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Turkish-built boats on display at Turkish Yacht & Brokers Association, whose fifth annual charter show was held in May 2024

Hong Kong-based sailor, writer, marine photographer and sometime yachting magazine publisher, Guy Nowell, reflects on one of the rising star nations of the yachting industry, after a recent visit to Turkey:

In 2022, Turkey ranked fourth in the superyacht build league with 102 units, adding up to an overall length of 4,167m. The 2024 order book includes 132 boats for a total of 5,838m, and the country has overtaken the Netherlands in production, now in second place only behind Italy.

Nurettin Çalışkan from the Turkish Shipbuilding Association (GISBIR) says the country is building on 600 years of history, with world-quality construction, and the capacity to grow.

Internationally famous builders have set up production yards there and domestic brands such as Numarine and Turquoise are destined to become familiar to everyone throughout the boating world. Turkish yards, Çalışkan adds, are also refitting yachts from famous names that include Benetti, Heesen and Ferretti.

The industry and the expertise have long been there, with a plethora of shipyards on the Marmara coast near Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. More recently the Antalya Free Trade Zone has become a major centre of boat- and shipbuilding.

Turkey has a track record, with a highly trained skilled workforce and an affordable cost structure which gives the country’s builders a competitive advantage.

In the last 20 years what was purely a commercial-vessel-making industry has turned its attention towards the ‘leisure marine’ sector of boat building, with prominent names such as Sirena Yachts, Numarine and Magnolia Yachts.

At the TYBA Charter Show 2024

One of the most recognisable superyachts of recent times, the 88m Maltese Falcon, was built by Perini Navi at their yard in Tuzla, Istanbul. Damen Yachts, a celebrated Netherlands superyacht builder, has a yard in Antalya. Clearly, Turkey delivers when it comes to big boats and excellence.

Of the Turkish yards already well-known, since 1997 Turquoise Yachts has delivered 20 fully-custom yachts between 40m and 77m to owners in the USA, the UK, Europe and Russia. Their boats are the epitome of style and elegance, with the construction quality and engineering to back it up. Turquoise also has extensive repair, maintenance, and refit capabilities, and can accommodate vessels up to 120m in their dock at Kocaeli.

Aegean Yachts has been in business since 1976, building fully-custom yachts at their yards in Bodrum and Antalya. Asia readers may remember the 55m three-masted sailing superyacht Montigne, later called Loretta – she came from Aegean Yachts. MD, Nihan Deniz points out that the Aegean range also includes some exceptionally well-designed explorer yachts at a mere 26m but with the interior volume of a very much bigger boat.

Aegean Yachts, building fully-custom projects since 1976; Photo: Aegean Yachts

Nearly all Turkish yards started out building gulets which owe their origins to fishing and trading along Turkey’s southwest coast, all the way back to antiquity – pre-Ottoman Empire.They have been around forever; bet your shirt that Odysseus sailed home in a gulet. In the 1970s, these traditional sailing vessels welcomed a new role, transformed into luxurious charter accommodation for visitors keen to explore the fabulous culture and coastline of Anatolia.

Gulets are a superior way to travel: originally a two-masted sailing vessel, with a hull shape that lends itself easily to conversion to cabins (or ‘staterooms’ when they are bigger), also offering ample room for dining or lounging below deck, a huge stern cockpit for dining and socialising al fresco, and yet more space for lounging, forward. Complete this picture with first-class service and meals, and an endless supply of good Turkish rosé.

Everywhere you look, there are boats in Turkey. The building business is booming. The charter business, from superyachts to gulets, is in good shape too and working hard to increase its catchment area. The small-boat business is just as healthy. Bareboat charters, crewed charters, and private boats are everywhere.

Elegant traditional gulet Arif Kaptan C, moored near Ekincik on the Anatolian coast

There are 16,000 registered private vessels in Turkey, and fortunately, enough miles between Antalya and Bodrum for everyone to disappear into the scenery. There are huge marinas all over Turkey, but still sufficient bays and picturesque anchorages for absolutely everyone to enjoy a blue voyage in unspoiled peace and solitude every day.

The Turkish Yacht & Brokers Association (TYBA) Charter Show 2024 displayed a splendid selection of the burgeoning charter market in Turkey, with 52 motoryachts and gulets lined up for inspection, almost all built in Turkey.

The great thing about charter shows is that all visitors to boats are greeted warmly: no appointments are required. A charter show is a great way to actually see whether the brochures are real – they are – and to experience the full range of vessels available, from the 47m three-masted motor-sailer Admiral with accommodation for 36 guests in 16 cabins, all the way down to the diminutive but no less luxe gulet, Beyaz Lale, a mere 24m and six-guest affair.

Anyone who fancies a week or so in a small floating five-star hotel – you choose the size, where the view from your suite or the terrace changes every day, and which allows you to roam around a splendid coastline steeped in antiquity and redolent with history, with or without a fixed itinerary – would do well to sign on the dotted line for a Turkish charter excursion.

It’s easy to get there too: major airlines fly direct to Istanbul, and the Turquoise Coast is only a one-hour domestic flight onwards.

Today, Turkey claims a little over six per cent of the world charter market, valued at more than US$1.01 billion per year, and growing. “The charter industry in Turkey is going from strength to strength,” reports Günes Aysun, President of TYBA, who opened the fifth annual charter show in Göcek in May 2024, at the beginning of the charter season.

“Our members reported an uptick in business in 2023, and business at this show is even more positive. We have charter brokers here from all over Europe, the USA, and from the Middle East, and we have international press interest from Asia as well. Yes, we are looking forward to a robust and healthy 2024 charter season.”

To date, Turkey has been undersold for boating. Turkish yards are building some of the best boats in the world, there’s a vibrant charter market, and it’s highly accessible – after all, Turkey is the historic bridge between Europe and Asia. It’s practically on the doorstep, and there are plenty of direct flights to Istanbul.

Buy a ticket, go boating.

guynowell.com