GALE IN DIDIM MARINA AND WE SUFFER SOME MINOR INJURIES

Normally our blog is about 1-2 weeks behind real time, but unusually we’re going to report on events of today.
We have been close to the small Turkish seaside town of Altinkum, north of Bodrum for the last couple of weeks, and a major reason for this has been to go ashore and watch the Rugby World Cup in one of the many sports cafes with satellite TV. Altinkum has a great sandy beach facing south that we can anchor off, sheltered from the prevailing northerly winds.

Altinkum’s superb south-facing sandy beach on a usual day with Envoy anchored in the background



A few days ago the forecast showed a southerly gale approaching us with winds expected to be Force 7-8. There is nowhere to anchor close to here sheltered from the south, so we opted to shelter in the very good Didim marina for a few days, then we’d be able to go ashore and watch the rugby.
Yesterday we prepared Envoy for the blow with extra lines, as Envoy is facing south directly into the gale. Even though we are in a marina, there is about 150m of unprotected fetch between us and the sea wall, while Envoy’s stern is secured to a floating pontoon.
At first light the wind came up to about 35 knots. Our two bow lines stretched, and the sea was quite choppy, even inside the marina, but all seemed OK.
We went to a waterfront café, but with the gale and heavy rain the TV system wasn’t working due to power outages and no satellite reception, so we sat down to have a coffee.
The sea where we had been peacefully anchored just days before was now a mass of large breaking waves and white water. Then the lightning and thunder started, and the wind noticeably strengthened further as chairs, tables, umbrellas, signs and small trees started to blow away.
Suddenly there was a terrific smashing sound and the café’s two plate glass windows facing the sea were blown in. Di & I were the café’s only customers, and we were showered in shards of broken glass, ranging from small to rather large pieces.

Photo of the table where we were sitting after the plate glass window had blown in. In the background note the rough sea



Di received a nasty deep cut to her left arm and a lesser cut to her right elbow, as well as several abrasions on her hands and arms. I received two cuts to my right ear as well as abrasions to my head.
The café staff administered first aid with serviettes and towels to stem the bleeding, and then the owner used his car to take us to hospital. Di needed six stitches and I needed eight. We were very lucky – some of the larger shards of glass could easily have inflicted very severe injuries.
The hospital was efficient, and we were treated quickly and professionally – for a cost of L694 (about NZ$485).

Di with bandaged left wrist and right elbow



Laurie with bandaged right ear



By then the wind had abated considerably and the café owner then took us through the town strewn with debris to another sports café to watch the All Blacks defeat Argentina for a spot in the Semi-Finals. He told us this was the worst wind he’d seen having owned the café for 20 years. In the marina the wind peaked at 60 knots.
All is fine with Envoy, and we’re going to need to stay around here for a few days as we need to make follow-up visits to the hospital.