We’ve just wrapped up our 10-week trip to Turkey by spending 7 weeks sailing the coast on a bareboat catamaran charter. For us, this was a voyage of discovery and rediscovery.
Ann and I did our very first sailing charter together in this very spot exactly 30 years ago. We enjoyed it so much that bareboat sailing vacations became a recurring event and we’ve now completed over 20 charters all over the world. At the same time, I’ve been bending Ann’s ear for as long as she’s known me about my desire to do some more extended cruising. This was the “it’s now or never” moment, so we agreed we’d test the waters (if you’ll pardon the pun) and rent a boat for a couple of months before committing to anything more permanent.
After looking into other areas in Italy, Greece and Croatia, we settled on Turkey because of the beautiful and extensive cruising grounds, our familiarity with the country, and relatively lower cost. We found a 42’ Bali catamaran with E.G.G. Yachting that was perfect for our needs and the trip was on.
The Blue Cruise
In 1945 the famous Turkish writers Ezra Erhat and Sabahattin Eyuboglu went cruising around the Aegean with several other writers. On the trip, Eyuboglu coined the term “Blue Cruise”. In 1962, Erhat wrote a book called Blue Cruise which described their trip. The book was very successful and the term stuck and helped launch the Turkish sailing tourism industry.
Sailing in Turkey
Much in Turkey has changed a lot in the last 30 years, and I expected this area to have changed as well. On our previous two visits, we either started or ended in Marmaris, which was the sailing center at that time. This time we picked the boat up in Göcek, a small town in Fethiye Bay.
20 years ago, this place was barely on the map. Today, it is indisputably the sailing capital of Turkey. There are 7 marinas within Göcek Bay, including a superyacht marina, as well as many shipyards, chandleries, sailmakers, and all the other necessary supporting businesses. Even more impressive is the infrastructure they have created to support the cruising industry.
Fuel, pumpout, and garbage collection boats regularly make the rounds of the major anchorages. In addition, both the Migros and Carrefour supermarkets have entire grocery stores on a boat that makes the same rounds. No need to go back to a marina to provision. Ice cream vendor boats are also common. We even saw a boat full of masseuses offering massages.
Fethiye Bay
Fethiye Bay offers a perfect cruising ground. There are hundreds of anchorages in well-protected coves and the water is warm and crystal clear. Some spots have resorts ashore, others have a restaurant or two, and many have nothing at all, so you can be alone with nature.
The larger town of Fethiye, on the other side of the bay from Göcek, is also an interesting place to spend a few hours or days. In all, we spent nearly 3 weeks cruising Fethiye Bay and nearby places, and still don’t feel like we saw it all. From here, we headed south. But that’s for the next post.
gail
So glad that you are writing again
Teri Wyatt
It was a beautiful country and a fabulous adventure. So glad we got to spend 3 wks with you!!
Angie Striepling
Stunning photos! Sounds like an amazing trip, this far! We can’t wait to see you upon return!!