Hopefully you had a chuckle at my impression of Mr Bean as I tried unsuccessfully to pick up a mooring buoy at Serce Limanı, which is a very sheltered bay south west of Marmaris on the peninsula. The bay is almost 100% protected and if you didn’t know it was there, you might sail right on past as you made your way from Marmaris to Bozukkale, which is a little further down on the peninsula from Serce Limanı.
It was so peaceful in the bay, and all we could hear was the bleating of goats which dotted the steep rocky hills either side.
We dropped the dinghy and left A B Sea happily dozing on the mooring ball as we set out for the little restaurant at the far end of the long thin bay. The mooring buoys are free but there is an expectation that the yacht owners will have a snack or a meal at the owner’s restaurant. The restaurant in question was Captain Nemo’s Farm Restaurant and we tied up to the long thin jetty that jutted out from the eucalyptus covered grounds of the restaurant.
The owner was very friendly and attentive and we ordered drinks and a ‘snack’, which was more of a light meal. Baz had calamari and chips and I had a Turkish dish of slices of zucchini (courgette) and eggplant (aubergine) fried in garlic, and topped with yogurt. It was all absolutely delicious and while we were there we even got talking to four young Turks on the table next to us.
Nicely sated (and bordering on tipsy – the glass of white wine was very generous), Baz and I decided to explore the little bay via the single dirt road that ran along one side of the cove. We had just stepped out of the restaurant’s garden when we spotted some very young and skittish baby chickens. They weren’t chicks, and weren’t old enough to be pullets, but were at the long legged stage with sparse feathers, all cheeping in that soft, light way that baby chooks do.
Further down the road, past the bins, was a row of small wooden fishing boats, brightly coloured, bobbing gently in the clear water. One had a few young trees growing in containers in the hull, which Baz wondered about. My only thought was ‘shade’!
Goats perched precariously on the steep hills, with one large male standing proudly on the cliff top, calling to its herd.
We made our way back to the tender and sped over to the far end of the bay where there is a sandy cove and the water looked to be about six or seven metres deep. We reckon next time we go that way, we’ll anchor there, for a change. Returning to A B Sea, we noticed that all along the starboard side of the bay as you enter it from the sea, are rocks that are perfect if you want to tie back with a line ashore.
Fire assistance for Turkey and Greece
You may have seen on the news (or from your boat if you’re anchored close by) the devastating fires that ripped through a lot of the Turkish and Greek hinterland. We couldn’t let this week go by without calling for assistance for the villagers to replant vegetation and rebuild houses and in some cases villages. If you feel drawn to help these people who were already struggling after a year and a half of lockdowns, please click on the links below. Thank you.
Donations to fire disaster relief in Turkey can be made here
Donations to fire disaster relief in Greece can be made here
Why is this Bozburun bay not an anchorage?
Baz had spotted a bay on the approach to Bozburun which on Google Earth looked beautiful with deep blue water, shallowing out to turquoise and sandy patches. But it wasn’t marked as an official anchorage on Navily nor in the * Turkish Pilot Guide, nor the chart plotter. We wondered why, but decided to head on over and find out.
Along the way, I repaired the fender cover that had been damaged against a wooden restaurant jetty in large winds and swell. The bobbly surface of the cover made it very easy to disguise my stitching and you’d actually never know it had suffered any damage. To see the * fender covers very similar to the ones that we use, click here.
After a fairly short passage of about two and a half hours we reached our destination. There was a Turkish gulet already anchored in our Plan B anchorage, so we dropped anchor in the gorgeous azure blue water and waited for Kev to arrive from where he’d stayed overnight.
As I looked at the long length of the bay, I figured that perhaps the fetch might be too large and the bay would be a bit bouncy if the wind came in from the bay’s opening. But it was calm when we arrived, so we decided to stay as there were plenty of other anchorages in the Bozburun area if we needed to move. Well, a couple of hours later the wind picked up and so did the waves. Yes, that anchorage wasn’t protected and we knew if we stayed we wouldn’t enjoy the night.
Baz had spotted a 42 foot yacht nip through the gap of shallow water directly into the Bozburun area that would mean we wouldn’t have to go all the way around the peninsula. We watched Kev, who headed through the shallow water first, and then we upped anchor and proceeded through the gap ourselves.
Find out how we got on, where we anchored, and come with us as we explore Bozburun next week.
To watch this week’s YouTube episode that accompanies this blog just click here.
Until next week, I wish you health, wealth and courage, as you take the actions to bring your dreams to life.
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