Star date Sunday, November 7th, 2021 at 14:42 and all is well in the Aegean Sea and ourselves on anchor in Marmaris. I'm still battling some kind of intestinal bug so I suppose being 'well' just means its still lovely to be alive and living this way. Since I last wrote there has been much upheaval on Belvedere. Our to-do list is in full swing and a bank account is taking quite a hit.
Last week we started all our projects at the same time: the chippy/carpenter came to remove the countertops/worktops (using both forms of English so you'll know what I'm talking about no matter your country of English speaking origin). The worktops were two layers of horrifically old formica—and I now know why the second layer is there—because removing it and installing something nice requires virtually gutting the kitchen. We are now living much like our German neighbour whose boat is covered inside and out with 30 years of his 'scrapping gold.' But hey, its only money and they will look amazing and be much for fit for purpose than the naff/lame formica and its calked lines have been.
The before:
And the aftermath:
Which means the rest of the boat looks like this:
So we are eating out every night and very much looking forward to having our galley/kitchen back either this week (please jeebus) or next. Luckily, Yacht Marina Marmaris is a short dingy ride away and the food is amazing and, as most things in Turkey, very affordable. The waiter has taken to calling Jeff 'T-Bone' even if he isn't ordering one, but more than likely he is.
At the same time, UK Sails have been out to take away the damaged main and filthy genoa (which needs washing after its two trips UNDER the boat) and M2 Rigging came to service all 7 winches and then replace many expensive bits to the rigging including the top offending mast piece that was cutting our halyards. While repairing and installing all these fancy bits they found that our gooseneck (big chunk of metal that holds the boom in place at the mast) was cracked. In a rough sea that could be very dangerous so money well spent! All of it has been money well spent and we are so thankful that the work ethic and availability of parts is second to none in Marmaris. Mustafa at M2 and his gang are hard, honest workers and their knowledge of rigging is beyond impressive. That broken gooseneck wasn't something readily available but Mustafa knows-a-guy and that lovely guy made it Friday night so it could be installed Saturday afternoon! Now THAT is service.
Pictured below: new blocks and winch servicing
Sails are back!
New gooseneck!
And then some dinner with friends! Dave (Scottish but lives in England), Natalie (Kiwi) and Noel (Australian). One of the most fun things is meeting new people from all over the world!
Bora Bora in the evening for drinks with bartender Alex and below just before sunset.
Jeff is now ordering two new membranes for the water maker for the BOAT (Bust Out Another Thousand). Which is a possible source of my intestinal bug. He tests the water weekly, but missed one. Lucky me! The part per million far exceeded the limits for drinkability in third world countries and he has vowed to do better. But there is no knowing if that is the cause for sure and we don't know how old the membranes are. Their life expectancy, depending upon use, is every 5-10 years. In many ways, yacht life truly is just fancy camping. I feel lucky though because Belvedere is up to the specifications of a super yacht with respect to her systems even though she is merely a yacht.
Once the kitchen is done, its off to Gocek (pronounced 'go-jek') and Fetiye for a few days just because we can. Then, in December we put Belvedere to rest in Yacht Marina Marmaris for 3 weeks while we hightail it to the states for Xmas Holly Daze in Michigan and New Year's Eve in Louisville!
PS: All of these contractors have been managed and suggested by YES Marine at Yacht Marina Marmaris. We are beyond relieved to have them as our go-to and even happier to say we've become friends as well. Congrats to Betül and her English Beau who got engaged this past weekend! Betül's competence in all things marine as well as her translating skills have made these complicated projects a breeze thus far.
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