Regular readers will remember Fethiye Times taking part in the 2006 Bodrum Cup and, on 24th October, we caught the bus to Bodrum to compete again.  The Cup is a sailing regatta for wooden yachts first held in 1989 and designed to re-introduce the art of sailing gullets and tirandils to Turkish sailors.  It has been a great success.  Yachts come from many countries to take part and Bodrum now has its own sail training ship, SS Bodrum, which runs courses for local youngsters on weekends and during the summer school holidays.

The Cup is also well-known for its party atmosphere – an aspect which Fethiye Times also enjoys.

{mosimage}So we arrived in Bodrum late afternoon, settled into our cabins on board our boat, Kaptan Şevket and then headed out for the opening binge.  Normally held in the open air at Bodrum Yacht Club, the ceremony had been moved to Gumbet Sports Centre as it was raining.  But the organisers had laid on a minibus shuttle to get everyone there for the traditional ringing of the bell that starts the regatta – alongside consumption of free food and drink and greeting friends not seen since the previous year.  Oh and a very good concert from members of the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra.  Despite the change of venue a good time was had by all before we headed back for our first night on board.