Priced out of keeping a yacht

A few years ago we were at the Istanbul Boatshow giving a talk for the wonderful Gezgin Korsan.

- LU HEIKELL

The 'Sailing Pirates' are a group of keen cruising sailors who took their hospitality seriously, taking us out to the oldest fish restaurant in Yezilkoy, on the western reaches of this great city. They sail mostly locally around the Turkish coast and Aegean islands and were keen to know what we thought of Turkish marinas.

There is of course a long-sailing tradition here, and local nautical clubs have been running for almost as long.

Historically, people would keep their yachts in fishing harbours, or on club moorings in sheltered bays. One of the first purpose-built marinas here was in Kusadasi on the Aegean coast, which opened in 1979. More soon followed, and now there is a well-established marina network all around the coast.