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We have gathered the following information from trips in ”our” region in Ägäis, the area between the Gulf of Edremit and the island archipelago of Ayvalik in the north and Kusadasi in the south. In the middle lies the peninsula of Çeşme and Karaburun and the Gulf of Ildir and Sigacik. In the west, the area is bordered by the Greek islands of Lesbos, Psara, Chios, and Samos, among others. If you have enough time, you can of course venture beyond this region and sail north to Istanbul, south to Marmaris or west to further Greek islands. Our experiences are necessarily subjective, incomplete and subject to correction. Gather your own experiences and share them with us so we can share them with other sailors. We also appreciate your best photographs!
 Wind and WeatherThe region is influenced by the prevailing northern winds. The Etesian summer winds are historically famous, otherwise known by the Turks as Meltemi winds. These winds generally begin in the late afternoon and reach their maximum strength between 3 and 6 on the Beaufort scale. On the capes, in the straights and on certain days, these winds may be stronger. This also applies to the streets of Chios, where the Meltemi often reach Force 5 where other places only reach 3. Don’t be deterred from sailing just because the straights between Chios and Oinousa and between Oinousa and Karaburun blow our way! Around late evening, these winds pass, often with heavy downbursts in the coves. The regularity of the Meltemi offers many advantages: even in the mid-summer months of July and August, there are comfortable temperatures and almost always a sailing wind which our boats can handle. Since there is rarely a southern wind, you can generally use coves facing the south. Because of the downbursts, you should always pack enough anchor chains and be especially sure to use a secure anchor holding. The weather in September and October is relatively calm and you can enjoy wonderful late summer evenings. May and June also already reveal summer temperatures, whereas April, which offers the best sailing weather, offers spring temperatures. Of course you should plan your voyage according to regional characteristics, by choosing a route in which you do not have to sail against the Meltemi – or set off in the wind weak in the morning hours and power northwards. Besides sailing, our boats have excellent traversing properties. The times and frequencies of the weather reports are listed in the green folder.
NavigationIn our region – as in other regions – there are several cliffs and shoals which are, however, marked in the sea charts and given due attention in the handbooks. Please navigate carefully and follow the corresponding advice. Refer to the detailed charts as well. A combination of the various navigation guides – Navcenter, sea charts, handbooks etc. – makes is easy to avoid navigation errors. Never trust the electronic devices alone!
Sailing with Bavaria YachtsOur boats have excellent sailing properties. They should be sailed appropriately. Be sure to reef on time – this is no problem with roll sails. By doing so, you facilitate your boat and crew and are thus better off. If you have questions regarding the operation of your sailing equipment, please confer with our support base manager. Other tips on the operation of our boats are in the corresponding sailing instructions in the green folder and listed in the operating manual, which you will find in the blue bag. The boats are equipped with very effective, free hanging balance oars, which reach exactly as deep as the keel. They are very sensitive. Please be careful not to ground with the oars– and also to have at least the famous hand’s breath of water under the keel.
Supplies, Restaurants, BerthsGroceries are available in all ports in Turkey and Greece. They all have a large variety of supermarkets, fruit and vegetable stores, bakeries, butchers, and fish markets.
If you are given a menu, you should be sure to agree on the price beforehand. If you would like a simpler menu, you would go to a “Lokanda” or a “Pide Salonu”, where typical Turkish dishes are served, among which different versions of the Donor Kebab can be found. Pide is pita bread filled with cheese and ground meat, Lahmacun is a small variety of Turkish pizza on a pita crust. Turkish white and red wines are dry and go well with the food. There is also a pleasant sparkling wine made according to the champagne method. Our support base, by the way, also offers wine and sparkling wine direct from the wineries. Efes beer is a classic pilsner. There is nowadays also a light version. As for spirits, you generally only find Rake, which many Turks drink much of. If you prefer other brands, you should get supplies at the duty-free shop at the airport. In the following overview, I have only listed the Turkish ports in which you will find numerous supply possibilities:
Tourist Information Our inbound agencies Gena Tours and Gino Yachting will assist you in all aspects of tourism – transfers, daytrips to historical towns, subsequent hotel or club holidays, other tourist companies, providing rental cars etc. Please ask our support base manager or call one of the numbers listed in the green folder. Moreover, people in many of the smaller ports around Çeşme – above all on the peninsula Karaburun – are very interested in sailing tourism. If you ask at the municipal office (Beledyie), you will be informed about sightseeing attractions in the area which are often not in the guidebooks, and given directions. Generally, the locals are friendly to visitors and enjoy giving tourists required information or being helpful in some way. Many speak at least broken German and most speak English. You will definitely cope.
Medical CareThere is an excellent physician and a very good dentist in Çeşme, whose work is also highly rated in Germany. There is also a hospital available. In Izmir, there are the some of Turkey’s best special clinics, equipped with the most modern medical equipment including a magnetic resonance tomograph. You will find these numbers in the green folder as well. If problems should arise, please call the support base manager.
Registration in Greece New: Transfer between Turkey and Greece The associations have improved and the relationship between Greece and Turkey can now be considered normal. The port authorities are generally very professional and polite. This also applies to yachts under the Turkish flag. Registration has become easier and also cheaper. Please allow between thirty minutes and one hour for the entire process (just as before, many records need to be prepared). Do not forget to change the guest country flag. You only need to provide your boat license, your passport and two crew lists. The Turkish transit log, our Turkish charter license, or any other Turkish papers do not need to be presented to the Greek authorities. Upon first registration, you will receive an appropriate booklet for the boat type which you will present at the next port for stamping, when required. This booklet costs €30. You may reuse it during later voyages. There will be more additional small fees.
Upon leaving Turkey, if you did not give notice of departure, then you do not need to register upon re-entry. If asked, you are just coming from Çeşme!
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If you need more information, don't hesitate to contact us!
Phone +49.9123.96 80 63 | e-mail yachting@franken-meer.com
anoris.
Last modified: 24.03.2009 |
Wind and Weather
