TANGO SAILING BLUE VOYAGE TOUR
Trip Start
Jun 20, 2006
1
6
20
Trip End
Jun 30, 2006
Bodrum - Mugla,
Turkey
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Imagine being in the crystal clear aqua paradise, just you and the clear cool water and nothing else in between! Imagine sailing and relaxing on the traditional Aegean Tirhandil style motor sailor in the privacy of your friends and a crew that is always ready to please you and serve your needs. Or taking the helm while listening to the music of your choice on the state of the art stereo system; perhaps just listening to the soothing sound of the waves and the wind, feeling the freedom of the aqua seas around you
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. Or cooking up a storm with nothing on except the cool feeling of the gentle wind sweeping your skin.Boat
The 15.5 meter long Tirhandil style Tango is the ideal size vessel for private "bleu voyage" sailing on the Aegean. Tango is a good sample of a typical Bodrum Tirhandil. It's length is the ideal size for this style a boat, allowing the most amount of space for the comfort of it's guests yet staying within the traditional size of Tirhandils which is under 16 meters. Built by one of Bodrum's most respected boat builder Çolak Erol in 1991, Tango represents the best craftsmanship and sturdiness of the wooden boat heritage of Bodrum. The boat is totally renovated in 2002-2003 winter, being equipped with the latest navigation electronics, sound system and other hygienic amenities.
And the elusive tirhandil?
A tirhandil is the centuries-old workhorse of the Mediterranean and is similar to its cousin, the caique, and the Greek transport vessel called perama. The Greek equivalent of tirhandil is trechenderi. The Lingua Franca in the Levant defines tirhandil as a :
1. 'sternpost', 2
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. a 'small, light boat' and 3. 'as a fishing boat of a certain type: a large boat, both beaklike ends of which are similar, with two masts, lateen sails, spritsail and foresail, which can be driven by oars in case of emergency and which is used with dragnets by the Greek and Italian fisherman'.The translated definition of tirhandil from Kaptan Kilavuzu is as follows :
A sailing vessel with origins from the Marmaris area having two masts, a bow spirit and lateen sails. The vessel is beak-nosed with a scoop stern and ample interior capacity.
Because few references for tirhandil or were found, I also looked up caique. Miriam-Webster gives the entymology of caique as being originally Turkish, from kayik, and defines it as a "Levantine sailing vessel." (Istanbul caiques, smaller and lighter, were skiffs which used to traverse the Bosphorus as taxi transport for the local populace.). While it has often been suggested that gulets evolved from tirhandils to utilize deck space in order to haul cargo from sponge diving expeditions, it seems that this may not have been the case. Because tirhandils, despite generally being the superior sailing vessel of the three, have less aft deck space for Blue Cruise voyages, they are not as frequently commissioned by local builders and thus remain elusive. Yet it is the tirhandil, more so than the gulet, which carries the most traditional elements of Aegean sailing boats of the last two millennium.
From April to November : Bodrum - Çökertme - Akbük - Sögüt - Cleopatra's Island - English Harbour - Longoz - Ballisu - Orak Island - Karaada - Bodrum. This itinerary can be modified according to the number of days the guests are staying. It can also be modified by the captain according to the guests special requests.
1st day : You will arrive in Bodrum, one of the leading resorts and the undisputed "hot spot" of the Aegean Coast. In the afternoon, you will be free to discover the lovely port
2nd day : Karaada - You will depart early in the morning for Karaada, have your first swim in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean sea.
3rd day : Çati Lagoon - After breakfast in Mersincik you will travel leisurely to Çati Lagoon for lunch. The afternoon is yours to visit the beauties of this region. Dinner and overnight in Çati.
4th day : Yediadalar / English Harbour - Cruise to Yediadalar for lunch. The surroundings are picturesque and ideal for swimming. You will anchor in English Harbor where Rosemary's and a pine forest frame a lake where English war ships burrowed. Dinner and overnight.
5th day : Tuzla / Ballısu - Today you will sail to Tuzla. After a free afternoon, proceed to Ballisu for dinner and overnight.
6th day: Cleopatra Island / Karacasögüt - Cruise to Cleopatra Island, which is famous for its beach made from seashells. You will anchor in Karacasögüt for dinner and overnight.
7th day: Çökertme / Oraklar - After breakfast, visit Çökertme, an attractive bay and fishermen's village, whose cheerful and friendly people have been the subject of many songs. Cruise to Oraklar for dinner and overnight
8th day : Bodrum - After breakfast, disembarking in Bodrum. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to visit the other exciting and historical sites
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These scripts and photographs are registered under © Copyright 2006, Tango Sailing / Bodrum - Muğla - Turkey. All Rights Reserved.
