Best way to start the day – dive off the back of the boat. Perfect morning. Breakfast was very Turkish with labels we did not understand, homemade jam and honey. Just no Turkish coffee. Realised that we had not purchased enough drinking water, let alone beer, and there was no bread. So after retrieving our very long anchor chain and equally long shore line we went a short way up the coast to a small beach village called Ciflik where the shoppers rowed ashore for provisions (not bad for only 1 day away!).

Initially on engine, we soon picked up some wind and the sailing team got dragged into shape.

After motoring to Gerbeckse Cove near Ciflik we dropped anchor at sunset. Astrid being the best swimmer, swam ashore with a long line to prevent us swinging during the night. A quiet little cove with only a few other yachts. Swimming was followed by a great supper and good Turkish wine.

Despite the lack of sleep, there seemed to be no urgency to get any! First night on board is always a bit difficult; can’t find things, too hot, no wind, creaking halyards and an incessant cross swell that either put you to sleep or kept you awake.

There is a turtle sanctuary near Dalyan, started many years back by June Haimoff (MBE). During her sailing days she discovered Iztuzu beach and along with other environmentalists launched a successful campaign to save the beach from development. Kaplan June as she became known, founded the sanctuary which is still there today and is where our turtle team visited. It’s a fascinating story, see https://newint.org/features/web-exclusive/2015/12/22/june-haimoff-environmentalist