Phoebus is a Moody 33 MK1 from 1974, which I’ve acquired in 2007. I have put in a lot of effort and time to keep her in good shape. She is seaworthy, sails well and considering her age, almost a classic. A major overhaul and refit was done in between 2007-2010, and every now and then, minor and major work is required. One thing I have learned over the years is that anything that floats over the sea requires a Sisyphean task never complete to keep floating. As far as mythology goes, Phoebus is a Roman Apollo. But once aboard, Dionysos rules…

As I have found her in Marmaris in 2007, carrying a British flag…

Before any work was started, a dear friend and a typography master, Alessandro Segalini (now teaching at Binghamton University, NY) had designed PHOEBUS BOLD, a unique typeface to appear on the transom. As he states “The design was a derivative of ITC Benguiat, but ITC Tiffany was also an inspiration…”

Here she is going back in water after overhaul in 2008, with help and support from friends and relatives: (late) Demir Hepdeniz, R.I.P.; Cem Hepdeniz; Hakan Topal; Alessandro Segalini; Oğuz Özdoğan; Can Özcan and Alex Velasco…

a bottom paint, c.2010 …

yet another bottom paint, and a new transmission for the old Perkins 4.108, 2016…

End of 2019 was hectic. The old Perkins came ashore, rebuilt, put in place, but finally gave in with multiple other problems. The whole ordeal took almost two months, and I gave up on this 45 year old engine. The new one is a Mitsubishi (Craftsman 42hp), purchased in İstanbul, delivered to Teos. It took me another two weeks to install it in place: arrange the engine mounts, the old gearbox and the coupling, water intake, electrical and other connections. The sea test is already carried out before the new year. Runs smooth, like any other new machine…

Early 2023 saw the escape from the regular berth due to outrageous prices imposed by almost all marinas in Turkey. Together with Faruk Örnek, I built a concrete mooring, complete with formwork, reinforcement bars, cement mixing, curing and all necessary shackles and chain connections.

.. ready to be deployed…

and on the mooring in Teos…