CRUISING
unfortunately for the yacht had already aware of the drive – it really makes you stop and Cruising the Blue Coast
been photographed from the to keep its waters clean. think. The website given on We found that Turkey wasn’t
air by the coastguard. Yacht All yacht owners should be the leaflet was www.turmepa. a boisterous country as we
inspections were not being aware that bilge water and org.tr and we would encourage spent many nights anchored
considered; this had been black water should never be everyone to look at it. in a quiet bay of blue water.
something the disgruntled discharged in harbour, so The contrast between these
yacht owner had said in his on this occasion we felt the Winters aboard bays and the pockets of life
moment of anger. officials were justified in the Despite the uncertain start to to be found was huge. Places
We had only been in Turkey action taken, albeit unfortunate our travels around Turkey, such as Kusadasi and Bodrum
a short time, but we were for the yacht owner. In order the following two years were some of the liveliest,
to protect the marine life disappeared in a haze of but Gocek seemed to hit the
around Turkish waters, we happiness. We fell in love middle ground of not being too
had been encouraged to use with the south coast of Turkey, noisy while still having a lot to
marine soaps where possible, known as the Blue Coast. offer. The bays in between the
which were readily available Scenic mountains and pine- main towns offered quiet spots
at supermarkets and chandlers. clad bays are in abundance to anchor in with the most
At most marina reception with small rural villages and beautiful of scenery, so this is
areas we found booklets breathtaking walks along the where we spent most of our
encouraging yacht owners to Lycian way. Both our winters time. The people turned out to
“Enjoy all that the sea offers, had been spent in Kemer be as our first impressions had
but at the same time do all you Marina in the Bay of Antalya, suggested and we made friends
could to protect it.” from where we had taken an as we travelled the gulfs and
Published in Turkish, internal flight to visit Istanbul bays of the Turkish coastline.
French, English and German, to see famous sites, such as the Each bay had its own
this wonderful leaflet detailed Blue Mosque. character, ranging from empty,
seven easy steps to save During these winters we quiet and serene to rather
the sea. It also encouraged found the climate wonderful crowded and noisy due to an
appropriate disposal of and the marina well protected. abundance of chartered gulets.
waste, because it takes 10-20 The best news for a The wonderful thing is that
years for one plastic bag to liveaboard on a budget is that there are so many bays to
decompose. As if this were the marina costs were just choose from that after a time
not horror enough, fishing line two thirds of the prices we you learn about those that
takes 600 years to degrade experienced in Greece. the gulets prefer and simply
Top left: Olympus village, which
runs along the river created by
the waters draining down from
the mountain.
Above: Stunning view from
the cable car that takes you up
Mount Olympus.
Left: The good ship Orpheus on
one of the pontoons.
Right: Breaking waves in 45kn of
wind in the Bay of Antalya.
ST147 CompWinner RTG.indd 104 12/5/09 21:49:43
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