Turgutreis Flotilla Sailing Vacations Essential Information

Essential Information

Address & Map

Base

Base Manager: Attila Irkoren

Address: Turgut Reis Marina
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari #26
Turgutreis – Bodrum, 48960
Mugla - Turkey

GSM: 00 90 (533) 220 0399
Office: 00 90 (252) 382 8490
Fax: 00 90 (252) 382 4457
Email: turgutreissunsail@turkeyyachtsoperation.com

Location

Dogus Turgutreis Marina is one of Bodrum's three marinas and is situated in the furthest western point of the Bodrum Peninsula, between the Gulluk and Gokova gulfs...
Turgutreis is 12.5 miles to Bodrum, 93 miles to Mugla and 186.5 miles to Izmir by road.
The Dogus Turgutreis Marina is a fully serviced modern marina.

Base Open Hours

8 am until 6 pm

Base/Shore Facilities

The Marina has all the facilities for your comfort including:

Toilets and showers, Laundry, Supermarket Tansas close to the quay, water, fuel, internet, Yacht Club, swimming pool, children’s park, sauna, tennis court, restaurant, cafeteria, bank, ATM, and car rental. There is also a retail shopping center which houses a number of well-known clothes outlets.

Turgutreis Town is a two minute’s walk from the marina. The town is 12.5 miles from Bodrum and around a 60 minute drive from Bodrum International Airport. It is the second largest town on the Bodrum peninsula. Turgutreis is spread throughout a rich valley well planted with orchards and vegetable gardens, making the town a center for commerce on the western side of the peninsula. Produce from the surrounding villages are collected here for transport. The town is a popular vacation destination with its three miles of sandy beaches, bank, ATM, waterfront restaurants, patisserie and bars.

At Sunsail we don’t want you to worry about all the little details. That’s why we include so much in your flotilla package.

Your Flotilla will include:

•   Fully equipped cruising yacht for the duration of your vacation including all sailing, navigation and safety equipment
•   Fully equipped galley
•   All clean linen including bath and hand towels
•   Starter Pack
•   Breakfast on the first morning
•   Flotilla punch party
•   Snorkeling equipment (two sets)
•   Dinghy and outboard (additional cost)
•   Full cylinder of cooking gas and full tank of water
•   One tank of yacht fuel
•   Yacht cleaning
•   Yacht Damage Waiver
•   24 hour support of the Sunsail Lead Crew

Arrival & Departure

Flights

Luggage allowance is 20kg per person. Only one item of hand luggage per person is allowed and this must not weigh more than 5kg. For storage aboard we recommend traveling light and using folding luggage.

Lost or damaged luggage while flying is the responsibility of the airline and is not covered by your travel insurance. You must not include in Checked Baggage money, jewelery, precious metals, computers, personal electronic devices, negotiable papers, securities or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples.

If an incident occurs, immediately report it to airport officials. Claims will not be considered once you have left the airport

Alcohol may be taken but only in checked luggage (well secured from breakages) not as hand luggage due to airport security restrictions.

Airport

Milas-Bodrum Airport
Facilities include parking, currency exchange, cafeteria, shops, car rental, taxi service/rank, cash machine, Information desk.

Transfers

Transfer to Marina from Bodrum airport approximately 45 minutes. Costs: Taxi 1- 3 persons – 65 Euros, Mini-bus 4-12 persons 95 Euros, Midibus 13-19 persons – 155 Euros.
Please pre-book & Pay at base on arrival or choose to get your own taxi at the airport.

Luggage

We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do.
Please pack using soft-sided bags, as these are easier to store on your yacht.

Passport and Visas

Please ensure your passport is valid for the period of travel and for six months after you return. Your passport name must match the name on the flight ticket otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid.

It is the responsibility of each individual to ensure relevant visas are obtained where necessary. Sunsail cannot be held responsible for refusal of entry or travel due to lack of visas. If you are in any doubt please contact your Embassy for full details.

Customs and Immigration

Duty free is available at Bodrum airport.
It is possible to change money at the airports, but this can be a slow process and the charges are very high to change traveler’s checks. When shopping in Turkey you may be offered receipts in shops far lower in value than the amount paid. Shops do this so that they can declare less tax.

The Customs Officers at your home airports are well aware how much carpets, leather goods, and copperware are worth. If you declare a lower value, you may have the goods seized and a heavy fine imposed.

No Visas are required for stays less than 90 days.
Customs and Immigration work on a spot check basis.
Turkish charter permits do not allow clients on Turkish bareboat vacations to enter Greek waters unless they have followed the legal clearance procedures.

Your Flotilla Lead Crew

Your lead crew is a qualified and trained team consisting of a Skipper, Engineer and Host (ess). They are on hand to help you with everything from advice on where to visit, to physically helping you moor up when you have reached your destination for the night. Never very far away on a Flotilla, you have a specialist team on call 24 hours a day by radio contact.

The Skipper holds informal chart briefings to help you get the most out of your sailing day. Every morning they will decide, based on the weather and the number of yachts in the Flotilla, where best to head for the night. You can follow as closely as you like or take your time reaching the destination.

Your Host (ess) is there to make sure you get the best out of every day. They can give handy tips on where to go to find the best attractions or where to dine ashore. Often they will arrange dinner for the flotilla and it’s up to you whether you want to join in or not.
With an expert Engineer nearby at all times, you can relax and enjoy a carefree holiday, knowing that if any problems do arise, your support team is never far away!

On Arrival Flotilla

Your yacht will be ready at 6 pm for boarding.
Upon arrival at your base you will be greeted by a member of our flotilla team who will show you to your boat. Once there you will be given a basic welcome brief demonstrating the essentials you need to know, before heading out for dinner at your leisure.

Your flotilla crew will carry out chart and flotilla briefings describing the cruising area, facilities at each stop and any potential hazards. Yacht briefings introduce you to your yacht, its systems and rigging. It is important that all systems and equipment are fully understood. Please Note: Briefings are mandatory. You will be required to purchase a Turkey Transit log. This costs approximately €85.

Out of hours arrival procedure

For later arrivals notices are placed on a board outside the office informing clients of yacht name and location. For those having taken a transfer the driver is aware of this info and will drop clients at yacht.

On departure

At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 9 am.

Before departing the boat you will need to collect a debrief form from reception.
The debrief form is to let us know if you encountered any problems with the boat or broken anything during the trip, this enables us to rectify problems for the next charter.

In addition to filling in forms we also require you to bag dirty laundry and leave in the cockpit, empty all cupboards and refrigerator of food and throw away, return snorkel gear and any lifejackets borrowed from reception and ensure that the boat is handed back to Sunsail in a clean and tidy state. We reserve the right to charge for boats left less than shipshape.

On your last day you can either spend the day at the Marina or explore the local town.

Sailing Information

Turgutreis North and South: Sailing Experience Level 2
Experience levels are based on sailing conditions and the length of passages within your chosen sailing area. Follow the link for more information on the sailing conditions.

Start and end of season flotilla routes

Please note that on early and late season flotilla routes the start or finish base may differ from the normal route.

Sailing Licenses

The Turkish Port Authorities require all skippers to hold proper sailing ability licenses. We therefore strongly advise that you take any sailing certificates on vacation with you. This may be useful should you be contacted by Customs or Port Police. If you have not already done so then both the Skipper and 1st Mate will be required to fill in a sailing resume to confirm that you have the necessary skills to sail in this region.

Night Sailing

Night Sailing is not permitted; you must be moored at least one hour before sunset at all of our locations.

Mooring Fees and Taxes

Mooring fees are charged in marinas and harbours, not in bays, and range from about €8 to €40 per boat. If you stop free of charge at a private jetty, it is expected that you will eat at that restaurant. Shower facilities are available at most restaurants for a small charge.

Area & Sailing

Turkey offers some of the most sensational sailing in the Mediterranean, with predictable winds, sheltered sailing areas and stunning beauty. Visitors will be struck by the friendliness and honesty of the people, and the richness of the country’s history, as demonstrated by the ruins of ancient civilisations along the coastline.

Turkey has one of the longest seasons in the Mediterranean, starting in early April and finishing in early November with Marmaris Race Week.
By using early and late season booking offers, clients can make really worthwhile savings, have easy access to all the anchorages, and enjoy a sea still warm enough for swimming (late season only). The weather, however, may not be as stable as it is in the middle in the season.

Peak season is characterized by steady winds which reduce the daily heat, although in high season, temperatures can soar into the 40’s. This strong summer wind is called the “Meltemi”. Beginning in May, it blows strongest during July and August, dying away in October. It generally blows from the North West, although it can curve into some bays and anchorages, and tends to follow the coastline. In some areas, strong gusts may also come off the hillsides in the late afternoon.

Outside of peak months the wind tends to be more of a gentle sea breeze during the day, dropping to complete stillness in the evening, leaving a beautiful calm night.

Bodrum
Named the St. Tropez of Turkey, Bodrum is in complete contrast to the rest of the Gulf. Overlooked by the castle of St. Peter, Bodrum has all the sophistication of an international resort. Hotels, bars, restaurants, night-clubs, boutiques and bazaars. This is the place to shop for souvenirs and there’s a staggering choice of carpets, leather goods, clothes and jewellery to choose from.

Cokertme and Castle Island
Cokertme is another small hamlet in a semi-circular bay with houses and restaurants fringing the shoreline. This is the real Turkey. From Cokertme, cruise eastwards to Cleopatra’s beach on the far side of Castle Island. Legend has it that the fabulous white sand was originally imported from Egypt.

Charts & Pilot Book

All the charts and pilot books you will need for the sailing area are on board the yacht.

Skippered Charter Information

The skipper’s time is booked from 12:00pm to 12:00pm in 24-hour periods. If you have reserved him for the first day of your charter and have a 6:00pm start, he will use this time to ensure he is happy with all aspects of the yacht and will be at the base to meet you upon your arrival. If you have reserved him for a later date on your charter he will start at 12:00pm on that day.

The skipper is responsible for the safety of the yacht at all times. He is not permitted to dive with you, nor leave the vessel overnight. He must conduct a safety brief with you before leaving the dock regardless of the duration of his contract with you.

For “check out charters” (anything less than the full duration of the charter) the check out skipper’s time is booked from 6:00pm to 6:00pm to allow for a meet and greet in the evening and go over basic systems, then a full day with you the next day. This skipper is required to give you a thorough briefing on all aspects of the yacht and dinghy in addition to assisting you with planning an itinerary for the trip and advising you how to contact the base, the return to base procedures and the emergency assistance procedures. It is suggested that you attend the scheduled chart brief that will be supplemented by the skipper during his time with you on the yacht. It is also suggested that you make it clear exactly what you want to cover…anchoring, docking, etc.

The skipper will be required to give you as much information as you require concerning the yacht and its systems, sailing skills and navigation in general.

The skipper fee does not include food or beverages for the skipper and are the responsibility of the client. It is suggested that you discuss this on the first day with the skipper and establish whether you will give the skipper cash for meals, whether you have included him in your provisioning or whether you will accommodate him as part of the group for meals ashore. The skipper must have his own cabin.

For one-day check out skippers it is your responsibility to get the skipper back to the base. If you prefer not to come back to the base you must pay for his expenses (ferry, taxi, etc.) to get him back. The average tip for a skipper is 15 to 20% of the skipper’s fee. This is, of course, at your discretion.

Coolers

Coolers are available at the base on a first come first served basis at no additional charge. Please sign these out and return them clean and undamaged otherwise they will be charged for replacement. Only one per boat.

Banks & Money Exchange

Currency

The local money is the Turkey New Lira (TRY).
Banks in Turkey are generally open from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Few are open on Saturday.
Due to the constantly changing exchange rate, we would not recommend that clients change currency until they are actually in Turkey.

Credit Card Information

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted throughout Turkey for making transactions and payments, but may be subject to a surcharge. In addition, credit cards can be used for cash withdrawals at ATM machines, but expect to incur a charge for this service. Credit cards are not widely accepted in smaller villages and towns. Please be aware that Debit Cards are not accepted at the base for security deposits/deductible or any other transaction. Only credit cards can be used at the base – they accept MasterCard or Visa but do not accept American Express).

In addition, most ATM cards can be used at all Ziraat Bankasi and Common Point ATMs. The shared ATM network for all banks in Turkey is the Tel Nokta ATM network.

General Information

Language

The official language is Turkish, but you will also hear people speaking Kurdish, Armenian and Aramaic. In the tourist resorts you can usually get by with English and/or German.

Cost of living in Turkey

Restaurants

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant $6.41

Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant $20.80

Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar $6.84

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) $2.80

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) $3.61

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) $1.37

Water (0.33 liter bottle) $0.53

Restaurants

Secret Garden: (Close to the Marina) Bodrum Tel. No: +90 (0252) 313 1641
Sünger Pizza: (Located opposite Marina) Bodrum, +90 (0252) 316 0854

Tipping

If you have Sunsail crew on board your boat, tipping is at your discretion but standard is 15-20% of the crew fee.
Tipping is standard and expected in all restaurants / bars and for other services undertaken during your holiday. The rule of thumb is generally 10-15% of the amount charged. Some establishments automatically add this onto the bill.

Shopping

Shopping in Turkey is great, with open-air markets, covered Turkish bazaars and chic boutiques everywhere. To name a few worthwhile purchases, brass, copper, ceramics, carpets, jewelry, kilims, leather apparel, meerschaum, silk and inlaid wooden items.
Turkey produces a lot of wool and cotton, and manufactures a lot of excellent clothing from it.

Hotels

The Marmara Bodrum
Yokusbasi Mahallesi, Suluhasan Cad. No: 18 Bodrum Mugla 48400
Phone 90 252 313 81 30
Fax 90 252 313 81 31
bodrum-info@themarmarahotels.com
Boutique Hotel situated on the hillside overlooking Bodrum, includes restaurant, lounge and pool bars, gym and spa.

Tours

Turkey is one of the most archaeologically interesting of our areas, with numerous ruins along the South West coast. Ephesus, two & a half hours away from Bodrum, one of the finest ruins in Turkey, has a 25,000 seat amphitheatre.

Bodrum Castle/Castle of St Peter (Bodrum Kalesi), Built from 1402 by the Knights Hospitaller, the Castle is easily the most prominent landmark in the city. The castle now operates as a museum, with the focus on the Museum of Underwater Archaeology (see below). It is one of the world's best preserved monuments dating back to medieval times. The supervision of the construction of the castle was assigned to the German architect Heinrich Schlegelholt, so that the latest developments in castle design were included. The castle is worth a visit and the views are spectacular.

Just a short walk uphill from the marina, the foundations of the Mausoleum can be seen. Mausoleum of Halikarnassus (built after 353 BCE) - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, the ancient monument was destroyed by earthquakes in the Middle Ages - some of the remnants can be seen in London's British Museum.

Electrical, Phones & Music

Electricity

The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts. Electricity in Turkey is 220 Volts. European 2 pin plug.

Mobile phones

Three companies have GSM mobile phone networks in Turkey. Turkcell (900 Mhz) is the largest, with 60% of the market. Vodaphone (formerly Telsim) (900 Mhz) is next-largest (24%), and Avea (1800 Mhz) has 16% of the market. All three companies have nearly complete signal coverage of the country. You will need to activate international roaming on your contract.

Music/Ipods

All boats are fitted with a radio and CD player. If you wish to listen to your IPOD while sailing you will need to bring along an I-trip or FM radio transmitter.

Activities

Car Rental

Available at Bodrum airport, Hertz, Avis Europcar (Tel: +90 5590214) and also at the Marina.

Scuba Diving

There are many exquisite diving sites on the Bodrum Peninsula:
Motif P.K. 233 Bodrum
Tel: +90 252 316 6252
motif@motifdiving.com

Motif is a member of the PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors), Pira nr.16980 , International Resort Association, CMAS (The World Underwater Federation) and the Turkish Underwater Federation (SCSPF)

Snorkeling
We have a range of snorkeling gear which you may wish to use. We are limited on children’s sizes so if you have your own you may wish to pack your own, as children may be more comfortable with what is familiar to them.

Provisioning

Good food can be as high on the list as good weather when it comes to a charter holiday and Sunsail aims to make sure this happens.

There are alternative stores to provision, which are located not far from the Base.
Small provisioning stores can also be found while sailing.
We would not advise drinking tap water from the boat, please ensure you provision enough water to prevent dehydration in the hot climate.

You can provision online before you depart. The provisioning pages will confirm the latest order date for your chosen destination.

Sunsail's online provisioning system has been designed to make your vacation as simple as possible. You fill in the form from the comfort of your home before you set off, and when you arrive at your yacht all your provisions are waiting for you.

This facility will guide you around our provisioning store and allow you build your provisioning list by placing single items into a shopping basket. When you are happy with your order you can then confirm your order for processing.

Provisioning with Sunsail allows you to:
Take it easy while your provisions are delivered to your yacht at the start of your vacation.
Plan your menus to fit your sailing itinerary
Avoid the hassle of re-provisioning once you’ve set sail
Know your provisioning costs in advance

The Sunsail provisioning service is tailored to local conditions. Menus, prices and selections vary from base to base; vegetarian and special diets are catered for, where possible. Don’t forget: our dedicated sales team is always on hand to assist you and to answer any questions on your provisioning needs.

Healthy & Safety

Illness or Injury

If you get sick and visit the doctor or hospital during your trip contact a member of Sunsail staff as soon as possible on either a lead boat or at Sunsail base or Club.
If you need to make a claim for curtailment due to illness, ask the base manager for assistance and contact your insurer’s emergency medical service immediately.
Your insurance company will assist with travel arrangements, advice and payment of bills. Obtain receipts for any medication, treatment or transport you have to pay for and submit with your claim.

Safety

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets harnesses we leave it up to you to decide when personal safety equipment should be worn.
We have a limited supply of children’s life jackets (age 4+ only) if you have your own children’s life jacket we would encourage you to bring it along.
We suggest that children who are not strong swimmers should not be allowed in a dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and that they should wear a buoyancy aid or harness when on deck. We can also supply safety nets for you to fit to your yacht.
Children under the age of 16yrs should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.

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Turgutreis Flotilla Sailing Vacation