  Karte gross |
Turkish Marina news from SY.OTARIE: CESME marina, a highlight!
Christine & Rudolf SIDLER
|
|
Heading North from Marmaris to Cesme with our sailing yacht (Dufour 43” Center Cockpit) through the Greek Dodekanese Islands we noted how big efforts Turkey has made by constructing new luxurious marinas, offering excellent shelter and service to the sailing community.
We took advantage of the South winds lasting until end of May and so had great sailing. This time I want to emphasize not on the trip, but on the harbours we visited. So what news? Knidos (TR) has now a pontoon where few yachts can go longside, unfortunately the depths are not too much so bigger yachts must try to get a place at the beginning of the pontoon when entering the bay. Also be prepared to get other yachts longside yours. You pay 25YTL, incl. electric and water. So no obligation to visit the restaurant. Symi (GR) nice as always, but with the well known anchor “salad”. Yachts moor on both sides of the mole, placing their anchor opposite because of deep water. Electric and water available (13 Euro), authorities for clearing in at short distance around the harbour. Turgutreis (TR) D-Marin beautiful as always, but most of the foreign yachts have left the marina because of high prices, and higher every year. Only very few transit boats. We paid 71 Euros (electricity and water at an supplementary charge) for one night. Didim (TR) D-Marin (new 2009) is very beautiful, luxurious. Unfortunately a bit far away from town. You can go by Dolmus to Altinkum (touristic village) or Didim where you can make good shopping. Prices less than Turgutreis, still “opening discount” offers. Both D-Marin marinas are not far from Bodrum airport. GR Dodekanese isles (Leros, Patmos) where we stopped are charming, nice creeks for anchoring. Provisions and shelter in Leros Lakki (Agmar marina pontoon and Leros marina, works still to be completed), and Patmos (mole in town, no electricity, water and diesel delivered by truck). Samos (GR) (Pytagorion) mole in town. Unfortunately the few places are “occupied” by a charter company who close the empty berths by putting lines between their boats. If you arrive as a private yacht, they do not let you moor. We were lucky to get the one of the free berths in. Electricity and water available, but the person responsible does not show before the late afternoon (between 6 – 7 p.m.). Then your cable is closed in the provision-box. You cannot leave before the man comes next morning (around 9 a.m.). This is never a good option, especially with the South winds blowing a lot of swell towards the mole… Near Pytagorion, there is a proper marina (SAMOS marina) offering all services. Unfortunately, out of town. Sigacik (TR) Teos Marina, works still going on. There will be room for 418 boats in water and 80 yachts on hard standing. Modern marina offering all services, in the small town of Sigacik. We anchored nearby and will visit this marina when sailing towards South later this summer. 
Cesme (TR) new marina (38° 19.23 N, 26° 18.12 E, actual position of OTARIE)
Although the marina is not finished yet, kindly we were allowed to moor longside one of the pontoons. At first we considered it to be short stop, but it was so fascinating to see every day’s progress due to hardworking people, trying to meet their time deadline, even working during the night, we decided to stay longer.The architectural design of the marina, amidst the Aegean town of Cesme, respects the architecture of the existing developments but, of course, much more beautiful in quality and design. The marina will figure as an “Aegean village”, respecting the ancient little 1 to 2-storey houses of the old times, but in quality materials. There will be a Boutique Hotel, many shops, restaurants, etc. The quality of pontoons, mooring lines, electricity and water supply provisions is excellent. As Cesme is rather a windy place (and therefore relatively cool even during summer), there are 2 strong mooring lines for every boat. 
The capacity of boats will be around 400, ( 6 – 60 m) and the hardstanding area offers room for about 100 boats. Boats can be wintered on shore, in a protected area within the marina, between October and February. From March, the area has to be free for further boats lifting for service. The marina takes responsibility to launch the boats into the water end of February. Presence of the yachts owners is not necessary. Cesme is an ideal place for clearing formalities for all yachts arriving from foreign countries, mainly from Greece. (Chios GR island is just over the Channel, 8 NM from Cesme). Authorities (Passport control, Customs, Harbour Master office) are all situated around the marina. For the opening of the marina (end of June / beginning of July), there will be a front-office employee speaking German to give any information to the German guests in their mother tongue. (IC Holding and Camper & Nicholson) Cesme marina is offering special prices for founder members, and also offers a supplementary 5% discount for Trans-Ocean members. As an example: a yearly contract for us as TO members, (43” sailing boat,) staying 7 months in water, 5 months on hard standing, including lift/launch would be around Euro 4400.00 net. Electricity and water at an extra charge.  SY "Otarie"The reputation of a marina is depending on so many things: Location, quality of hardware (installations) and software (marina staff), and quality of service by specialised companies doing works (engines, generators, air-condition, freezers, painting, carpentry, upholstery, stainless steel works, ship chandlery etc.) For the marina itself (location, hardware and software), we can give a very high vote. For the services, time will show. We hope that reliable companies will settle in order to complete the positive imagine of the new Cesme marina. |
