AROUND THE PORTS

Lisa Carr-Grant, Port Officer Representative Kastellorizo, Greece

I am delighted to have been appointed Port Officer for Kastellorizo and will do all I can to assist any members who contact me. I can be contacted through Kenavo Yacht Service, Megisty, Kastellorizo, Greece 85111. Phone/fax: 0241 49213.

We can offer sail repairs and alterations plus an agency for custom made sails, all types of canvas work, engine and electrical repairs, and rigging repairs. We also have second-hand chandlery, a book swap, and handle summer and winter storage -- in fact, anything we can do, we will. Our mail/message service is already operating: anything sent to a yacht c/o KYS will be passed on to me and I'll hold it for collection.

We try to keep a listening watch on Channel 67, but cannot always be sure of hearing the VHF over the noise of sewing machines and outboard engines. However, our place isn't hard to find -- on entering the harbour, we are located behind the Information Bureau/Library on the left-hand side. And I've just painted the OCC burgee on our sign!

For future reference, there are two major dates here. Easter (whenever it is) is a good time to visit as the entire island celebrates for three days. Also 14 September, which is my birthday, to which any members would be welcome. (This happens at a different restaurant every year, whichever has the cheapest and best food going!)

Several cruising yachts have been put off by the `unfriendly attitudes' of a couple of the restaurant owners (who only want charter yachts), but I have been told to say that anyone is more than welcome to tie up outside the Meltmemi Bar, though it can be a bit noisy on the waterfront at night in the high season.

The anchorage, in the right-hand corner inside the big buoy, has good holding provided the anchor is well dug in. If, by unlucky chance, anyone has a problem and can get in touch with us by flying a `distress' flag, we'll come out to assist.

Well that's about it, except thanks to Peter Ogilvy-Stuart for recommending us, and I'd really like to hear from Steve and Marja Vance who I met in Gladstone, Australia when I was sailing on Quo Vadis. We also came up the Red Sea at the same time.

Oh and just one request -- I was born in Lymington and my father, Ian Carr, used to have a company called Lymington Slipway Yachts. He built 26ft cruiser/racers, of which the only names I can remember are Binker, Phemie and Titar. I'm trying to trace the history of these and the other boats he built so that I can write about them (and him). Maybe some older members may be able to help? If anyone has any information that could help me in my research I'd be very grateful.

Gulshan Rai, Port Officer Representative Bombay, India

A sailing yacht fitted with sauna has to be Finnish. This sailing season -- November 1993 to March 1994 -- I met Timo and Leena Hopeauvo, a Finnish couple from Helsinki sailing in their 45ft aluminium cutter Tinja. Timo is a marine architect who built the yacht himself, while Leena is a former bank official.

The Hopeauvos started sailing eastward from Finland three years ago and have been through the Mediterranean (Turkey was their favourite cruising ground), the Red Sea (behind the reefs passage) and the Arabian Sea. They were making a slow passage along the Indian coast. Tinja is a shallow-draught yacht with a drop keel and retractable rudder. Equipped with GPS, radar, autohelm etc, the 16 tonne cutter is powered by a 80hp freshwater cooled Ford engine. Their final destination is Alaska.

American couple Edward and Sandra Martinez were en route to the Red Sea in their 40ft yacht Peregrina. They set sail from San Francisco three years ago and hope to complete their circumnavigation next year.

David and Suzy Campbell of Salcombe, England have been sailing for the last five years in their 40ft motor-sailor Malek. David was a ferry skipper in England and they were on a leisurely passage.