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<em>[NB 1 May 2010, a good explanation for these objects can be found </em><a href="http://www.strangeattractor.co.uk/further/?p=1892" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>]</em>

One of <a href="http://www.strangeattractor.co.uk/further/?s=zoom+in+my+friend" target="_blank">my favourite UFO videos</a> of recent years – the sinister looking objects filmed off the coast of Kumburgaz, just west of Istanbul in 2008 and 2009 above - may have a mundane explanation after all... they were IMOs - Identifiable Marine Objects.

Booooo!

Over at the excellent <a href="http://forgetomori.com/2010/ufos/kumburgaz-turkey-ufo-yacht-window-reflections/#more-1527" target="_blank">Forgetomori</a> site, a translation of an article by Chilean researcher <a href="http://usuarios.multimania.es/aduarte/investigaciones/kumburgaz/" target="_blank">Andrés Duarte</a> reveals that the biomechanoid UFOs were quite likely yachts off the tourist-heavy coast reflecting lights from the shore.

Boooo again!

<a href="http://forgetomori.com/2010/ufos/kumburgaz-turkey-ufo-yacht-window-reflections/#more-1527" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-1891" style="vertical-align: top; border: 0; margin: 8px;" title="figura10" src="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/figura101.jpg" alt="figura10" width="387" height="400" /></a>

<em>'We can summarize the probable characteristics of these alleged UFOs to suggest a specific hypothesis: the objects are straight or just slightly bent specular surfaces, there are different designs for them, they could be part of a bigger object that can’t be seen given the circumstances, they are possibly sheets of transparent material, they are probably in the sea.... <span style="font-style: normal; "><em>All of this takes us to the following hypothesis: </em><em>the objects are lateral ‘shark’ or ‘moth’ style windows in some boats or small yachts</em><em>.”</em></span></em>

Much as it pains me to accept that Giger-esque ETs haven't weren't among the hordes of Summer visitors to  the Anatolian coast, Duarte's theory seems entirely sensible. Now he should be encouraged to try to recreate the effect with a video of his own.

The other, and perhaps most important point to be made about this discovery is that the original videoegrapher, night security guard Yalcin Yalman, was probably filming what he believed to be genuine UFOs, and not conducting a hoax as some have declared.

While I'm an advocate of the theory that some UFO events and beliefs have been deliberately fostered and encouraged by military and intelligence organisations around the world – I've just written a book, <em>Mirage Men</em> about it! - this story is a timely reminder that people will continue to see UFOs and ET spacecraft with or without government assistance.

Via <a href="http://forgetomori.com/2010/ufos/kumburgaz-turkey-ufo-yacht-window-reflections/#more-1527" target="_blank">Forgetomori</a> - thanks <a href="http://www.ianridpath.com/" target="_blank">Ian Ridpath</a>!