24th International Wooden Yachts Regatta

The Bodrum Cup Wooden Sailing Yacht Regatta is an international event which has become a tradition, held every year since 1989.

It is an unusual race in that charter yachts participate complete with passengers. The Bodrum Cup is not only a race, but also a marine festival with guests from all over the world. It is also an exhibition, an opportunity to show off the beautiful, locally-built yachts to prospective buyers.

It is an event where captains and crews can further develop their skills, a school where people can learn to use the wind to the best advantage, and a chance for the yacht builders to test their boats in all kinds of weather.

24th Bodrum Cup - RESULTS

28.00 meters and plus Class Mega-A
1 DAIMA
2 GLORIOUS
3 TAKE IT EASIER

21.00-27.99 meters Class Mega-B
1 STS BODRUM
2 SI YU
3 FLORIS

16.00-20.99 meters Class Traditional-A
1 KAPTAN YARKIN
2 KUĞU I
3 BS NEMESIS

11.00-15.99 meters Class Traditional-B
1 BÜYÜK YUNUS
2 NAKURU
3 SMALL WORLD

Bodrum Cup General Class
1 DAIMA
2 VALS
3 STS BODRUM

To see all classes winners, please click.

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Choosing The Right Broker

There is no shortage of salespeople who would like your business. To a first time Buyer, many of them can be pretty convincing that they have plenty of knowledge and experience. But take note: there are relatively few “career professionals” in the industry. While most salespersons may share a sincere love of yachting, many have nominal “yacht brokerage” sales experience. There are also some with excellent sales skills, who know relatively little about boats and yachts, who can fool you into thinking that they do.

Buying a Gulet or a sail yacht is a major purchase…probably your largest expenditure, with the exception of you home. Don’t choose someone who will be learning their trade at your expense! If you’re not sure about what to buy, at least be sure of your Broker.

The number of types and models of yachts to choose from is overwhelming. There are good choices and poor choices…endless compromises and trade- offs. One person can’t possibly know it all. But clearly, the more experience your Broker has, the more likely he or she will provide you with sound, reliable advice. Since you don’t go through the buying process everyday, it makes sense to work with someone who does.

There are generally two ways to shop for a Gulet: You can look at ten Gulets with ten different brokers; or choose a single Broker, and evaluate them together, to determine the best choice. In the former, each salesperson is simply trying to make a sale, and will try to convince you that “this is the one”. You get pulled ten different directions. You might buy the right Gulet, or you may buy the most convincing sales pitch.

Why not select a knowledgeable broker whom you can trust…like choosing a Realtor to work with in buying a home? Yacht brokers work co-operatively, just like in real estate. The Seller ultimately pays the commission, so it costs you no more. Your own Broker will have your best interests at heart, and should help you throughout the entire purchase: before, during, and after.

An ethical Broker can point out the positives and negatives in comparing one boat to another, BUT ONLY as long as they possess a broad scope of knowledge! There is so much to know about boat builder’s reputations, engine reliability, design features…quality, performance and value.

Most boaters are quite opinionated. Boating friends may tell you what you should do…and their input should be considered, since they know you. But do bear in mind that their scope of knowledge is probably limited to the few boats they have purchased in their lifetime, not hundreds of boats. Unless one has many years of experience as a Marine Surveyor, general repair person, a Yacht Broker, or a Professional Captain, one cannot really give reliable opinions. There is simply too much to know. Experience makes the difference, and with the right Broker, all that knowledge can go to work for you.

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Selling Through A Broker

Brokers maintain files of Gulet listings placed by individuals wishing to sell their Gulet. They also have "boat wanted" files for prospective buyers looking for something different.

Sometimes brokers share listings through a worldwide network. This can extend the seller's exposure beyond the local market. A broker may be contacted directly by a buyer looking for a specific boat or from another broker who has a customer waiting.

Yacht brokers are often overlooked by customers who think their needs are too small and brokers only deal with mega yachts. Actually, Gulets less than 50 feet can be quite expensive and are worth considering the use of a broker's services. The average size Gulet handled by brokers is 80 feet, with a range from 40 feet to two hundred feet in length. The smallest Gulet is 8 meters and the biggest Gulet is 55 Meters in Turkey.

Why work with a broker

The two happiest days in the life of a boater are the day he buys a boat and the day he sells a boat.
For some people the buying and selling may be fun, but for others it is frustrating. Those who find it frustrating might want to consider the services of a yacht broker to handle details of the search, marketing and closing of the transaction. Most yacht brokers are independent businesses but some are affiliated with or employed by new Gulet builders.

Both buyers and sellers can benefit from the services of a yacht broker whose job is to arrange transfer of ownership. For their services, brokers charge a commission.

How do you choose the right broker? 

Most sellers rely heavily on references from fellow boaters, and, with a couple of caveats, this is the best method of selecting a knowledgeable, proactive, honest broker. In Turkey brokers are not required to personally be licensed by any Department of Boating, however they ought to be employed by companies that are members of Chamber of Commerce.

It's also critical that your boat be in close physical proximity to the listing broker. Getting prospective buyers aboard the boat is critical in selling it, and this is greatly expedited when she's conveniently located. So, either sign with a broker close to the marina in which your boat lies, or with a broker that has good contacts internationally.

It's now critically important for the listing broker to have a web page of some sort that will allow buyers to virtually "walk through" the boat. This provides a real advantage over brokers not offering this option. Most buyers of boats are well educated and computer literate, and we're finding that most potential buyers have access to the web at their home or office.

Log on and browse the candidate's sites--are they logically laid out and easy to navigate? Do photos accompany all the listings? Do the photos do justice to the boats? Are the photo captions well written? Finally, send the brokerage an e-mail question--do they get back to you in a timely manner?

Once you've identified candidates, drop in unannounced to their offices. The offices should be professional in appearance, with the brokers themselves friendly and helpful. Appearance isn't everything but put yourself in a potential buyer's shoes and ask yourself what you'd think, given your experience at each office.

Having done the homework above, sign with the broker you're most comfortable with. At the signing, let the broker know your expectations--do you want a call every time they show the boat? Brokers don't provide this level of detail without being requested. What about terms at the brokers show dock if applicable? Most brokers split the cost of carrying your boat at their docks, but make sure both parties are in agreement on the split.

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Why Work With a Broker?

The two happiest days in the life of a boater are the day he buys a boat and the day he sells a boat.
For some people the buying and selling may be fun, but for others it is frustrating. Those who find it frustrating might want to consider the services of a yacht broker to handle details of the search, marketing and closing of the transaction. Most yacht brokers are independent businesses but some are affiliated with or employed by new boat or yacht dealers.

Both buyers and sellers can benefit from the services of a yacht broker whose job is to arrange transfer of ownership. For their services, brokers charge a commission.

Buying Through a Broker

If you are trying to locate a specific type, model, year, size and price range but your search of boat yards and classified ads has not produced the Gulet you want, a broker can usually help.

However, sometimes a buyer has seen only one sample of the Gulet that meets his requirements. A knowledgeable and skilled broker may explore with you several questions to help clarify your intended use and specific yachting needs. With this information, the broker may be able to suggest other types and models meeting your needs.

Interview Questions

Before you contact a broker, ask yourself some important questions.

1. What are you looking for – Gulet, Ketch, Tirhandil, Tour Boat, Sailing Yacht or a Motor Sailor House Boat? 
2. Where will you do most of your Sailing? Will you use it in between protected bays along the coast of Turkey, Mediterranean, Ocean or take it to your country for offshore cruising? 
3. How many people will be the boat need to accommodate and for what purpose? 
4. What is your yachting experience, knowledge, skill and physical ability to handle a boat of this size? Will you always have enough crew with you? 
5. How much money can you afford to spend on a boat or yacht? Have you considered the annual cost of dockage, maintenance, haul outs, repairs and replacements, insurance and operating expenses? 
6. Where will the boat be berthed while in the water? What is the availability for dry-docking and mooring? 
7. Is it for commercial use or private?

When all of these topics have been discussed, both you and the broker will have a clearer picture of your needs. Now the broker can go to work and locate several boats or yachts that meet your requirements. Samples will be presented to you with information ranging from a sheet of specifications to a video of the boat.

If a particular selection catches your fancy, the broker can arrange for a visit to the boat on which he will accompany you. You many decide to make a purchase offer or you may decide to continue looking.

Remember, the broker's job is to negotiate and handle the details leading to an agreement.

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Harbour Formalities

Clearance

Yachts flying the ensign of the Republic of Cyprus will be refused entry to Turkish ports. This situation will, presumably, change if/when Turkey becomes a member of the European Union, but at present (2006) this rule is being enforced.

On Arrival

Any other yacht coming from abroad must fly the Q flag and complete formalities at an official port of entry. On entry, formalities are completed with Harbormaster, Health, Passport Police and Customs in this order. Marinas usually act as one's agent and will both provide the transit log and deal with formalities. Often there is an additional cost for this service.

Transit Logs

Each yacht must purchase a transit log (from a marina, chamber of commerce or agency) which is the travel document of the yacht during her stay in Turkey and states the yacht's master, owner, destinations in Turkey and registered inventory. Any crew changes must be entered on the log and authorized by the Harbormaster at the port where the change takes place. The transit log is valid for 365 days and remains valid even if the yacht is laid up. More than one crew change or any change of skipper will require a new transit log to be purchased.

A new log must be purchased and completed on each arrival of a yacht from abroad. However, if the owner leaves without the yacht, the Transit Log will still be valid on return provided that date is within the 365-day period.

The yacht must not remain beyond the period of validity of the transit log. The intended ports of the cruise must be entered in the transit log. Foreign flag yachts may cruise on the routes shown in their cruise documents and call and anchor at harbors along the route where there is no customs office, for sightseeing purposes, on condition that there are no other restrictions

The skipper's name should appear on the registration certificate or on some official proof of ownership. Generally, it is wise to ask for receipts for any payments.

Remaining in Turkey

Foreign-flagged yachts, on condition that they are sailed by their owners once every two years, can remain in Turkey up to five years without a requirement for any permission. You can leave the country by another means of transport during this period after you leave your yacht at a marina or a moorage licensed by the Ministry of Tourism.

In subsequent ports the authorities may wish to see the transit log. There are some regional differences in customs formalities. In the past, some captains have been asked to produce a certificate of competence when clearing and if unable to do so, the yacht was not allowed to leave port.

It is recommended to avoid zigzagging between Turkish and Greek waters. Both countries insist on arrival from abroad to be made only at an official port of entry.

Curtest Flag

Officials are particular about the Turkish courtesy flag, which must be flown from the correct position between 0800 and sunset when cruising. The courtesy flag may be left up permanently when in port.
Transiting The Bosporus or The Dardanelles

When within 5 miles of the entrance into either the Bosporus or the Dardanelles, boats should contact Traffic Control for further instructions. Although this provision only applies to boats over 20 meters LOA, it is recommended that smaller boats also comply with it. Boats in possession of a transit log are no longer required to stop at Canakkale and may proceed through the Dardanelles without stopping. The regulations are similar for boats going through the Bosporus, who may continue towards ports on the Turkish Black Sea coast without stopping.

On Departure

Departure from Turkey must be from an official port of entry. If a yacht is leaving Turkish waters (even for a brief period) and planning to return within the time the transit log is valid, it must be surrendered on departure, and a new one obtained on re-entry.

When departing for foreign ports yachts are required to complete full clearance procedures and surrender of the Log with Harbormaster, Passport Police, and Customs, in that order.

Please note that Visas for individuals are multiple entry, but the Transit Log is not. If Turkey is left in an emergency, without having been able to clear out correctly, the completed Section V should be handed in to a Turkish consulate abroad within one month, otherwise the yacht cannot return.

Immigration

Foreign sailors arriving in Turkey on their own yacht are now eligible for a two-year visa. A five year visa can be obtained in advance from the Turkish Diplomatic Mission in one's country of domicile.
Visas are not required for citizens of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands and Spain.

Otherwise, for citizens of many countries, a maximum of 90 days stay will be granted on arrival (60 days for Albanians and Romanians, 30 days for Greek Cypriots).

Citizens of most African, Far Eastern and Pacific Island countries will require a visa in advance of arrival. Allow up to 2 months for the processing of these visas.

Visa fees are charged in UK£ for the United Kingdom, Euros for euro zone countries and in US$ for all others.

If one leaves Turkey and returns either after one's visa expiry date or within less than two weeks of its expiry another 90 day Tourist Visa will be granted. There is no restriction to the number of times this can be done. If on return there are more than two weeks remaining for the pre-departure visa, the Authorities may refuse to issue a new visa, although this is an old regulation. If at the port of entry immigration officers will not grant a new three-month (90 days) visa, one contact the marina for advice.

If staying longer than three months one has to apply for a residence permit and must prove adequate financial means. It maybe easier to leave and return after a reasonable period of time, re-enter Turkey and obtain a further three months, than to apply for an extension.

Residence Permits are available for periods starting from 90 days up to 5 years. They are also multiple entry, however departure and entry dates continue to be stamped in your passport. A foreigner who is the owner of a yacht, his wife and children and crew can obtain longer term Residence Permits, on condition that they have a fully paid contract to keep their yacht in a marina for at least the length of time of the Residence Permit application. The maximum permitted period on first application is 2 years. Longer periods up to 5 years are possible on subsequent application. You should seek the assistance of the Marina when making your application. Obtaining the Residence Permit might be impossible to accomplish without the support of the marina.

Customs

All types of firearms must be declared, and will be sealed on arrival by customs. Also, diving tanks must be declared.

Antiques cannot be exported. If carpets are bought, the customs will require to see proof of purchase. Antique objects must be accompanied by a non-objection certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture.
Getting the customs duty waived on yacht equipment that has been ordered from abroad is a lengthy and frustrating procedure, so it might be easier to try and bring any equipment needed into Turkey as personal luggage or use an agent. Such items MUST be marked "YACHT IN TRANSIT". It has been reported that this is easier in Istanbul than some other ports. Since Turkey is now in a customs union with the European Union, imports from other parts of Europe may be easier in future.

In such a case it is advisable to have a copy of the ship's papers as well as some form of proof that the yacht has been left temporarily in Turkey. Items brought in personally with a value over US$300 will be registered into one's passport. This will be cancelled when the entry is transferred to the transit log. Equipment couriered directly should be addressed to the marina, and the marina's advice should be sought in advance as to the correct procedure as well the best company to use. It also helps to be near a major airport or seaport such as Antalya, Istanbul or Izmir. Yachts may be left in Turkey for 2 to 5 years (depending on the port) without incurring duty.

Documents

An official transit log is required for all yachts cruising in Turkey. The log is issued at the first port of entry and is valid for 365 days. Yachts can be left for up to two years in bond at a boatyard or marina for maintenance and repair purposes. In this case marinas must make an application to the local customs office. A yacht laid up for the winter in a marina or boatyard that is used by the owner at least once every two years may remain in Turkey for up to five years without needing to obtain further permission. Extensions may be available to this five-year period. When the owner leaves Turkey the yacht must be placed in Customs Bond; however, to take a yacht out of bond it is no longer necessary to obtain a new transit log if it has not expired.
Change in crew must be entered in the Transit Log and authorized by the Harbormaster at the port where the change occurs. The existing Transit Log must be cancelled and a new one obtained if there is a change of owner. The owner must be onboard and Turkish law does not allow more than four co-owners. If one of the owners is not on board, or proof of ownership is inadequate, the transit log will cost US$50.

A great deal of confusion surrounds the regulations concerning restrictions imposed on foreign yachts cruising in Turkey, which are suspected of chartering. A change of crew, even if these are friends of the owner, is sometimes interpreted by some harbormasters as being equivalent to the arrival of a charter party. However, regulations have been greatly eased in recent years and the ownership issue is no longer applied with such severity.

Special formalities must be completed if the yacht is to be left unattended in Turkey and the crew leave the country by other means. The forms are available from marina offices and must be stamped by customs. The passports must be stamped if leaving by other means than by yacht, as the police do not normally stamp passports of people entering by yacht and these stamps are necessary to leave the country overland or by air.

Restrictions

CHARTER

One of the owners (a yacht may have up to four co-owners) is not on board it is up to the skipper to convince the authorities that the yacht is not chartering.

A foreign yacht used for commercial purposes on entering Turkey will receive a Transit Log just to visit one Turkish port and will have to sail from there to a foreign port only. A charter yacht intending to be based in Turkey may obtain a Charter License which will cost around US$1,500 for double berth (or more), which will permit the yacht to be subject for one year to the same regulations as Turkish flagged yachts.

RESTRICTIONS

Prohibited areas for yachts are: no anchoring at the entrance and exit of the Dardanelles (Canakkale Bogazi, especially Gokceada and Bozcaada, region of Kumkale, Mehmetcik, Burnu, Ani, Korfezi); the zone north of the Bosporus, Gulf of Izmir, isles of Uzin and Hekim; the Bay of Karaagac; Oludeniz, Fethiye; parts of the ports of Mersin and Iskenderun; the submarine base in the inner port of Bartin Liman.

Taking archaeological souvenirs can lead to confiscation of the yacht.

Diving

Skin diving is permitted everywhere, but diving with tanks is restricted. Originally divers must have registered with a Turkish diving club and be accompanied by a Turkish instructor when diving, but now these restrictions have been lifted, although it may be sometime before all authorities are aware of this.
Diving is prohibited in certain areas. See www.turkeytourisn.com for the details.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted for sport in certain areas, but there is a minimum size for fish caught and also the amount per person is controlled.

Discharge of Waste

While holding tanks are not yet required by law for foreign-flagged yachts, the discharge of toilet waste is prohibited in harbors and enclosed bays. There are steep fines for breaking this law. Very few harbors have pump-out facilities but tanks should only be pumped out 3 miles or more fronds the shore.

Please note that all above information is beleived to be true but not quarnateed as the laws are keep changing. Don't hesitate to contact me to have an update information.

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Classification Socities

Classification societies are organizations that establish and apply technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of marine related facilities including ships and offshore structures. These standards are issued by the classification society as published rules. A vessel that has been designed and built to the appropriate rules of a society may apply for a Certificate of Classification from that society. The society issues this certificate upon completion of relevant classification surveys.

Such a certificate does not imply, and should not be construed as an express warranty of safety, fitness for purpose or seaworthiness of the ship. It is an attestation only that the vessel is in compliance with the standards that have been developed and published by the society issuing the classification certificate.

More than 50 organizations worldwide define their activities as providing marine classification. Ten of those organizations form the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). It is estimated that these ten societies, together with the one additional society that has been accorded associate status by IACS, collectively class about 94 percent of all shipping tonnage involved in international trade worldwide.

International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) currently consists of 10 member societies and one associate, details of which are listed below. Chairmanship of IACS is on a rotational basis with each member society taking a turn.


ABS (American Bureau of Shipping)

BV (Bureau Veritas)

CCS (China Classification Society)

DNV (Det Norske Veritas)

GL (Germanischer Lloyd)

TL (Turk Loydu)

LR (Lloyd's Register)

NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK))

RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) 

RS  (Russian Maritime Register)

HRS  (Hellenic Register of Shipping)

RS (Indian Register of Shipping)


Classification is one element within a network of maritime safety partners. Other elements are parties such as the ship-owner, the shipbuilder, the flag State, port States, underwriters, shipping financiers and charterers among others.

The role of classification societies has been recognized in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,(www.imo.org) (SOLAS) and in the 1988 Protocol to the International Convention on Load Lines. As an independent, self-regulating body, a classification society has no commercial interests related to ship design, ship building, ship ownership, ship operation, ship management, ship maintenance or repairs, insurance or chartering. In establishing its rules, each classification society may draw upon the advice and review of members of the industry who are considered expert in their field.

Classification rules are developed to contribute to the structural strength and integrity of essential parts of the ship’s hull and its appendages, and the reliability and the function of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and those other features and auxiliary systems which have been built into the ship in order to maintain essential services on board.

Classification rules are not intended as a design code and in fact cannot be used as such. A ship built in accordance with an IACS Member's rules will be assigned a class designation by the society on satisfactory completion of the relevant surveys. For ships in service, the society carries out surveys to ascertain that the ship remains in compliance with those rules.  Should any defects that may affect class become apparent, or damages be sustained between the relevant surveys, the ship owner and operator are required to inform the society concerned without delay.

A ship is maintained in class provided that the relevant rules have, in the opinion of the society concerned, been complied with and surveys carried out in accordance with its rules. Classification societies also maintain significant research departments that contribute towards the on-going development of appropriate, advanced technical standards.

All classification societies publish an annual register and the most well known of these is Lloyd’s Register. (www.lr.org)

Note: I will be telling more about each class company that I'm going to advise you.

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Yacht Insurance Part I: Gulet Insurance

No doubt you, like most other boat owners, feel your insurance coverage and the resulting premium is a necessary evil that you can do little to control. While there is some measure of truth in this belief, the fact is you can exercise some control over this cost.

• Complete an authorized boating course.
• Inspect or have your boat inspected by a qualified marine mechanic at least twice a year.
• Repair or replace defective equipment promptly.
• Have a well thought out, written plan to carry out in the event of a pending natural disaster.
• Always store your boat in a secure area.

By following these suggestions

• You will play your part in reducing losses.
• Your marine insurance specialist can negotiate lower premiums based on lower loss ratios.
• You avoid payment of insurance deductibles and depreciation allowances incurred by losses.
• You guarantee your boat will be ready to go when you are.

Yacht Insurance Basics

Next to a beautiful home, your yacht could probably be your second most valuable possession. What better way can you do to protect such expensive luxury than having a yacht insurance.

A yacht insurance does not only protect your investment from massive financial loss should tragedies and calamities happen.  A yacht insurance also makes sure that your vessel, your passengers and anyone else that you may come contact with are protected in the event of an accident.

Benefits of a Yacht Insurance

Are you still contemplating on the thought of really getting a yacht insurance?  Don’t you still buy the idea that you need a yacht insurance for that luxurious possession?  Then here are some things you can think about:

• According to reports, yachts sink not only in the event of a calamity in the middle of the sea but also even while it is docked.  Having yacht insurance can have you covered for this unlikely loss.
• Your yacht could probably encounter collisions at sea and can cause great damage to the other vessels.  This can lead to a legal case.  If you have yacht insurance, you will have the peace of not having to carry the burden of these legal issues brought about by the unexpected accident.
• These days, communities are so particular with environmental hazards such as oil spill.  Fortunately, even these issues are covered by yacht insurance.  If you have comprehensive yacht insurance, you will not have to personally answer to the issues that come with the incident.
• There are some unwanted events that happen in your yacht—one of which is having someone onboard injured.  As a yacht owner, you are responsible for that person.  If you have yacht insurance, you will then not worry of paying for the medical or hospital bills.  Your generous yacht insurance will gladly take care of it for you.

Types of Yacht Insurance Coverage’s

Some important information you where too lazy to read over those tons of text.

A yacht insurance coverage is dependent on the policy of the insurance provider.  A provider may have a better or less comprehensive yacht insurance policy.  Here are some yacht insurance coverage that you may want to keep in mind when buying your own yacht insurance:

• All Risk Coverage
This type of yacht insurance coverage indemnifies you for any loss or "Peril of the Sea" that is not excluded.

• Agreed Value
Before signing up a yacht insurance policy, the value of your yacht is agreed upon.  In the event of total loss, you are paid the agreed amount without deducting depreciation value of your yacht.

• Protection and Indemnity
Some yacht insurance coverage provides protection should you get sued for causing damage to properties, people or even the environment.

• Medical Coverage
A good yacht insurance pays for the medical expenses whenever someone gets hurt or injured while in your yacht, or near its premises.

• Personal Property Coverage
Other yacht insurance policies also protect your equipment or personal belongings that are in your yacht.  Some yacht insurance provides coverage for the loss of fishing equipment, vessels, and clothing.  However, yacht insurance does not cover valuables such as money, jewelry or important documents.

• Towing
Yacht insurance policies also include towing coverage.  This means that commercial towing services shall be available should your yacht becomes disabled in the middle of the sea and requires assistance to go back to safe harbor.
Though yacht insurance policies cover many of your concerns as a yacht owner, there are also other exclusions in their policies.  Some of which are:

• Damages due to illegal, fraudulent or intentional acts by the insured
• Damages caused by war, seizures or nuclear radiation.
• Wear and tear
• Osmosis damage
• Design defects

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Surveying & Surveyors Part I: General

Care should be taken when choosing a Marine Surveyor, the industry is unregulated meaning any individual can set themselves up and call themselves a Marine Surveyor.

There are two internationally recognized British based organizations that represent surveyors. The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) and The Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA). All surveyors are vetted before they can join either of these organizations and to keep their membership both organizations have systems which ensure continuous professional development. Any legitimate practicing surveyor would be expected to be a member of some form of surveying organization. Before you choose any surveyor please check their credentials.

The buyer’s best friend when it comes to inspecting and evaluating the condition and seaworthiness of a boat is a competent marine surveyor well versed in boat construction, as well as safety and manufacturing laws, requirements and practices.

Hire your own surveyor to be sure the inspection is done with your interests in mind.  Don’t use a surveyor recommended by the seller or rely upon a survey report provided by the owner. It could pre-date existing conditions that need repair or gloss over problems that are expensive to fix, even downright dangerous.
Gulets should be surveyed both in and out of the water. Haul-out and other fees are at the buyer’s expense. Engines should also be inspected by an independent marine mechanic.

Follow up the survey inspection with a sea trial to see how the boat handles underway. Are there performance problems that make the boat unstable? Does all the gear work properly? All electronic equipment should be tested for accuracy.

Surveys and sea trials that turn up flaws or problems can either allow you to back out of the contract without penalty or can be used to renegotiate the purchase price of the boat.

There are internationally recognized independent surveyors and experts in Turkey who can assess the condition and suitability of the Gulet for its intended purpose. The marine surveyors exist on their expertise and independence. They all have personal experience of the majority of boatyards and repair facilities in Turkey and understand the Gulet charter business.

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General Maintenance Part III: Interiors

More than hull, deck and rigging, the interiors of yachts come with enormous variation: they use different materials depending on how much comfort you want – and can afford, how big your Gulet is and which conditions it was built for. The variety of materials used for Gulet interiors can make maintenance a tricky task; in this article I will try to outline the key steps in caring for your living room.

If you have to decide how to equip the interiors of your yacht, you will quickly find out that there is always a trade-off between comfort and convenience, between luxury high-maintenance interiors and a small Gulet easily care for. You will choose how far you want to go on either one of these two extremes.

Make your decision based on practical questions: What are you going to use the boat for – local cruises or competitive sailing? Comfortable vacations or exhausting long-distance journeys, where are you going to sail? All these factors will contribute to the equipment you will have squeeze into your boat. In the end, some key-issues remain the same for yachts with any kind of interior, mostly concerned with moisture control.

Keep your boat airy to fight moisture

1. Ventilation: Moisture is naturally an issue with all water sports and causes fungal growth, makes wood rot and accelerates corrosion. You don’t want your cabins damp and good ventilation is key to live dryly. Modern ventilation systems rely on hatches, ports and complex electronic ventilation systems.

Hatches are good for quickly releasing damp air and letting a fresh breeze in once in a while, but they have to be securely closed whilst sailing. Opening ports are safer and more reliable, only those in the hull should be closed at sea, whereas sophisticated ventilation systems often come with valves that maintain airflow, but keep all water out. Make sure that good ventilation keeps the air flowing in your boat – keep doors open and make use of cut-outs in doors, furniture and walls.

2. Wood: It is classy and looks good – wood is often used for furniture and interior designs of modern sailing boats, even if there is no wood used anywhere else aboard. In its purest expression, high-quality woods come with polished layers of oil or varnish only; alternatively, lacquers and paints decrease the amount of care that will have to go into wooden furniture.

If you stick with the traditional way, keep the surfaces dry if possible and re-new the varnish once every few years (more often, if sailing in a tropical climate). Varnish scratches as soon as you discover them, but wait for dry and warm days for major re-varnish enterprises. Varnishes come in two groups, single and double-pack polyurethane, with the latter one providing higher protection. For more information on varnishes, you might want to read part I of this series, on maintenance work for the hull.

3. Carpets, mattresses and cushions: All these soft things are even more vulnerable to moisture; avoid carpets and other soft furnishing as far as possible. There are water-repellent materials available for chairs, carpets and even cushions and bed ware. However, these materials tend to be expensive and are not necessarily comfortable. If you winterize your boat, remove all soft furnishing – it attracts moisture like nothing else.

4. Work out a checklist: As you can tell now, maintenance work will mostly involve the prevention of damages. However, every yacht that is used will get damaged in some ways – scratches, loose plywood panels or blocked ventilation valves. Most of these things are easily fixed, but need to be found first.

If you use your boat very frequently, do a thorough check once every six months, or at the beginning and end of every season. Polish varnished surfaces, paint scratches, glue panels – you should be able to bring your boat into best shape in less than a day. Frequent checks and repairs are necessary to prevent small damages into big ones.

Take notes what exactly you need to check on your boat and refer to this list next time you do your routine examination. Schedule your check in a way that you will do it in dry and warm weather conditions, which is ideal for repairs.

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General Maintenance Part II: Decks and Rigging

Once you are done looking after the hull of your boat, you might want to move up and check the deck and rigging of it: eventually, this is where you will spend most of your time. This is where the wind gets hold of you and generates the force that will keep you going. This is a part of your Gulet that you should keep in good shape – and the following article should give you some guidance on what to do.

As it is always the case is when it comes to boat care issues: the amount of time that you will have to spend on maintenance of your deck and rig mostly depends on the type of boat that we are talking about. Different materials come with different needs and there is nothing like a standard formula for deck care. Nevertheless, there are general guidelines that you should follow to make sure the yacht is in good shape and presentable.

Not every Gulet is the same

1. Wood-care on the decks: Especially expensive Gulets use exclusive woods like teak that is barely laid out on deck. It is pricey, but looks overwhelmingly good and is a very traditional material in boatbuilding. When it comes to maintenance, however, teak and other woods have a clear disadvantage compared to modern, synthetic materials.

Wood left on its own as part of the deck, exposed to wind, rain and other nastiness, would start to rot very quickly; thus, it comes with protective layers which is either varnish, or some kind of sealing coat. Varnish needs to be applied to wood quite frequently, between annually in moderate climatic environments, and every few weeks in the tropics.

As a rule of the thumb, a wooden deck requires around ten layers of varnish. If you apply the varnish, try to match it with the specific needs of the wood you use it for: it comes as single or double-pack polyurethane varnish. Work with varnish only in a dry and warm environment.

Sealing coats often decrease the amount of maintenance work that goes into a wooden deck. Some sailors consider coats of oils, lacquer or epoxy resin solutions as a bit of a cheat – real wood is supposed to be wood with varnish and nothing else. Nevertheless, considering that you can save a great deal of work by coating you deck, you might be less of a purist.

Coating needs to be renewed once every couple of years and might last – depending on the climate – up to a decade. If you paint your wood, make sure to sand it first to increase its adhesive properties. Work only in a dry and warm environment and consider seeking professional advice for wood specific treatments.

How to care for running rigging

2. Fittings and hardware: Fittings and most parts of the boat that use a variety of materials are particularly exposed bits. Therefore, they are most likely to deteriorate. Check deck-fittings, make sure that wood underneath is properly varnished or coated and that all screws are tight. Most metal-parts on deck are typically made of stainless steel, but not all of them – check for corrosion and treat the metals appropriately.

3. Ropes, lines and halyards: Running rigging needs to be in good shape to allow smooth sailing. If you halyards are made of wire, check for corrosion damages; consider to use ropes that can be more durable, although they might be more expensive. Ropes need to be washed occasionally to maximize their lifetime – salt and dirt get caught in them, but you can easily remove it in warm water. Try to add some detergent. Seal the ends of all ropes, either by flaming them or with a knot.

4. Spars: Most boats use chrome spars these days, with wood being the classic alternative. Wooden spars need to be varnished or painted and require similar care as described for wood on the deck itself. Chrome spars should be washed occasionally to remove salt and dirt. Additionally, you might want to apply polyurethane solution for additional protection. Check around fittings for corrosion or damages.

5. Sails and canvas: Most sails contain a certain percentage of synthetic fabrics that will suffer from the UV spectrum in direct sunlight. Dry your sails thoroughly after every use and store them under a cover. Wash them if appropriate to get rid of salt and dirt. Check for damages and don’t use sails if you discover any until it is repaired (otherwise the damage will get worse).

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General Maintenance Part I: Hull

The hull is the part of your boat that keeps you floating and thus quite an important one. Keeping it in good shape is essential for a good sailing experience, and the effort to achieve this depends hugely on the type of Gulet you have. In this article, I outline the different basic maintenance tasks a neat hull requires.

In order to estimate the amount of care that will have to be dedicated to the hull, it is useful to think of the different materials it can be made of and the resulting specific maintenance needs.

The first material to think about is the classic one: Wood has been used in boat building ever since people have built boats. It looks good, feels natural, but is generally heavy and requires a great deal more work than GRP. The wood itself is always protected by at least one layer of paint, epoxy resin or other finish.

If this finish is damaged under physical pressure and parts of it rub off, the damage needs to be fixed to prevent water from getting in between the protective layer and the wood. It might be necessary to sand the affected area; for large-scale repairs, you might have to strip off a larger part of the hull. Take care to roughen the surface in order to increase the adhesion of the paint.

The finish on wooden hulls normally needs to be polished once a year. Fall is a good season for that, in the course of winterizing the boat. Depending on the quality and type of paint that you use, your finish should last for 3 to 7 years.

Hulls of some Gulets are made of metals, most commonly steel or aluminum; the are durable and require less work than wooden ones, however, don’t meet some (traditionalist) sailor’s aesthetic preferences and are not the ideal material for small boats. Much like wood, steel hulls come with a finishing layer of paint. Maintenance work for steel and wooden hulls is very similar, too.

Aluminum hulls are a different story; the material is light and very easy in maintenance, but expensive. If you apply paint to an aluminum hull, than essentially for aesthetic reasons – if they are left untreated, you will save on work and the metal’s surface will oxidize over time to an elegant gray. If you choose to paint the hull, it requires similar maintenance as steel hulls.

General maintenance work for all types of hulls

General tasks that you will have to apply to any type of hull include a variety of minor things that you should do frequently. They might seem like common sense, but nevertheless, they are often neglected:

1. Check the through-hull fittings: At least once a year you should check all “holes” in the hull. Are they really sealed? Open and close sea cocks frequently to keep them in shape and grease them if necessary.
2. Check for damages: Every time you lift your boat out of the water, check for scratches or cracks and fix them as soon as you discover them. Look at the propellers, keel and rudder and get potential damages repaired.
3. Clean the hull once a season and apply anti-fouling paint to fight barnacles, woodworms and other unwanted visitors.
4. Always carry a repair kit that includes duct tape for emergencies, epoxy resin, paint or gel finish matching with you boat. If you get into trouble with a damaged boat, don’t rely on your own skills but seek professional help.
5. If there are bolts in the hull – for example in the rudder bearings – remove some as samples from different parts of the boat once a year. Check for corrosion and replace bolts as required.
6. Keep the “hull-attachments” in good shape: Check if your keel-hull-joint is sealed properly; if openings in the hull are damaged by electrolysis (requires two different metals and seawater); if the rudder-bearings and the propeller are still flexible.

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Bodrum Cup 2012

24th Bodrum Cup has started on 22nd of October and the finish is on 27th of October.

The Bodrum Cup is an annual yacht regatta organized by ERA Bodrum Sailing Club. The primary intention is to promote interest and skill in sailing among the captains and crews of Bodrum's charter fleet. It is also a celebration of the ending of each year's cruising season, a means to bring together in a friendly encounter charter yachts that normally cruise on their own. This is a fun event organized since 1989, held every third week in October.

Another purpose is to extend the cruising season, since passengers are welcome, to participate aboard competing yachts. Privately owned yachts, Turkish or foreign - flag, are also certainly welcome to participate within the applicable categories and many do so.

With the added excitement of competition, all participants enjoy the festive air as yachts anchor together at the end of each day to have fun and trade tall stories that are the trade- mark of sailors. The magnificent vista of a horizon filled with the sails of Bodrum's majestic wooden yacht fleet is a sight never forgotten.

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Selling Your Gulet

You love the old girl, but you have to sell her to free up the cash to make the deal fly. How do you make it happen? We canvassed brokers, surveyors, buyers and sellers for their insights on how to make a boat attractive for a quick sale. Their responses will help you make the right moves when opportunity knocks on the saloon door. You can try to sell the boat yourself. But you'll quickly find that any extra money you planned to make by cutting out a broker will come the hard way. The most efficient way to move your boat fast is to place the sale in the hands of a professional. If you want to avoid the bickering and the upset that comes with showing your boat to prospective buyers, let a broker do it for you. Doing it yourself allows prospective buyers to degrade your boat in hopes of having you reduce your asking price.

Let a broker handle the details of the sale. He will do his best to match buyers with sellers. The broker wants to arrange the transfer of ownership in order to earn his commission. Brokers will present your boat to prospective buyers in its best light. By knowing good characteristics of your boat, the broker can emphasize and dwell on positive aspects rather than argue over negatives.

The broker is a professional who has built a reputation on honesty and fairness, so don't expect him to misrepresent your boat. It is this reputation of fairness and honesty that brings customers back again to the broker when they are ready for a change.

Like fishing, there are two approaches to selling a boat. A blind optimism that a “big one” will take the bait in time for supper is risky business. Careful consideration of just what kind of bait and lure will work usually pans out best. Since success depends not only on price, but also on appearance, condition, and seaworthiness, take a long, critical look at your boat and be honest about the things that need to be spruced up or fixed.

Check classified ad listings to see what similar boats are selling for. And, check used Gulet price guides found at boat dealerships and in the reference section of some libraries. A marine mechanic or surveyor can help you put a price tag on repairs. Based on loan pay-off amount, if any and improvements you may have made, establish a minimum price you are willing to accept for your Gulet.

Many sellers set the asking price 10-15% higher than rock bottom so there’s room for negotiation, but be prepared for the “hard-bargain” buyer who offers half what you’re asking. And, keep in mind that when it comes to used Gulets, some boats hold their value better than others.

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How to Buy a Gulet?

First, you must research the different types of gulets available, then you must determine which type of gulet is the best for your purposes and your enjoyment.

Steps

1. Search the different types of gulets available. There are many websites that offer gulets for sale. They also offer different categories of gulets, so that you can pinpoint exactly which type will suit your needs. For instance, Recently Listed Gulets is one such page. In the boat search category, you can search for all types of gulets for sale. Here you will find gulets, ketchs, tirhandils, tour boats, sailboats, and motor sailor yachts.
2. Educate yourself on the value of your purchase. Gulets For Sale list can be very helpful in learning the value of your boat.
3. So you have a gullet, the boat of your dreams, in the yachting adverts contact the broker by phone or e-mail to determine whether this boat is as you expect. Make an appointment with the broker to inspect (if you make an appointment you will receive more of the broker's attention). Your initial inspection should really be an overview. Does it look as expected from outside? Does it feel like your style of boat on the inside? Has it been properly looked after.
4. Some sellers of gulets seemingly always expect a better price for their boat than the actual value. When negotiating the price of a boat, expect to pay 5% less than the asking price. This 5% difference is what is expected by most brokers and dealers. This percentage might go up to 10% in some particular situations. Please note: Your broker should negotiate with the vendor to allow for or make good any discrepancies discovered during the above inspections.
5. It’s time to make an offer subject to a professional survey and sea trial. If your offer is accepted, it’s time to choose a surveyor. Even with a vast knowledge of boats it’s always wise to have another pair of eyes. You will also need a survey for financing and or insurance. Normally the sea trial and survey are at the buyer’s expense. A surveyor will explain his fees and services. After you have made your choice your broker or surveyor will schedule a haul out to inspect the bottom. A sea trial should be performed with your surveyor aboard. You then will receive a written survey that should list any discrepancies or recommendations. Do remember that any used vessel will likely have recommendations. You should now have the information to allow you to make an educated decision.
6. At this stage the broker will prepare a selling agreement which will set out all details of the sale (buyer and seller's name, a detailed description of the gulet and equipment, the agreed purchase price and a settlement date) for the buyer and seller to accept and sign.
7. Upon striking a mutual deal on the price for a boat and sea trial, expect to be required to give a 10% deposit to continue the deal. Make sure the deposit is subject to you getting a satisfactory survey and satisfactory test sail/run. The deposit should be refundable to you if you are not satisfied (expect to pay for the slipping and test sail/run costs if you don't go ahead with the purchase). After a deposit and purchase and sales agreement has been executed, the buyer has right to an inspection and survey.
8. If all checks out on the gulet and you are ready to move towards the closing, request copies of the documentation for the gulets and hire a company to do a "clear title search." This ensures that you are receiving clear documentation on the gulets.

Tips

• Always request copies of the seller's driver's license (or any other picture identification) along with the boat documentation. Some state registration offices will require this to register the boat.
• Make sure all documents that require notarization are notarized.
• Check out any brokers or dealers that you are doing your transactions through. Make sure they are in good standing as a corporation and as a broker.
• When buying a used gulet ask for maintenance records for the engine and discuss any major work done on the hull and engine.
• When negotiating, be sure to ask if the basic accessories are part of the deal. For a small gulet this can be fairly worth of equipment.
• Have the seller take you for a ride. For small gulets it is beneficial when the conditions are windy or choppy. You can learn a lot more about how the gulet rides and how dry you stay in rougher conditions.
• When buying a used gulet, call a manufacturer and find out the price of the new boat. Also talk to the broker for advice on the valuation of the used gulet.

You now own the gulet of your dreams!

There are a few other things to take note of:

1. You will receive an invoice and registration papers(bill of sell, deletion certificate), for re-registration into your name. Ask your broker if they have yacht purchase legal formalities follow up services and import and export formalities follow up services to do all these formalities for you. If no, they should have a good contact for these services. Expect to be required to pay cost of purchase legal formalities.
2. There is no tax to be paid by the buyer.
3. It is recommended that you take out a comprehensive insurance policy at the time of settlement; your broker will give you a quote for this and arrange a cover note for you.

Warnings

• Please take your time for thoroughly inspecting the gulet you intend to purchase. You should be able to do this before any money changes hands. Hire a marine mechanic first to inspect the motor. Often, if it fails to pass his inspection (too much needed to repair/replace it) you should consider passing on the gulet. Then find a reputable surveyor and expect to pay a tidy sum to have the gulet hauled (lifted from the water by straps) or pulled out (on a trailer) before the full payment.
• You can skip the boat survey/ inspection if it is a small gulet or relatively inexpensive, or doesn't require a bank loan. But most boat insurers require it. Still, bring/ hire an experienced boat owner with you to inspect the boat if you do not know what to look for.
• Never purchase a boat "sight unseen."

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Who is Gulet Group?

Gulet Group is a leading brokerage company specialized on gulets. It is also the brand of Gulet Group International Brokerage. 

International brokers are regarded as the best experts in the industry - which is probably the reason why Gulet Group's greatest source of business is through satisfied customers. It is their experience that different countries and nationalities have different needs for the same destination and such structure helps us to fulfil the expectations of our valued clients. Meticulous handling of each and every request file whether for a group or an individual is the hallmark of Gulet Group. 

Its main business focus is making returns by providing a diversified range of services to clients. Founded in 1992 and Gulet Group has long been at the forefront of the traditional gulet industry. Since 1992, They have been trusted to inform, introduce and entice their clients with new ideas, information and innovations in every aspect of gulet sales. 

Gulet Group website is the best way to find gulets for sale because of our extensive searchable data base of new constructions and used gulets, whether you want to research a gulet, sell a gulet or buy a gulet.

Service Contents 

Buying a gulet; expertise and experience are the most important factors. Gulet Group brokers are familiar with all the gulets on the market and strive to always find the right gulet for the right client. 

Selling a gulet; all you want is your broker to find the right buyer in the shortest period of time. Drawing from 21 years of experience in the business, Gulet International Brokerage has the largest database of potential owners, the fastest average selling time - and numerous marketing outlets at their disposal for promoting each gulet. 

Building a gulet; technical knowledge and total impartiality are qualities most sought after. Gulet Group brokers work very closely with the world's leading builders, designers, naval architects, captains and suppliers to ensure their clients' complete satisfaction. Gulet Group brokers are also experts on advising future owners on the best gulet types and sizes, materials, designs, financing and legal matters. 

Management Approach 

Gulet Group,’s strength lies in its unique structure and management style which enables businesses to exercise significant operating freedom balanced by limits on risk and observance of professional standards. Gulet International Brokerage’s management approach fosters an entrepreneurial culture among staff. Strong prudential management is fundamental to this approach. The focus of central management is on risks to Gulet Group arising from market and industry influences and issues of medium and long-term significance. 

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