Flotillas and Friendship in Fethiye
Ocean’s of Hope sailor Karen Helders from The Netherlands shares her experience of our recent Turkey Flotilla Week:
“In October 2019 I joined Oceans of Hope Challenge for the first time, for a week of sailing in Turkey (Fethiye).
This was a real first for me for everything; sailing, being in the same boat together, sharing my cabin with a sailing buddy and going out with a group of only lot-mates. So, at the start of the week, it was all quite daunting but, on my return, I was completely ‘hooked’ on sailing and Oceans of Hope!
I found my introduction to sailing fascinating, but what was absolutely thrilling was how I could hold my own on such a wobbly ship with my MS. And what a relief, too, to be in a group where the MS condition was simply not an issue. OK, MS was mentioned from time to time, but how refreshing that everyone knew what MS is simply from their own experience. And then the naturalness with which everyone helped each other, without any fuss!
It was also a week of sharing; the sense of humour, the challenges, a bunk, the toilet, the stories, the shampoo, friendship and what not!
After getting back home, I signed up again but over the following two years, Coronavirus threw a spanner in the works. What a pity that was because I had been looking forward to it so much! Fortunately, during the summer in 2022 I had two fantastic sailing trips with Oceans of Hope, one in Denmark on the Orange Oceans of Hope boat and a very special epic trip sailing along the Jurassic Coast on a Challenger 72 ocean racing boat.
And this October was the icing on the cake, returning to Fethiye again. What a true feast of recognition. The harbour, the boats, my fellow sailors and last but not least the lovely temperature. This time there were just two boats in our little flotilla and I was on the women’s boat if it was not for Robert! Our skipper this time was Amazing Anna! As the wind was a bit off at times, she taught us so much and gave us the helm while practicing jibbing, tacking and docking into the tiniest spot in the harbour! The various sailor’s knots were also extensively taught (which I really should be practicing during the winter months…).
It is so great to experience that while we hoist the sails and sail the boat together, we became more and more agile through teamwork. Everyone ‘walks’ or crawls over the boat in impossible poses, which sometimes results in hilarious situations. I can hardly explain how fantastic it was to spend a week together in Turkey on our boat. Sailing together to beautiful bays, anchoring for the night and take a refreshing dip in the sea! I especially loved sneaking out of my bunk early in the morning (careful not to wake up my sleep buddy) and quietly boiling water for a cup of coffee before enjoying the overwhelming sunrise while sitting on deck. Or the fun Anna and I had, while cooking together, while we enforced our appetite for garlic on the rest of the crew. Or giggling like two boarding-school girls with my sleep buddy with whom I shared a narrow, tapered, bunk for a week.
As in 2019, my week in Turkey began with like-minded sailing buddies and at the end of the week we parted again, many friendships the richer. With pain in my heart, I left with the hope and expectation of seeing them again on another sailing adventure!”
As in 2019, my week in Turkey began with like-minded sailing buddies and at the end of the week we parted again, many friendships the richer. With pain in my heart, I left with the hope and expectation of seeing them again on another sailing adventure!
Karen Helders, Oceans of Hope Turkey Flotilla Week 2022
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