11:30 am

Merhaba,

  We’re here safe and sound.  We arrived about 8 M this morning and they were ready for us.  Conditions were blessedly calm when we arrived.  Last Sunday some friends had to wait a day for winds to abate before they could come in!  We had our 20 knots of wind during my second watch from 2am until 5 am with the wind on the nose so a bumpy ride. Our forward speed dropped from 6.9 knots to 3.9 knots, but luckily picked up so we averaged our 6 knots to get here when Randal had anticipated.   Because we were following the cost so had to go around points, each time I had to make a turn in our course there were boats coming the other way.  Crossing the Med from Israel to Turkey was in some ways easier than just going along the coast here.  Plenty more room and just your basic straight line.

   The folks here are professional so the lift out was smooth.  We are on our stands on the hard and Randal is out hosing the salt sea off the boat.  I’m in our shut up hot boat typing this before I pass out.  Or I’ll go stand in front of the frig.  Or try the trick Bill Kimley just emailed; wet a huge towel, lay it over myself, and turn on the fan.  He guarantees I’ll freeze.  I don’t even like fans when I’m dry.  Too noisy. 

  The yard has wifi but mine wouldn’t connect so I’m using our Turkcell dongle.  Hopefully some photos of our lift tomorrow.  The yard also has a small beach so maybe I’ll actually swim in the Med.

Ru