Five ways to set sail in 2024 – Hit the water, from Lake Kivu to the Indonesian archipelago
17th March 2024
‘‘Salamander Voyages is one of the better-known specialists… In June they’re inaugurating a new “history voyage” out of Bodrum harbour… Like all Salamander itineraries, this one is all-inclusive; not a single extra tagged on when you disembark back in Bodrum.’‘
Love in the Sails
13th March 2024
‘Synomous with Sapphire Turkish seas, gulets now offer a luxurious and relaxed holiday, with even a touch of romance in the air… It’s like a staffed villa that can take you on a tour. There’s no garden, but there’s a much bigger pool. You’re likely to explore more places and trips are tailored to guests’ specific interests, which could be partying, archeology, taking the sailing ropes oneself or simply lapping up local food, a novel and some sunshine. Beyond that, you don’t have to make any decisions. ‘
Nine of the best affordable boating holidays in Europe
31st July 2023
‘Together you’ll spend a week feeling like rockstars, sailing along the postcard-pretty Turquoise Coast… with three meals a day, afternoon teas and drinks served up by wait staff. All this (including alcohol) is thrown into the package, as are crew fees and fuel.‘
After a lifetime of varied holidays, I’ve found my favourite
22nd July 2023
‘My favourite holiday? Hands down, a week on a gulet cruising the Turquoise Coast… The luxuriousness, character and spaciousness of the 80ft-long, gleaming teak Salamander; the kindness of Captain Zeki and his crew – Firat, Timur and chef Ali- towards the children; the delicious Turkish food; the sun and the unbeatable scenery all played their part. The children quickly adapted, and one heavenly – and actioned packed – day began to roll into another.’
Set sail for the Carian coast
4th July 2023
‘I am not a boat person. I don’t own deck shoes. I have never worn red trousers. I can’t tell you the difference between a jib and a boom. But after a week island-hopping along Turkey’s Carian coast on a gulet, traditional wooden sailing boat converted into a luxury floating holiday home, I might just be a convert. In fact, it’s a cross between the no-need-to-lift-a-finger vibe of a luxury, all-inclusive resort and the privacy of a holiday home. The next few days settled into a rhythm of snoozing, eating(think stuffed roasted peppers, grilled meats and fish, multiple yoghurt dips) and sunbathing , punctuated by swimming and water sports. I was glad we were in a deserted bay with only olive trees to witness my wobbly attempts at paddle boarding. Ditto for my sailing lesson.’
Cheaper than a villa – and much bigger pool
2nd July 2023
‘Next morning, I wake with the clanging of the anchor and push open the little window above my bed to see blue sky. I head for coffee on deck before a breakfast of deliciously warm cigar bureks – flaky filo pastry wrapped around feta cheese. Fellow passengers Adam and Kate are discussing their sailing lesson, and before long we are laughing at another of our number who seems to have the paddle board upside down.I then slip into the sea and kick towards the shore.’
Sail of the century
28th May 2023
‘Above stretches 25m of spotless deck space, about half of it designed to be enjoyed horizontally. Gulets are broad-bottomed and mostly imperturbable, and on Ya Selam the aft is taken up by a day bed covered in powder grey terry cloth and long enough to cosset our entire party without undue intimacy. Or you can pick a subbed under the mail sail on the cabin roof. With a chef lurking in the ship’s nethers, a deckhand to service your cabin, and a bosum materialising at 6pm with your first Pinkster G&T, it could be – sailing lessons aside – the boating holiday for people who don’t much like boats. Float and flop’
