Turkey:General Sailing

From Skipper2Skipper

General

The coastline of Turkey, often green, rocky and indented with bays, coves, inlets, and a number of ancient sites near safe mooring spots, is perfect for yachting.

The coastline, especially between Izmir and Antalya, is quite varied and comprises numerous coves and bays which provide perfect mooring spots for sailboats. The depths generally range from 1-12 m and marine charts indicate the positions of dangerous reefs.

Recomendations

• International navigation rules should be scrupulously followed.
• The Turkish courtesy flag should be flown from 8 am. to sunset.
• It is best to avoid zig-zagging between Turkish and Greek waters.
• Yachtsmen should strictly refrain from taking any "archaeological souvenirs" from the coastal waters and keeping them on board, since the penalty is confiscation of the yacht.
• According to navigation law, it is forbidden to take passengers on board between two ports in Turkey.
• In order to preserve both nature and the environment, it is necessary to adhere to the internationally recognized norms (do not empty dirty and bilge water into the sea).
• Use of holding tanks is mandatory. The Turkish authorities take this very seriously. As much as washing a plate inside a marina and dumping the soapy water out may result in a fine amounting to hundreds of €.
• If the above clauses are not respected, a penalty will be applied in accordance with international rules.

Border and Port of Arrival Formalities

Yachts require a Transit Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years for maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports licensed by the Ministry of Tourism for the storage of yachts for a period of two to five years. For further information and regulations, contact the marina concerned.

Upon arriving in Turkish waters, yachts shout immediately go for control of the ships log to the nearest port of entry which are as allows :

• Iskenderun
• Botas
• Mersin
• Tasucu
• Anamur
• Alanya
• Antalya Kemer
• Finike
• Kas
• Fethiye
• Marmaris
• Datca
• Bodrum
• Gulluk
• Didim
• Kusadasi
• Cesme
• Izmir
• Dikili
• Ayvalik
• Akcay
• Canakkale
• Bandirma
• Tekirdag
• Korfez
• Istanbul
• Zonguldak
• Sinop
• Samsun
• Ordu
• Giresun
• Trabzon
• Rize
• Hopa

All the required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen, crew members, intended route, passports, customs declarations, health clearance, and any other obligatory matters must be entered in the Transit Log. The Transit Log is to be completed by the captain of the yacht under a foreign flag or by an amateur sailor acting as "captain of the vessel".

The Transit Log is completed upon first entering a Turkish port and, generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbor Authority before leaving. For information on tax-free fuel, contact the Marina Harbor Office.

If you have a certificate from the Tourism Ministry Yacht Harbor, you may take full petrol at no charge, provided you possess an official marina license. (I believe that this should probably read: "free of VAT" rather than "at no charge".)

When to Sail The Turkish Coast

In summer, the winds normally blow from the northwest to southeast on the central and southem Aegean. This wind is commonly called the "meltem", although in some areas such as at Cesme, Izmir and Kusadasi, it is called the "imbat". In the eariy and late summer, the "meltem" blows less and there are days of little or no wind at all. Generally, the meltem will die down at night and then resume the next day around midday. It can also blow day and night for days on end in the gulfs. The wind follows the coast from the west and becomes weaker towards the heads of the gulfs. Gusts are particularly violent off the north coast of the Gulf of Gokova and the Gulf of Hisaronu. The meltem also blows in a westerly direction along the Mediterranean coast as far as the Gulf of Finike.

Around the Gulf of Antalya, there are both land and sea breezes with the latter predominating generally between the south and southwest. In the morning, there will often be a land breeze blowing from the north. Winds in the spring and autumn are almost equally divided between north and south, but in winter,winds and gales are predominantly from the south.

There is a meteorological bulletin on VHF 16, and 67, in English and Turkish, for the Mediterranean and Aegean region (Bodrum, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Antalya, Finike, Alanya, Anamur, and Mersin).

It is broadcast everyday at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 hrs. Each broadcast is repeated three times.

For more information contact:

Environment Ministry, State Meteorology General Director
(Cevre Bakanligi, Devlet Meteoroloji Gn. Md.)
06120-Kalaba, Ankara, Phone : (312) 359 75 45, Fax : (312) 359 34 30.

Marinas

All ports of entry in Turkey are in a position to receive sailboats year round. Supplies (food and motor fuel) are also available. Marinas provide mooring, maintenance, reparation and dry-dock facilities, and tourist, social and cultural services for yachtsmen. The following marinas maintain international standards :

• Istanbul Atakoy
• Istanbul Kalamis
• Istanbul Fenerbahce
• Izmir Levent
• Cesme Altinyunus
• Kusdasi Turban
• Bodrum Turban
• Marmaris Bay Marina
• Marmaris Netsel
• Marmaris Albatros
• Gocek Club Marina
• Fetiye Marina
• Kemer Turban
• Antalya Setur
• Antalya Kaleici Turban

Official bodies

Tourist Information Offices

Turban Turizm A.S. head office
Karanfil Sokak No : Kizilay/Ankara
Phone : (312) 417 41 92(8 Lines), Fax: (312)418 54 69,
TIx: 944648 tourism tr;

The Yacht Enterprises Association

(Yat Isletmecileri Dernegi)
Eski Cesme Mahallesi, Firkateyn Sok.
No : 27 - 48400 Bodrum
Phone : (252) 316 23 98, Fax : (252) 316 16 01.