Life on a small boat
limits what you can do in some respects, but in others, it is liberating. The sea teaches you what you can and
cannot do. It lets you have your own way up to a point, and then lays down its own terms. Learning to live with
the sea is like unravelling the secret of life in many ways.
The closeness of the small group of people on board promotes an atmosphere of friendship and sharing; relations
among passengers and crew tend to be relaxed and casual. Travel agencies can arrange charters and fixed tours for
a specific group of people or for you individually. Unlike cruises on large ocean liners, on a gulet you can explore
the secluded and often deserted bays and coves of the coastline.
You can shape your cruise itinerary as you wish before booking. Usually the daily duration of cruising is not longer
than 3-4 hours, and the rest of the day can be spent in a gorgeous cove enjoying the sun and the sea. Sunbathing
on the deck, swimming in clear waters, snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing or just fishing... |
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July and August, the hottest months of the year, are the most popular for exploring Turkey's
southwest shores by yacht. The yachts used for the so called Blue Cruise are mainly the local fishing boats known
as gulet, traditional craft which have evolved over the centuries to suit the climate perfectly. They are characterised
by a broad spacious deck, which allows plenty of room for the passengers to stretch out and sunbathe, watch the
glorious scenery, eat and drink around the large table or just chat. A canopy over the stern provides shade.
From early May until the end of June, as in
September and October the weather is usually
warm enough, so some guests often decide to sleep outside on deck. Personally, I only use my cabin to put my things
in. A holiday for me is the time to leave aside the routine business of daily life and to live in an out-of-the-ordinary
way. I devote my time to sailing, navigation, and fishing, as the traditional preoccupations of a life at sea. |
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