put HB on hard at Marti Marina for antifouling paint. Then we sailed slowly to east, from Marmaris to Antalya then Mersin, Iskenderun and reached the border of Syria. We could not cross because Barış has an Israeli stamp on his passport and was not allowed to enter the country. Anyhow we have seen many interesting places, we have sailed with friends and family and Barış has seen his lovely hometown. It was a good summer with light winds in the begining and without the strong meltemi from the Aegean. By the 20th of September we started our return journey to Marmaris, including a visit to North Cyprus. An unexpected problem happened in Alanya, a lighting came to the boat and all electronics devices were burned...

We left Bencik Bay at the end of May and sailed to the north of Turkey up to Alaçati and the Greek Island of Khios.
We enjoyed to stay again at some anchorages that we already know like Datça, Palamut, Knidos and Bodrum. We made Gumuşluk a base for the boat and spent almost 3 weeks with friends and family coming and going for a sail. Then we sailed in the Gulluk bay, visiting places like the expensive Turk Buku, deep waters of Gundogan, nice Torba and not so crowed but interesting Guverncilik, Kuyucak, Iassos, Gulluk and Varvil. We also anchored few days at Altinkum, the crowest place we have seen this year. Later we continued our way north, anchoring in the little bay of Agathonissi (Greece) and then at Pithagorion (Samos- Greece) where we visited all the island. We made a 2 days stooped at Kuşadasi Marina, to fill the water tanks and see the city. Further north we've been at Cam Limani, Kormen, Teos, Siğacik, Kirkdilim, Alaçati and Komi at Chios Island (Greece).
We came back in middle of September to our house at Saranda were we stayed until middle of October. We sailed to Orhanye and again Bencik for spending another winter there.

We spent a wonderful winter with Hummingbird in Bencik bay. We worked there and went some days to Marmaris. Our friends (Yunus, Bayar and Bakı) looked after the boat so we were very happy. We also went for some trekking walking even 20 km to another little town called Amazon, walking by the seaside and between the forest... wonderful sightseen. This winter we changed the saloon ceiling (new leather), worked with the teak, renewing sika of it. We bought a new anchor (Spade 35 kg) and galvanized chain (total 110 m), one invertor, etc etc etc.

Early April 2009 we left Marmaris and sailed to the Greek islands. We found wonderful places in Simi, Tilos, Astipalaia, Amorgos, Ios, Sikinos, Santorini, Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos, Kithnos, Syros, Mikonos, Paros, Naxos, Patmos and Leros. In general you find very narrow streets, full sea view terraced houses, bars, restaurants, small hotels, ancient ruins, medieval history and a deep blue sea with transparent water. We liked Santorini, this is paradise for shoppers, photographers, artists, hikers or anyone who just wants to sit at a cafe and soak up the sun and scenery. Its white sculptured villages are on volcanic cliffs that fall sharply to the deep blue Aegean Sea. Mikonos is young, hip with a touch of bourgeois, perhaps too crowded at times.
We returned to Turkey in September and spent 2 months around the turkish coast.

In 2008 we sailed from June to middle of November around the SW of Turkey and some Greek islands, from Marmaris to north, Yalikavak, then to south Kekova and back to Marmaris. A total of 880 nmiles for our first season was very good for us. Our base is Marmaris - Turkey, where we spend the winters.

http://www.baskent.edu.tr/~bbeyhan/