Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:27:28 EST Subject: Pooh is Home for the Winter Hello All, This is not a Pooh Bear Report, but it is a momentous announcement ---- Pooh Bear and Southern Cross arrived at their winter home in Kemer, Turkey, Sunday afternoon, 31 October 2004 - 3774 nautical miles under the keel since leaving St. Katharine Haven in London on 14 April - and one day ahead of schedule. Since actually starting the voyage from the boat yard in Ipswich, Pooh has traveled 3688 NM in 138 days. I have not taken the time to review the log books and count how many days were spend underway, how many were spent waiting out gales and how many hours were spent sailing, but I do know that, having had very poor winds for sailing, we have put 682 hours on the engine. We were three months reaching Greece and another month reaching Turkey. Many times during those first three months, I was all but certain that there was no way we would reach Kemer before winter set in - especially as we waited out gale after gale in the English Channel, and most especially the storm at Guernsey. After leaving Guernsey, we left the really bad weather astern. While we did experience a few gale force winds as we sailed south and then east, we had NO rain, save one day in Greece. And we have been fortunate in that the October eastern Mediterranean weather has been exceptionally mild this year. Pooh Bear, with Southern Cross only a few hundred feet away, are now snugged down and being readied for the winter weather that surely will come. I hope soon to complete the PB Reports that will tell of Pooh's travel down the French and Iberian Coast and across the Mediterranean Sea to the spectacular scenery on the South coast of Turkey. We again have Internet access on the boat, so, while I will continue to check W5TFY@winlink.org, please make our main e-mail address W5TFY@amsat.org. We also have both a Turkish cel/mobile and a landline phone on the boat. If dialed from the States, our cel/mobile is: 011 90 537 558 8402. Our landline is through the marina office (0830 to 2400 local time). From the States, dial 011 90 242 814 1490 and ask for extension 240 (either an English speaking person or an English recording). Our time is 7 hours later than US east coast time. There are many cruisers at Kemer so we are making many new friends. But, while we are looking forward to seeing friends and family in the States in a couple of months, we are already missing our many friends back in London and the UK. Where ever you are, we wish you are having a good year and we hope our paths will cross again soon. So, more later. Bob and Judy (aboard s/v Pooh Bear in Park Kemer Marina, Kemer, Turkey) NOTE: PLEASE address any e-mail reply to: W5TFY@amsat.org.