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This page contains articles written on the Levante Basin Rally
XPRESS FILE
Piece Number Date 17th May 2005
YACHTING GYPSIES CRUISE INTO LATCHI
by
Hugh Atkinson
11 ocean-going yachts and a luxurious purpose-built Dutch canal boat cruised into Latchi Harbour recently at the beginning of the first Levante Basin Rally. The vessels, dressed overall with pennants flying and their national flags proudly displayed, brought colour and style to the newly-constructed moorings at Latchi. Excited tourists posed for photographs whilst the local businessmen were delighted to welcome the first group of international yachting gypsies.
Organisers of the event, Bill and Jean Cote, laid out the chart on their sailing yacht Soleil Sans Fin, beneath the fluttering flag of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, and traced the proposed route. The participants of the Levante Rally began their voyage of discovery in Finike in Turkey on May 12th and will spend almost three months visiting Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt, before going their separate ways in Alexandria in mid August. Bill and Jean, who live on their 14.4 meter yacht permanently (as do most of their fellow sailors) said that some skippers intend to continue through the Suez Canal and on to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, while others propose to cruise the Mediterranean before returning to the United States and the Caribbean.
`The Levante Basin Rally' is not a race,' Bill explained, `but a leisurely voyage around the Eastern Mediterranean. It's a journey of discovery in a region much misunderstood in the rest of the world.
Levante, by the way, is taken from the Italian meaning `Sunrise', just as `Anatolia' does in Greek and `Orient' in Latin.
`A similar rally has been held in this region for the last 15 years - called the Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally, organized by Hasan Kascmaz - but the EMYR is faster with numerous one night stops. Seven countries in six weeks. Our rally is much slower, giving us time to tour each of the countries we visit. We're very pleased that the Republic of Cyprus has been included and we're delighted to be here in Latchi.'
`Our cruising is really a search for a place to stop
when we finish sailing, or when we grow up,
whichever comes first.'
When asked about their impressions of Cyprus, Bill and Jean were full of praise for their warm reception and the efficiency of the Harbour Master, Chris Isais. Most of the arrangements were made in advance by e-mail, including the allocation of mooring space for the 12 large vessels. Documentation was promptly handled, although Bill expressed surprise that all the passports of the non-EU crews were taken and held by the authorities. `If we'd arrived by plane, we would not have had to surrender our passports.
`Latchi should be fine once it's finished,' Bob guessed, ` but to compete internationally, each mooring must have power and water, and there should be toilets and showers nearby for visiting yachtsmen to use. We need repair, servicing and refuelling facilities too, as well as proper anchorage. Some of the privately owned marinas in the region, notably in Turkey, are superb, yet there are others that have remained half-completed and neglected for years. If Cyprus wants to attract more yachtsmen, new facilities must be built; they should be well designed and properly managed - and not be too expensive. It's very encouraging to see what is being built in Latchi. The new marina in Kyrenia, our next port of call, is excellent.'
During their five day stopover in Latchi, the crews hired cars and toured much of the island, visiting all the major tourist attractions. The mosaics at the House of Dionysos in Paphos and the Tombs of the Kings were obvious destinations, but they also drove to Troodos, calling in at the beautiful monasteries and wineries en route. Judging from the number of cases in the boots of their hire cars, they have acquired a taste for Cypriot wines too.
Dr Salah, an American of Palestinian origin, who skippers the Liljiana, acts as the doctor for the rally. Indeed at 8.30 every morning he provides a medical service over the SSV radio for all yachtsmen in the region on the Mednet station.
These devoted yachtsmen cruise for most of the year, but in the winter they gather together in nautical communities at Mediterranean or Caribbean marinas. Perhaps, once Cyprus builds more international-class marinas, the island will become a favourite destination for these engaging yachting Gypsies.
Hugh Atkinson
P O Box 62424
Tel 26 621682 8064 Paphos Fax 26 622280
Cyprus Times May 19
The Levante Basin Rally received very good coverage in Northern Cyprus (19 May, 2005)
Cyprus Times May 20
As printed in the Cyrpus Times, 20 May, 3005: Jim on Kalearin receives a welcoming bag of goodies from the Turkish
representative in Northern Cyprus. Dakare can be seen in the background.
Southern Cyprus Tourism Magazine