Balaklava

On departure from Sevastopol, we had a short downwind sail, only 15 nm, to Balaclava, a small attractive harbour so well hidden behind cliffs that the entrance is almost indiscernible and the town not at all visible. It is one of the world`s safest harbours and, again, until 1996 was a Russian navy base and a town closed to outsiders. Overlooked by the remains of an ancient Venetian fortress, the town is very attractive, with the hint of an air of the like of Portofino and has the potential to be a really popular tourist location. The marina is crowded with motor yachts and on weekends it is packed with locals from Sevastopol. Unfortunately, the Ukranian navy still occupies much of the harbour and there is an ore crushing and loading facility overshadowing the town which is very noisy, dusty and operates 24 hrs/day. The Russian navy submarine base tunneled into the mountainside is now an interesting museum, but was once home to a generation of Soviet submarines and a store for their nuclear and conventional weapons. Once we have returned by road to Sevastopol to obtain out papers clearing us for Yalta we will sail there to prepare for a three or four day crossing to Poti in Georgia.