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This most popular of sea adventures began quite by mistake when a few years after the foundation of the Turkish Republic, a political writer, Cevat Sakir Kabaagacli, was exiled to Bodrum for publishing a story about army fugitives.
The judges who sentenced Cevat Sakir to a number of years in the remote port knew nothing of its lifestyle, which as Cevat Sakir found out, was something like paradise. He settled down and adopted the name, the "Fisherman of Halicarnassus", writing stories about the town and its locals- in particular, the fishermen.
On his regular outings with fisher- men, he gradually got to know the various coves and bays in the Gulf of Gokova. When visiting intellectuals from Istanbul dropped in, he took the opportunity to introduce them to the fisherman’s way of life. Together they constructed a theory of culture which embraced the cultures of all the people who lived in Asia Minor. Sakir’s tours of the Gulf of Gokova became famous and were given the name, "Mavi Yolculuk" or "Blue Cruise", and at this point, we wish to pay our gratitude to the man who inspired this voyage of exploration - the source of enjoyment for many thousands of people for almost 60 years.
The Blue Voyage offers the best possible escape on the water: a means of forgetting the rigors of everyday life for a while and just letting go of time. On a week or two week cruise, travellers sail along the Southwest Turkish coast, through crystal clear waters frequented by schools of dolphins and into quiet bays, the harbors of small, picturesque villages and many a historic port.
Wherever you may come from, and however old you may be, after a week or two afloat in this scenic wonderland, you will become of one heart with the beauty and serenity of nature. Both body and mind will revel in this healthy, happy environment.
What alternatives exist?
For the type of Blue Voyage we offer, you don’t have to hold a skipper’s license, nor do you need to be an avid sailor. We provide you with a traditional wooden yacht which you charter with crew. If you cannot get a group together so as to take your own yacht, you still have the opportunity to join one of our weekly cabin charter cruises. You might even like to go for something racier, like a standard-sized bareboat with an English-speaking skipper.
Most of our yachts are of the traditional wooden variety, built either in Bodrum, Marmaris,fethiye or the western Black Sea region.
Which season is best?
Between the end of July and the beginning of September, Turkey is extra busy with the height of summer bringing thousands to the coastal regions. July and August days are long and hot and the nights are warm. June, the beginning of July and all of September offer a better combination, with warm days and cool evenings. The water in September can be especially warm in places. The months of May and October offer excellent sailing conditions and the opportunity to go trekking or fishing.
How do we spend the time?
During the day, we cruise for a few hours and sail if the wind allows. Closer to lunch or dinner, we approach the land and drop anchor in a solitary bay, alongside a small village or off an island. At every stop, and there will be at least two per day, there is the opportunity to swim, fish, snorkel, windsurf, sunbathe, take a trip ashore or just read under the shade of the sun awning. The accent is on relaxation and recreation.
Your friendly, attentive crew will consist of a captain, a cook and either one or two seamen. Their job is to ensure that you are comfortable, well fed and entertained.
What about Scuba diving?
We offer diving tours for people who wish to explore the depths off the coast in the company of an experienced dive master. Bring your friends and make a group or join an organized tour.
Children?
Provided they are accompanied by adults, children of any age are welcome to come along and will positively thrive in the warm waters of the Turkish Aegean and Mediterranean.
What shall we bring?
Our guests are advised that they will be spending most of their time in a bathing suit so it is a good idea to bring at least two! For land trips, a pair of long, light trousers and a shirt are advisable. Evenings may be cool, certainly during the earlier and later months of the year, so you are best to bring a pullover and a windbreaker.
We also suggest you pack your beach towel, plenty of suncream, snorkels/flippers/goggles if you plan on doing lots of snorkeling and a sleeping bag if you are planning to sleep on deck.
Bed linen and towels for use in the cabins are provided by us and you should expect a set of sheets during the hot summer months and a bottom sheet and a pique (thick cotton sheet) during the spring and autumn months.
Your Turkish crew may not have a thorough knowledge of English, so you might be advised to take a small traveller’s dictionary along with you for the cruise. Besides being understood more easily, it is also a great way of picking up a few words of Turkish.
We suggest you bring your belongings in a collapsible bag, rather than a suitcase, as bags are much easier to stow away, and also serve to limit how much you pack! You may like to bring a light day pack for excursions ashore.
One final word of advice: normal street shoes are definitely not acceptable on board a yacht... we suggest you to bring soft-soled shoes for getting around on deck.
During the Blue Voyage, the places you visit are the wealth of civilizations. Any cruising ground that you choose is rich with historic sites, ancient cities and unique rock tombs. Only Blue Voyage will give you the chance to discover countless hidden coves, undiscovered bays, sun drenched sandy beaches and isolated villages, the private beach of Cleopatra, Oludeniz, the rock tombs of Kaunos, the eternal fires of mount Olympos, Myria rock tombs, the archeological remains of ancient civilizations, that had also remained under sea. The experience of seeing breathtaking panoramic views of a sea which flows into shades of green and blue or the sun slipping down towering mountains and slowly disappearing into a golden hazed sea can only be described as priceless. During Blue Voyage you can go beyond the ordinary. Most of us live in large cities where the city lights dull the brightness of the stars. On the Blue Voyage you can see the stars very clearly. If your Blue Voyage coincides with the full moon, it is exceptionally beautiful in these parts.
When there is no moon, you are in for another treat, Phosphor scene. It is the phenomenon created by tiny creatures invisible to human eye. In the pitch dark when moving in the water, it glitters when, for example you are rowing. At the point where the oar touches the surface of the water, there will be circles of light. The drops of water splashing from the oars will drop on the surface of the sea like a shower of stars.
Swimming on a pitch dark night is an incredible experience, like a narcissistic pleasure. Now imagine you will be lying on the deck and alone with stars while the sea is quite choppy with in the gulf or imagine visiting fishermen's villages isolated by the bay during the day.
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