Just a few miles later there are the first houses, the water is blue and you can literally feel the 17 Million people coming close to you. After six miles I take the foresail off as there is free wind and it is needless. When at a speed of seven knots, surrounded by those incredible colours between the building and my sailing work on board I can hear the Imam in an overwhelming voice singing, I'm in a totally shock of culture. By the way, the houses at the Bosporus are called "Yali", the more prosperous houses behind them are called "Konak".

Really, this scene was amazing. I'm very glad I could absorb that moment that intensively. A moment like this one will remember forever. I'm always very excited in these moments and a bit too fast. Damn, the next sea is arriving. I pass a few mosques, what am I gonna do? Then a can falls into the water. There's a ferry on my boardside and a ferry on my bow side. The water is unquiet. I have to find a place to sleep. But where to go? Sleep between 17 million people at the quay wall? Impossible! Within one hour either I or the boat would be smashed. All I can see is the quay wall and private spaces. Go back, Andreas. You passed some kind of a harbor that looked quite neat some time ago… it must have on the right, remember??



I actually can find the place and just want to finish mooring and go to land to think about what to do next. There are many people starring at me. They wonder about my looks. I go to land and am close to collapse. What am I gonna do now?? No shirt, all wet and without my Mom. I look around…. There are three natives on the grass in the park. I can see beer cans and cigarettes. "Yes", I think to myself. "This is my chance to get in touch" I try to talk to them in Turkish, but they don't answer. English… no reaction. We smoke a cigarette together, communicating in babbling. They give me some beer. One of the guys, who is primed but very kind, buys me a sandwich. My feeling gets better with every mouthful of Efes.

I can find a security guy. "Do you speak English?" He keeps looking at me. I look at the ground. "Where am I? New York? Hamburg? Paris?" Now the guy understands. "Bebek" he answers. Great, I am in Istanbul Bebek.



How could I have known, that I would soon be talking to 250 people and get 160 Turkish Lira? How could I have known, that I would use the shower of the Turkish WWF International leader? That I could wash my laundry in her laundry machine? How could I have known we would go shopping at IKEA?

I couldn't know that Ermin Emre, the photographer would care for filling my petrol canister. Only one and half an hour later he took me to the mall and said "Take everything you need!" He followed me through Istanbul, searching for me everywhere to help me to clear inward. I couldn't know that the architect Ömer F. Beskardes would tell me the story of his life in an impressing way. He was very excited to tell me: "I am very lucky to meet you, Andreas. Thank you for all the inspiration. May God guide you forever". He also followed me through Istanbul to help.

I couldn't know that I would be invited to dinner by two textile moguls. "You are brave and crazy", one of them tells me. "And I've been scared for weeks because I need to drive to Germany for business by car. It is crazy what you do!!!" he says and asks me to help him.

"Transit Lock" is a paper you need as a yacht owner to pass the Turkey on water. It is 125 Euro. This paper did cost me lots of my hair. What a luck that young Ziyat can bring me to the appropriate office. We both think it is better for him to wait outside, so that he cannot be blamed. Who could have known, that the department would take me to lunch? That they would give me care package for my trip? That a beautiful, English-speaking female clerk would come to my lunch table, while I remove the chicken out off my face to tell me: "Ok this is for you"? I really didn't want Ziyat to wait for 90 minutes in the biggest heat. Thanks to Ramadan, he couldn't even drink some water, while I couldn't stop burping. But I think he was not angry after I explained what happened.



The Trans Lock needs four chops. You got to pass the offices in a right order, or they will send you back to the other one. The order is quite flexible. The offices are 30 km apart. Opening hours don't mean that the offices are open. "Ürügli purute Isitek" is what is written on the signs of most offices. If I had to deal with this all alone, I would have had to consider rent an apartment to do the job. Thank you Emre, Ziyat and Ömer! Thank you so much!

The experiences in Istanbul prove I'm true. It proves my way, my heart and my message that everyone can understand, if he wants to. Nergis, Emre, Ömer and Ziyet are the people that make this trip so unforgettable. They are great guys. Everyone is so special!

Today it's Monday, 29th of August 2011. I'm in Bebek, Istanbul and there will be tears again tomorrow in the morning.

Sabrina Most is constantly looking at worldwide map material and weather forecast, always on the go. She is my "operator" and the most reliable and exact one. She would move every warship or U-boat back to their navigation base with pleasure. She is my safety and my eye in the mist. Thank you for that, this would not be possible without you.

To be continued….