In September 2010 we sailed from Istanbul to Varna, Bulgaria, on to Odessa and Sevastopol, Ukraine, and back to Istanbul.

Varna is pleasant and the formalities for clearing it took all of ten minutes at the Black Sea Yacht Club and cost nothing. Clearing out took no longer.

By contrast, in Odessa, it took us the whole morning to clear with the various authorities (customs/immigration/police) and cost two payments, one of 400 euros and one of 800 Hr. (no receipts). Clearing out took as long but no charges.

Clearing in at Sevastopol in the Moby Dick Marina (not a joke) near the Russian Navy Yacht Club, took only a few minutes with no charge, but when we cleared out for Turkey it took more than the whole morning.

The Russian Navy Yacht club (so-called) is a simple place and only suitable for small yachts. My 62 ft boat couldn’t get in. There is no sign to announce what it is, but it is in position 44degrees 37.1N 33 degrees 30.38E.

In the bay to the west of the headland is a new marina attached to a development in position 44 degrees 36.968N 33degrees 30.46E. Trying to clear out there is not possible although they said it was. One has to go to the Customs Quay two bays down. Its exact position is:- 44 degrees 36.991N, 33 degrees 31.622E

Mike Labbett