Turkey 2012-13

mocruising

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2004
Messages
813
Location
TURKEY
Visit site
I have just read as much as I can about marinas in Turkey on the forum but still can't decide where to head next spring (From Porto Heli Greece). I suppose its all about others opinion's. We will be looking for a one year contract, which should include six months on the hard winter 2012-13. Marina must be sheltered and safe as the boat will be left idle for eight months of next year due to the pressure of work . Must be reasonably accessible to Istanbul by air or road as I will be flying in to Istanbul from the Middle East and family/crews arriving from the UK. So safe/secure (In water and on the hard), sheltered, access to an international airport or regional airport, nice cruising area, am I asking too much, budget not a huge problem.
 

truscott

Member
Joined
6 Feb 2006
Messages
372
Visit site
Not sure where you intend flying in from the Middle East, but Turkish have good connections from Bahrain & Kuwait to Dalaman and Bodrum via Istanbul. We keep our boat in Netsel Marina in Marmaris, and travel to Dalaman easily enough.

BUT.... the flight to Istanbul leaves Bahrain around 0230, and you don't land in Dalaman until 1330! We don't actually get to the boat until 1500 or so, so when you factor in a two hour check in prior to flying, you're looking at a long journey.

My brother in law keeps his boat at Yat Marin also in Marmaris and is quite happy there too. He flew from Ireland to Rhodes and then took the ferry the following morning.

In contrast, bro-in-law #2, flew directly into Dalaman from the UK. Total journey time door to boat was less than half of what we go through!

We both checked out Marti Marine this summer and were both impressed, although its a trade off between being slap bang in the heart of the Hirosanu Korfezi, instead of the day slog getting there, and the extra hour in the taxi!

The 40 Min transfer from Bodrum Milas to Turgetreis was a breeze in comparison, but the sailing area isn't as nice in my humble opinion.

Quite happy with Marmaris, but wish it wasn't such a slog to get there (I can fly in to the UK and drive to Plymouth in the same amount of time).

Cheers, PT.
 

mocruising

Member
Joined
21 Mar 2004
Messages
813
Location
TURKEY
Visit site
That sounds interesting. My wife will fly out from the UK (Plymouth) but I fly from Bahrain after driving over the causeway. I have yet to investigate who flies to Istanbul. I just moved from Qatar to Saudi and had assumed there would be ample connections to Turkey from the Middle East.
 

jimbaerselman

New member
Joined
18 Apr 2006
Messages
4,433
Location
Greece in Summer, Southampton in Winter
www.jimbsail.info
Well, you have three marinas near Istanbul, and it's a great city. The southern ports of the Sea of Marmara are interesting, some quite charming, mainly populated with fishing boats and work boats, very few yachts. So this is a very Turkish experience. Penalty - a cool winter, and the season starts a little later here.

Within decent distance of Istanbul is Ayvalik, a pleasant town surrounded by an archipelago with lots of anchorages. You're still off the beaten track as far as charter yachts go up here.

From Cesme (3 marinas) you move into popular yachting territory, re-organised to suit the visitors; less of an ethnic experience compared to the places I've just mentioned.

My bias is that I like the ethnic places - even when you can't find a beer for tea cafes. If you prefer places where more people speak English - go south.
 

temptress

Well-known member
Joined
15 Aug 2002
Messages
1,886
Location
Gone Sailing -in Greece for a while
gbr195t.com
N....
Quite happy with Marmaris, but wish it wasn't such a slog to get there (I can fly in to the UK and drive to Plymouth in the same amount of time).

Cheers, PT.

Paul how is life in Bahrain these days?

To the OP that is why we keep temptress in Portsmouth. we can leave Riyadh/Dubai/Bahrain on a flight around 02:00 and be on-board in Portsmouth by 09:00.

Looked at Turkey/Greece/Spain/whole med and decided that if we wanted to use the boat for short periods say the a 2 or 3 day weekend then the UK was logistically easier.
 

truscott

Member
Joined
6 Feb 2006
Messages
372
Visit site
Hey Kevin, how're things in Dubai? Bit bangy in Bahrain last night. Guess the release of the report on the Independent Commision of Inquiry has a few folk all fired up for a repeat of the Feb/March events. Weather is ideal for getting away though, so headed off to Bird again for the weekend and then Mashtan in a fortnight or so.

To the OP, if you're in KSA and can endure Saudia for a few hours, you might like to look at their schedule, as they were flying direct in to Dalaman at one point. Guess it's an Umrah thing. For our part, we'll stick to Turkish and routeing through Istanbul.

Cheers, PT.
 
Top