02.02.2025
Author: Maria Kiseleva, IYT Yachtmaster Coastal, journalist
About the region in brief:
If you are into yachting, especially if you live in Europe - you simply must try yachting in Turkey at least once. It is one of the most popular yachting regions, if not the most popular. It is well suited for beginners - the staff of marinas and good charter companies are ready to help novice captains: for example, to take their moorings at the berth or to advise them on the nuances of renting (although, of course, it is always better to be on the lookout). Also in almost every marina you can easily meet other Russian-speaking yachtsmen who can give you some advice.
Many routes in Turkey are lined along the same coastline.
If you wish, you can make a ‘one way’ route - one way, from point to point - but in this case the charter company will ask you to pay a few hundred euros extra.
The most common types of anchorage are moorings in wild coves by restaurants where you have to eat dinner as a mooring fee. In many places moorings are worth booking in advance. Contacts to do this can be found on Navionics navigation software or simply by searching on Google.
There are also many wild coves for anchorages on the most popular - the Aegean - coast of Turkey, these are found every few miles and are also labelled in Navionics.
The main charter start points are:
Fethiye
Göcek
Marmaris
Example of a yacht itinerary in Turkey:
Below is a sample itinerary that can be built from Marmaris, a popular starting point in Turkey. However, these are just outlines that each captain can fine-tune to suit himself and his crew. And, of course, all details of the current state of affairs at the car park should be clarified closer to the dates of your trip.
For example, you should take into account that most of the mentioned anchorage points work in Turkey only in high season - from April to November. At other times there may be not only closed cafes and cut off water and electricity supply, but also, for example, removed muringi - except for a few ‘on duty’.
An itinerary for lovers of antiquities and sailing.
From Marmaris westwards
Marmaris - Çiftlik - Bozukkale - Datça - Serce limani - Kumlubük - Marmaris
Total distance: About 110 nm
Marmaris - Çiftlik (Distance: 13 NM)
Marmaris (36°51.083′ N 28°16.733′ E) is one of the yachting capitals not only of Turkey but also of the world. There are several large marinas in one city. When you are not yachting, you can walk along the quays looking at the endless ‘forests’ of masts and gaze at the tourist ‘gulets’, which are moored right in the city.
Check-in on the yacht takes place on Saturday. If you have a few light hours left, you can cross to Ciflik (36°42.95′ N 28°14.3′ E) for an overnight stay on the first day - it will save time. However, you should have time to take a boat and buy provisions beforehand.
There are several piers in Chiflika, most of them have fixed moorings. It is better to check with the marina staff about parking conditions, as well as the availability of water and electricity at a particular pier.
Çiftlik - Bozukkale (distance: 16.5 NM)
If you set out for Çiftlik on Sunday morning, you can anchor in one of the bays and swim before travelling onwards. (e.g. Gokce Bay would be a good place for this). But don't stay too long - today Bozukkale (36°34.317′ N 28°0.85′ E) awaits you.
In this bay are the remains of a fortress that, from ancient times, provided protection for ships carrying goods to and from the island of Rhodes. Nowadays, the picturesque ruins of the ancient buildings can be walked around, for example at sunset or in the early morning.
The fortress is also a good landmark at the entrance to the bay. It has several piers by the restaurants (mooring assumes dinner). One of the berths (Ali Baba Restoran) is right by the fortress, the second, bigger one (Sailor's House Restaurant) is in the back, from it to the ruins it is better to take a ‘tuzik’. There is usually no water or electricity in this cove.
Bozukkale - Datça (23.2 NM)
The next day a long crossing awaits you - it will take about five hours. Before leaving the marina, you should carefully watch the weather forecast and plot your route. From mid-May to mid-September, the dominant north wind, the meltem, blows in this area. It should be taken into account - the headwind on the way to Datchu (coord. 36°43.35′ N 27°41.35′ E) and the tailwind on the way back can be 5-10 knots more than forecast. You should also take into account that boats that have not closed the border cannot enter Greek territorial waters - therefore you will have to make a ‘detour’ around the island of Symi. If the weather is bad, Dirsek Bay (36°40.983′ N 27°58.683′ E) can be planned as a ‘backup’ destination for this part of the trip.
However, if weather conditions permit, the passage to Datcha will allow you to practise sailing at your leisure.
The harbour and town of Datcha is located on the south coast of Hisaroni Bay. Yachts anchor fore or aft on the south breakwater or north quay. Parking at the pier is chargeable, the price can be checked locally. After a long crossing you can relax in the town - there are many cafes, restaurants and bars.
Datça - Serce limani (26 NM)
The return trip from Datça is also a long one. It is very likely that for part of the way you will be accompanied by a tailwind that will take you to Serce Bay (coord. 36°35.067′ N 28°2.917′ E).
It has many convenient ‘buoys’ for parking, which are owned by Captain Nemo's Farmrestaurant. You are expected to pay for the car park by eating at the restaurant. However, if you want, you can have a hearty evening on the boat under the stars (and eat all the supplies you have left). In this case, you can pay cash for parking - the owner will come by boat to pick them up himself.
Serce limani - Kumlubük (19 NM)
Thursday to Friday night is best spent closer to Marmaris so that you can go straight to the petrol station in the morning. There are several coves near Marmaris to choose from.
One of the options is Kumlubük Bay (36°45′ N 28°16.167′ E). There are several options for anchoring there - for example, you can anchor almost anywhere in the bay at a suitable depth, or on the pier of the Hollandali Ahmet restaurant. In the latter case, the fee for anchorage is traditionally at least a modest dinner in the restaurant, but it comes with a nice bonus in the form of showers and toilets on the shore. You can use them to tidy up before tomorrow's foray into the city.
Kumlubük - Marmaris (6.6 NM)
If you have a standard charter - Saturday to Saturday - you will need to be in the marina on Friday afternoon. But before you do that, you'll need to fill up. The queue for a petrol station in Marmaris on a Friday can easily take several hours - so even from a bay as close as Kumlubük, it is better to leave early - at 9 -10. After refuelling, you can sail around Marmaris for a while and then go for mooring and handing over the boat.
The last evening in Marmaris can be spent with a nice dinner and a drink in one of the many bars on the seafront.
