TURKEY

Day 1:
Rhodes: Embark yacht in Mandraki Harbor, a fifteen minute taxi ride from the airport. Visit the old town of Rhodes within walking distance from the harbor. It was built by the knights of St. John in the 14th century. There is a castle, museum, several mosques (built after the town was conquered by Sukliman the Magnificent) and of course plenty of shops and restaurants.

Day 2:
Symi: This is a Greek island lying some 25miles north/west of Rhodes. It is rather barren and steep. The town is saddled over the hill reaching down either side to a bay. You will probably enter the main harbor. The entrance is breathtaking with all the little houses climbing up the steep hillsides surrounding the cove, be sure to have your camera ready! Symi has a grand fleet of sponge divers and fisherman in its past, now the locals live mostly on tourism and local fishing.

Day 3:
Datcha: Datcha is situated 15 miles north of symi. You will sail out through the narrow straits between Symi and the uninhabited island of Nimbus - quite an experience. The water is so clear you think you can touch the bottom. Datcha lies by a long beach and has a small man-made harbor. Plenty of good carpet shops, bars, restaurants and a lively disco up on the hill.

Day 4:
Palamut Bay: Sail west to an uninhabited cove which affords a small anchorage. Good place for swimming and fishing with dinner aboard.

Day 5:
Gulf of Kos: There are so many anchorages in this gulf you could spend over a week exploring them all. All the way down to the end you will find the beach where Cleopatra took a swim and it has the finest sand you have ever seen. It is said that she had the sand shipped in especially for her daily trips to the beach. Other beautiful spots are Yedi Adalar, Baliksiran, and Mersinkik. Two days would be the minimum stay.

Day 6:
Bodrum: This is a popular tourist town with many shops, restaurants and bars and the best discotheque in the eastern Mediterranean, Halicarnassos, named after the ancient name of the town. The harbor is still formed by the ancient greek breakwaters. By its entrance stands the castle of the Knights of St. John which now houses an excellent museum - a must. Yachts moor in the newly built turban marina opposite. There is roman theater up on the hill above the town and below that you will find the ruins of the mausoleum, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. (the Statue of Colossus in Rhodes was another, supposedly standing astride the harbor entrance.)

Day 7:
Gumuslur: This is a pretty hamlet in a deep natural harbor. A few restaurants with table practically in the water plus some small souvenir shops. Idyllic setting.

Day 8:
Didyma: Sail into the gulf of Mandalya and on the north side anchor off the modern hamlet of Altinkum. A short taxi ride will take you to the ruins of Didyma, not an ancient city but a shrine to Apollo. It is the largest Ionic Temple still standing and it has fantastic architecture. Building begun in 300 BC and 500 years later it was still not completed.

Day 9:
Iassus: Sail further into the gulf to one of the many uninhabited coves for the night. Next day possibly visit Iassus which was an ancient city built over a steep ridge. The remains of numerous Greek buildings are sprawled amongst the olive trees.

Day 10:
Pharmakonissi: This is in fact a Greek island but it is uninhabited although sometimes visited by the fisherman from Patmos and Kalimnos. There are two bays on the south side affording good anchorage's in crystal clear waters. Legend has it that Julius Caesar was once held captive on this island and his main complaint of this ordeal was that the ransom demanded by the captors was insultingly small.

Day 11:
Gulluk: Now a long sail into the Gulf of Gulluk across the wind (a reach) - should be a good, fast run. Gulluk has a pretty waterfront with some good local restaurants. The local fisherman fish for shrimp. The are excellent so make sure you taste some.

Day 12:
Knidos: Head out of the gulf and south to Knidos which is situated at the extremity of the dorian peninsular. This was one of the trading cities in the Dorian Penninsula, Hexapolis and had then a population of about 100 000. Now only a few goat herders and restaurants remain. The city was saddled across the hill between the two harbors (the one on the north side is no longer tenable). Amongst the ruins you will find the remains of the temple of Aphrodite, patron and deity of the city, the Agora, the small theater by the harbor and a large theater further up the hill and the Acropolis. The statue of Aphrodite was famous for its beauty in ancient times (this was the only one where she was depicted in the nude) and sailors came from far to worship their goddess.

Day 13:
Bencik: Sail into the Gulf of Doris where there are numerous wooded coves and inlets ideal for relaxing, water sports, fishing and maybe a beach barbecue. Bencik is close to the head of the gulf.

Day 14:
Orhanye: Next day across to Orhanye and anchor in Keci Buku. This is a deep sheltered lagoon with a few beach restaurants and small guest houses. At the entrance of the lagoon is a steep uninhabited island with a Byzantine fortress - well worth the climb. From the anchorage you can take a walk along a windy country lane through orange and lemon groves to the little hamlet of Orhanye. Sample tea in one of the authentic tea houses. This is certainly off the beaten tourist track!

Day 15:
Bozburun: Sail out of the Gulf of Doris and south to Bozburun. There is an archipelago of islands at its entrance affording good anchorage for lunch stops and water sport activities. For the night pull into the harbor and enjoy a stroll ashore. There are some very tastefully decorated bars and restaurants - nothing fancy but very turkish and full oriental ambiance.

Day 16:
Loryma: Proceed south east around the cape Aplotheka and put into Loryma, once a Dorain city. Little remains of it except an impressive fortress wall at the entrance of the bay. Explore it and enjoy the magnificent views of the hills and sea and the island of Rhodes opposite.

Day 17:
Marmaris: Continue in an easterly direction to Marmaris, a popular tourist town with an excellent marina, lots of shops - leather, copper, carpets, honey - all good buys. An excellent place to stock up with gifts and spend those last remaining turkish lira. A wide choice of restaurants, bars and night clubs. On the way to marmaris you may want to stop for lunch at either church bay (with the ruins of a Bizantine church), Ciflik or Lighthouse Bay.

Day 18:
Rhodes: Last day across to Rhodes about 25 miles. It should be an excellent beam reach. Disembark at Mandraki Harbor.