After our eventful exit from Girne, the rest of the journey was ‘plain sailing’ (almost). It was a little chaotic getting in but once in we were all given special welcome bags with T-shirts, pens and other ‘Karpas Gate’ merchandise. We arrived at about 5.30 pm and we were told that the official reception was at 6 pm! After a very quick shower we joined the rest of the crews for the opening ceremony. It was yet another free bar and the tired crews were soon getting well stuck into the enormous gin and tonics the marina staff were pouring. When challenged about their generosity we were told that they wanted to get rid of the booze as soon as possible so they could get to the night club! Well they certainly got an early night because the rally members were all dead on their feet (or floor!) by 9.30 pm. They really did look after us though, with another brilliant buffet meal and live band – pity we were all too ‘tired’ to enjoy it! The speeches did go on a bit though!
Early in the evening, before the crews got too ‘tired’, group meetings were called and we were all told that plans for the following day had changed – two of the government departments were having a power struggle and we were told that we weren’t able to check out of Cyprus at Karpas Gate (because it was a new marina and not yet registered) and that we had to go to Famagusta the following day! This was another 68 mile trip on a day when we were supposed to be resting. We had to get up at 4.30 am to arrive in Famagusta by 6 pm. Oh well, all part of the adventure!
We set the alarm and were off just after 4.15 am. It was a bit swelly as we motor-sailed along the North coast of the pan handle of Cyprus, but when we rounded the point the wind increased and we had a cracking sail all the way to Famagusta.
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