A day aboard your gulet
Imagine waking up on deck early in the morning as the light of millions of stars fade slowly and make way for another new day. The sky awakens with you fading from the black of night as behind the mountains a soft glow of orange emerges. To see the sun come up in a blaze of colour is a most exhilarating start of a new day.
An early swim before breakfast is a good way to work up an appetite. Breakfast awaits your return, fresh salad, a selection of cheeses, eggs, fruit juice, bread, coffee and tea will be served on deck. After the tables are cleared the captain shows you the sailing plans for the day. Then the anchor is lifted and you leave the tranquil bay. As the boat reaches the open water and there is enough wind, the sails go up, the engines are stopped and peace descends.
However you now have to make some decisions:
- You could find a place on deck in the sun or in the shade
- You could look out across the sea watching other sailing boats and the flying fish
- You could read a book or chat with your fellow passengers
No-one said it was easy!!
The only thing you must do is make sure you use proper sun protection and drink lots of water which is freely available at all times.
Your captain will make sure there is ample time for swimming or other water sport activities, finding a suitable bay to drop anchor. The bar is always open, so if you decide it is happy hour somewhere in the world; don't hesitate to ask the crew to get you a drink. You will probably find the chef in the galley preparing food, he will delight you 3 times a day with the incredible assortment of items for you to enjoy; all of which are created using local produce.
Your diet for the trip will be healthy and rewarding, Turkish cuisine is notably among the best in the world and consists mainly of fresh local vegetable produce, fish and meats.
After lunch it's nice to take a little siësta and you will need it after a morning of hard work! If it is very warm you can put an awning up and have a little snooze in the shade and nothing is more refreshing than a quick swim afterwards. You will sail again or maybe go to one of the many Turkish historical sites but don't forget tea and biscuits are served around 4 o'clock.
The captain will find another beautiful secluded bay before sunset and drop anchor for the night. Sunsets in Turkey are of unbridled beauty. Sitting on the foredeck with just the clinking of the ice-cubes in your glass as your only distraction is a memorable experience which you deserve.
Now it's time for a shower, a chance to wash off the sun-cream and back on deck you can enjoy a cocktail and chat with your fellow passgengers before the evening meal is being served.
You will know it's almost time for dinner when tantalising aromas drift up from the galley. With Turkish cuisine among the best in the world, your chef is preparing you a fabulous meal. Fresh vegetables, salads, meat and chicken come in a great variety of different combinations and dishes. Fresh fish is a particular treat. If you are an avid angler or if you would like to try the crew's fail-safe method of hooking bait on the end of a piece of string, you can have the catch of the day. After dinner there is ample time for talking, dancing or playing games.
You can sleep in a comfortable cabin or on deck – the choice is yours. Lying under a star-laden sky with a soft breeze touching your skin and the gentle rocking of the boat is very soothing and even the biggest insomniac will experience a quick journey to dreamland.
On some days the crew has to get up very early when the next stop is far away. They do so to give you a comfortable journey especially when the boat has to cross a fair amount of open water. Get up with them. Put on a warm top, grab your blanket and sit on the aft deck. Stay out of harm's way and watch the activity. Enjoy the ride: and when a hint of sunrise touches the sky, your day on board has come full circle.