Sunrise over the PISC rally 2009, if you click on this you can make it your windows background
Part of the PISC crowd having a few G+Ts on board Almedes at Simi on the 2009 PISC annual rally

Following on from the success of the 2008 Rally, the 2009 PISC rally was around the Hisaronu Kofezi which is the large bay west of Marmaris in southern Turkey, just to the north of the Greek Island of Simi. Everybody made their own way there and we all met up at the Mistrale Bar in Marti Marina. James Heath did a fantastic job in organising the route and keeping all the yachts togther(ish) which is no mean feat since there was a good mixture of small and large, fast and slow, adventurous and content yachts taking part all with different capabilities, timescales and objectives.

The Hisaronou Korfezi offers many eye-stopping bays with Keci Buku at one end and the Greek Island of Simi at the other. There are plenty of opportunities for yachts to sail in company and enjoy the varied and beautiful coastline. The entire region is cluttered with areas of historical interest and small towns and villages that simply ooze natural charm.

Patara beach near Kalkan, allegedly the best beach in Europe (and it probably is)
Every evening, the skippers would gather togther and plan the following days venue Eldorado moored against the wall in Bozburun, Turkey waiting on the 2009 PISC annual rally

Eldorado heaing through a small gap just beyond Kas on the 2009 PISC annual rally James asking Paul if he had a voltmeter on the Greek Island of Simi on the 2009 PISC annual rally View from the Octopus resturant (one of our favourites) as the sun was setting. In the background are all the PISC yachts Geraldine celebrating her birthday on the 2009 PISC annual rally Some of the PISC yachts at the end of the rally moored up on a resturant pontoon in Fetiye Bay somewhere on the 2009 PISC annual rally

The route

James had organised a basic itenary, however the details for each day was discussed amoungst the skippers the previous evening, so that people could properly appraise the weather/supply situation. It all seemed to work really well and all of the yachts kept in touch and more or less kept togther.

Imray website where you can find stockists of the charts and guides we have used to compile this page Extracts by kind permission of Imray from Rod Heikells 'Turkish Waters and Cyprus Pilot'
Contact e-mails and telephone numbers for PISC Map and directions of how to get to the clubhouse in Geroskipou PISC home page