Ekincik to Fethiye Bay (3-10 September)
13 September 2018
Ekincik (3 September)
Ekincik is a small holiday village that just seems not quite completed. There is a hotel and restaurant adjacent a long beach of black sand but it is surrounded but a half built larger complex that has been unfinished for some years. Our hope of a bit of restocking was disappointing as the shelves in the only mini market were almost bare. We did eat out at the hotel, no menu just a selection of a few things from the display cabinet. It was quite a good meal.
Kucuk Kuyruk (4-5 September)
Today was a four hour trip along the coast to the bottom end of Fethiye bay, we sailed most of the way in good conditions until the wind died away – again….
As in all of these waters, there are lots of very small fish. Here we were watching larger fish called Amberjack chasing the small ones. At up to 50cm long and quite colourful these very fast swimming fish were fascinating to watch as they rounded up schools of small fish around the yacht. They had no interest in taking a lure of any type we had so we did not manage to catch one. We do know they are good eating as they are occasionally on local menus.
Kapi Creek (6 September)
Today the weather forecast says it is going to be windy, with gusts of 30 knots in the afternoon, so we decided to tie up to the jetty in the small bay of Kapi Creek, which will provide good shelter. It also provides us with the opportunity to reprovision from one of the supermarket boats. Supermarket boats provide all sorts of supplies, including gas cylinders. We were pleased that we were able to exchange one of our gas cylinders for the stove, as we were down to our last one.
Karacaoren (7 September)
We had a good sail across Fethiye bay to a Karacaoen bay. The wind started off very light but as forecasted picked up to 15-20 knots. We actually had to reef our sails in a bit to reduce the sail area, Nerida does not like the yacht leaning over too far!
The bay is very pretty and almost totally enclosed. At the head of the bay is a very rustic restaurant (see photo above), which has laid mooring buoys. The deal is that you can pick up a mooring buoy if you eat at the restaurant. So just before dark we took the dingy ashore and tied up to the very rustic jetty. We had a wonderful meal, which included mezze with fresh bread, salad and the ever-present chips. Our mains were lamb casserole and amber jack (which is similar in taste to sword fish). It seems that the local fishermen are more successful than us at catching the elusive amber jack.
Gemiler (8– 9 September)
We found a good spot to spend a couple of days in a sheltered corner surrounded by an enclosed bay with large mountains as a backdrop. Its an interesting place – a constant stream of paragliders coming off the mountain top, sometimes more than 30 in the air. Day trip boats coming and going during the afternoons, some with loud music blaring (at least they only stay a short time). Fishermen setting and retrieving nets and traps twice a day. As always, a good place for swimming. Fishing is still unrewarding although we did catch a squid. The squid was only enough for an entrée, we will need to catch another to make it a main course!
In the evening all the day trip boats depart and we have the peaceful bay all to ourselves – so we thought. The first evening was very quiet with us and one other yacht but on the second night our peace was shattered by a large pirate boat playing very loud music. The pirate boat (called Black Pearl – Pirates of the Caribbean have a lot to answer for!) arrived just before 8pm and stayed until about 10pm. Their strobe lights lit up the whole bay, which put an end to our squid fishing, not to mention spoiling the peace. We cheered as they pulled up anchor but I think they thought we were thanking them for the entertainment as they responded over their PA system ‘Have a good night’. As they headed off into the darkness, peace and quiet was restored.
Kizilkuyruk Koyu (10-11 September)
With less than a week left on SCII, we have headed back towards Gocek and are spending a couple of days just swimming and relaxing. Kizilkuyruk Koyu is a narrow bay which fits about 10 yachts or gulets along the southern side. Boats drop their anchor and take a line ashore, tying up to rocks, to prevent them swinging. Off the back of SCII, it is like we have our own personal aquarium, as the water is teaming with small fish and the occasional amber jack chasing them.