Turkey

SAILING IN TURKEY

Sailing in Turkey offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, rich history, warm hospitality, and mesmerizing natural beauty. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey's vast coastline provides a captivating sailing experience. This comprehensive guide covers Turkey's popularity as a sailing destination, its geographical location, climate, navigation, yacht charter options, marina development, and the top sailing spots.

Turkey: A Rising Star in Sailing Destinations

Turkey not only managed to be geographically Europe and Asia at the same time, but it can also be proud of access to 4 seas at once: Black, Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean. The allure of sailing in Turkey has steadily grown over the years. Turkey's popularity also lies in its rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine, vibrant bazaars, and world-renowned historical sites.

Sailing Waters of Turkey

Turkey's extensive coastline stretches over 8,000 kilometers, offering a range of sailing environments. The turquoise waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas offer a mix of tranquil bays and lively resort towns, while the Black Sea provides a less charted sailing experience with its untouched nature.

Weathering the Winds and Tides in Turkey

Turkey experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The Meltemi wind, known as Etesian in Turkey, blows from the north-northwest in the Aegean Sea from June to September. In the Mediterranean, summer winds typically blow from the west or northwest. The Black Sea's winds can be more unpredictable. Tidal ranges in Turkey are generally small, less than a meter, reducing the navigational challenges related to tides.

Navigating Turkish Waters

Navigating in Turkish waters offers a moderate challenge. It requires a good understanding of the prevailing winds and local weather conditions. The country's extensive coastline, numerous harbors, and sheltered bays make it a sailor-friendly destination. Turkey also follows the international system of buoyage, making navigation familiar to most sailors.

Yacht Charter in Turkey

Turkey offers ample options for yacht chartering, catering to different budgets and sailing preferences. Local charter companies are generally quite loyal to any skippers' licenses, to rent a yacht in Turkey, RYA, IYT, ISSA certificate will do. Some companies may require proof of sailing experience, particularly for larger or more advanced boats.

It is necessary to know that in some waters of Turkey is forbidden to discharge dirty water and "human waste" into the sea. For this purpose, there are special stations in the marinas for pumping out the contents of "dirty" tanks. If you take a yacht on a charter, you will need at least once to get a mark on the passage of this procedure (in fact, few of the locals comply with this prohibition 100%, rather they treat this as an additional way to replenish the treasury at the expense of tourist yachtsmen, but although formally it would have to be done). It is inexpensive, in contrast to the fine for failure to comply.

The official currency is Turkish Lira, but in the most places you can easily pay in dollars or euros and get change in liras.

Marinas and Yachting Infrastructure in Turkey

The service in most Turkish marinas is truly excellent: comfort, cleanliness, and round-the-clock duty of employees who escort you to the parking area in their dinghy and help you to moor (if you have little experience, they will literally drive your boat into place with their inflatable boards). In many marinas, you can find swimming pools, fitness, and spa centers.

Turkey boasts numerous top-notch marinas that provide excellent facilities and services. Here are a few of them:

1. Netsel Marmaris Marina: Located in Marmaris, a popular resort town on the Aegean coast, this marina offers a range of facilities, including repair services, laundry, and excellent security. It is also conveniently situated near the town center, which has plenty of shops, restaurants, and historic sites.
2. Ece Saray Marina: Situated in Fethiye, this marina is known for its world-class services and stunning natural surroundings. The marina offers facilities like fuel, water, electricity, and waste management, along with a range of leisure and dining options.
3. Palmarina Bodrum: This is a luxury marina located in Bodrum, often referred to as the 'St. Tropez of Turkey.' It offers first-class services and facilities, including boutiques, restaurants, and a nightlife district. It also has the capacity to host mega yachts.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, there are many wild bays at your disposal, where you can swim in crystal clear water, enjoy sunsets and sunrises, anchored or buoy.

In addition, Turkey has coastal restaurants with their own piers. Staying there for the night, most likely, they will not take money from you for mooring, and in some places they will even give free water and electricity, like in Chiftlik Bay, but with only one condition - you must have dinner at their restaurant with the whole team. At the same time, the prices there are not at all overpriced, and the quality of the dishes and the size of the portions leave pleasant memories and a desire to return there again and again.

Best Sailing Spots in Turkey

Sailing spots in Turkey are diverse, offering something for everyone. A variety of magnificent natural landscapes, an abundance of architectural monuments of ancient culture, many islands and secluded bays, an excellently developed infrastructure make Turkey one of the best destinations for yachting. In this regard, the most popular are the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas (Fethiye, Gocek, Marmaris, Orhanye, Bodrum, Kusadasi).