Windsurfing - Port Alacati, Turkey

7 - 15 August

We finally arrived at Port Alacati marina and booked in for a week there. The marinas are smart. They charge you in euros, not Turkish Lira which is currently suffering a challenging time. So like it or lump it.

Port Alacati marina was very good. The marina guys assisted us with their tender because there are tight spaces and a heap of crosswind as you enter your allotted berth. They assist every boat, we think it is a requirement. Of note, was as we approached there literally a hindered sailboards flitting across the straight. Flat water and heaps of breeze, we could not wait.

We decided that the next day was out sailboard set up day, but until then, a bit of R and R.

Alaçatı was only discovered as being the ideal windsurfing spot in the country a few decades ago, however it quickly transformed into becoming one of the most unique and trendy summer destinations in Turkey. While the town is located a few kilometers from the beach, wıth Port Alaçatı in between, the cove, which made windsurfing famous in Turkey, has all of the perfect conditions nearly 300 days of the year. A consistent and strong wind coupled by crystal clear waters that are predominantly shallow in a nearly enclosed cove, make this the ideal spot to learn the sport or watch the pros competing as Alacatı has also become a regular stop on the PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association) world tour.There are a number of schools in Alaçatı offering classes and rentals for all ages and all levels.

We sailed there every day in winds between 15 and 25 knots over flat water and at the days end, the old mates were stuffed. It’s not as easy as it used to be, but we’ll go down kicking and screaming. The set up here is excellent. We were able to hire a locker to keep our own gear in for a week. In fact our sails were too big for here. I usually use a 6.8m sail, but had to use Sam’s 5.8m. She had to hire a 4.9m sail. We were just over powered here. There are bars adjacent to the windsurf schools and storage facilities.

One day was spent in Alacati itself. We had met a great guy, a yacht delivery skipper, charter and sailing instructor. Herman was in actual fact an Austrian who had settled in Turkey. He took us there by car to the town the first time. The town is about a mile away from the marina. Later we went by bike and spent the day shopping and checking it all out.

Whilst walking along the road I saw this old guy sitting on the side of the road with his shoe shine station waiting for customers. He had a full service centre with him. He had such an interesting face, a face that had seen much in his life for sure. We approached him and as expected could not speak English. I asked him if we could take a photo of him. He agreed and I sat with him and using hand gestures got him to explain his craft. He showed me his shining polishes and let me feel and smell them. We had a laugh, and it got me thinking that this was a dying art in our throw away society. In a weird sort of way I actually felt enriched when sitting with him, very strange, a great feeling.

One funny incident occurred. Picture this, driving into Frankston on around midday Saturday at the intersection of Davey Street and Nepean Highway. Got it, well whilst waiting at the lights a herd of goats along with the goat herder walks along the side of the highway, some 50 or 60 of them each with clanging bells around their necks. One decides to break rank and the herder rushes over to the rebel goat and frantically waves his stick and shouts some Turkish expletives at him....laugh. This is the scene we had as we rode our bikes into Alacati. When all had settled we went over to him and shook his hand and said “well done”. He looked at us and returned a huge smile.

Alaçatı is one of the most traditional towns in Turkey with stone houses, narrow streets, boutique hotels and restaurants with tables on the streets. It is certainly an upper class area by any means. Heaps of expensive cars there and amazing villas. They are trying to build a Patterson Lakes type marina system, water front houses on waterways.

Herman was very helpful. He advised us on numerous fronts, sailing the waters, about Turkey and helped us organise our check out arrangements out of Turkey. We used his shipping agent. In Turkey, the customs processes are quite cumbersome and it best to use an agent. Our next port of call was Chios Island in Greece.