How is
a charter yacht different from a cruise ship or seaside resort?
The flexibility and privacy of a yacht is the ultimate indulgence.
Professional crew wait on you from the moment you board (or leave
you alone if you desire). Your captain will suggest an itinerary,
but you're not locked into a program and are free to waiver from
this route. If you find the perfect spot to linger longer! Cruising
allows you the luxury of only unpacking your bags once while touring
many different areas.
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What
is the difference between a skippered and crewed charter ?
Skippered charter is rather like renting a car with a chauffeur.
On a skippered charter your only crew is skipper "Korhan
Sokmen M.D." who takes complete responsibility for the safety
of the yacht and those aboard her. Cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning
of your cabins during your charter will be performed by yourselves.
Of course your skipper will help you as much as he can. On crewed
charter besides your skipper "chef Oktay" will be on
board to cook, serve and wash dishes.Crewed Charters require no
need to wash a glass or even pull a cork. On a crewed charter
you simply lie back and relax, although, if you wish, you will
be allowed to take part in the running. In both crewed and skippered
charters charterer is going to pay all of the operating expenses
while on board such as; fuel, dockage, food and beverages. A good
rule of thumb is to allow 15-20% of the charter fee toward expenses. (Crewed Charters are cancelled, we only offer Skippered Charters)
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On what
days and times do charters start and finish?
Usually, our weekly charters start on saturday around 1400, and
ends on friday 1300, the time for you to leave the boat . We usually sail into the arrival
harbor noon time. If we don't have a charter after yours, you may stay overnight
and leave on saturday morning. But of course you are not locked
into our program, your charter may be scheduled on any available
days and times of your choice, to fit in with flight schedules
or hotel check-out, if VEGA is available during that time..
Do I need
any sailing experience?
No experience is needed as our skipper, Korhan, is very capable
of handling the boat himself. If you wish, he is more than happy
to teach you to sail, or if you are a capable sailor you can sail
the boat and he'll make the coffee!
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May I
sail the yacht by myself if I wish ?
It is not possible for you to charter the yacht without the
skipper, but your skippers guidance enables you to sail the yacht
yourself if you wish, whether or not you are inexperienced, in
the knowledge that a trained eye is in constant attendance. It's
a great way to learn. Your skipper Korhan is a professional instructor,
who enjoys showing people into his secrets about sailing. Experimenting
with a 42 ft. catamaran , perhaps a lot different and bigger than
you're used to will be great.
I do alot
of sailing, my partner doesn't, will we both enjoy the boat?
Vega sails fast and flat. The motion between sailing and motoring
is hardly discernable. Catamarans do not heel over as do monohull
yachts. Gimbles are not needed and you can continue to use your
stem wine glasses. The keen sailors can involve themselves in
the sailing, while the non-sailors can just relax, enjoy the scenery
or read a book.
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How far
do we sail from the coast or between each anchorage?
Usually from 2 to 15 miles, depending on the route, which is determined
by the number of days for the charter. We always sail in protected
waters, within sight of the mainland.
Is Vega
suitable for young children?
All ages have enjoyed Vega. The youngest so far has been 3 months
and the oldest 87 years! Vega's large cockpit area makes a safe
play-pen like area and large, flat decks allow safe movement around
the boat. In fact children adapt very easily to the boat and parents
find they sleep very well.
How many
people can go on the boat?
Vega has 4 double and 1 single berths in five cabins. Two cabins
with double berths in the starboard hull share a big bathroom
area including shower, handbasin and toilet. It is the same with
the port hull (two double cabins and a bathroom area). The other cabin with single berth is in the front with entrance
from the deck, this cabin is usually used by the cook on crewed charters. The port side aft cabin belongs to captain. The other three double cabins are for guests. Vega is ideal for 3 couples or 2 small families as guests. Vega's official papers limits its capacity
to 10 person for offshore cruising.
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How much
baggage can we bring?
First, only bring soft sided luggage since space is limited and
storage is easier. Big, hard suit cases should not be used. For
clothing bring casual wear, mostly shorts and T-shirts, and swimsuits,
and soft soled shoes for shore walks, which can usually fit into
one "zip-up" carry bag per person.
What special
items do we need on the yacht?
Sun hat and glasses, suntan oil, at least two swimsuits, camera,
soft soled shoes, a favorite beach-towel, personal toiletries.
Will there
be other groups aboard the yacht?
No, except for the Captain (and Chef on crewed charters), your
yacht is totally private and only for you and your guests.
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Are there
any restaurants or shops on the route?
Yes, several coves have small and interesting local style restaurants,
and in some of the bays small towns with shops restaurants and
bars, which we usually sail to in between sailing to uninhabited
coves and islands for a nice balance of things to do and see.
Are there
any historical places we can visit during our voyage?
Depending on the route you choosed, you will see frequent reminders
of long-vanished cultures; elaborate and amazingly intact Lycian
cliff tombs dating back to 500BC or so. There are ruins of pirate
villages to explore; amphitheatres scattered all along the coast;
most of them completely open and free for you to wander around
- no gates, guards. Just see the "Places
of Interest" page of our site.
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Do we
see many tourists or other charter yachts?
No, not frequently. Our charter sailing area of 16,000 square
miles has so many islands, bays, coves and deserted beaches that
you will see very few tourists or other charter yachts. In some
popular bays we will see some private and charter yachts, but
not so many of them.
What water
activities are available?
Sailing, swimming/snorkeling in crystal clear waters. Small or
big game fishing. Exploring underwater historical
ruins, fishing or exploring nearby deserted small coves or caves
with our inflatable outboard dighy. Beach water sports are also
available as an optional extra, including water- skiing, para-sailing,
and jet skis in some of the places.
What navigation
and safety gear is on board?
Everything as required by a charter yacht, including GPS navigation
system, autopilot, VHF and SSB radio, cellular phone, depth sounder,
dinghy, plus life jackets for all persons (two for kids) on board
Vega.
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Which
places will we visit?
"Where you go" is entirely up to
you. A vacation with Vega is customized to meet your desires!
After you have had a chance to settle in, your Captain will sit
down with you and develop an itinerary based on your interests
and preferences. Of course, you have the luxury of leaving it
all up to your Captain and crew - their local knowledge and experience
insure you a relaxed and safe charter.
What's
the Weather like?
The extremely consistent weather conditions in south east Egean
are one of the reasons this area is considered to be one of the
best cruising grounds in the world! Good weather is virtually
guaranteed from mid April to late October. The area enjoys winter
rainfall so the summers are long and hot. The prevailing wind
is the MELTEMI which blows East to South East, late afternoon
most days between late June to end August. Wind strength during
this period is 10 -25 knots in the afternoon.
Temperatures
C/F
_______Apr___May___Jun___Jul___Aug___Sep___Oct___Nov_
Air : 18/65 19/66 24/75 27/81 28/83 24/75 19/66 18/65
Sea : 18/66 19/66 21/70 23/74 24/75 22/72 21/70 20/68
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Where
does the yacht stop each night for sleeping?
Before sunset the yacht will anchor in one of the many protected
bays, to ensure a good nights rest. We will have lots of choices
for anchorages like deserted bays, small towns with shops, restaurants,
even discos. It is entirely up to you, the initiary will be made
to meet your desires.
Will
we get seasick?
Our cruising grounds feature many
protected coves and anchorages. Also, most of the destinations
are a short sail from each other, so there is little or no exposure
to rough seas during a charter. It would be possible to get sea
sick with a mono-hull yacht, but with a catamaran like Vega it
is very unlikely. However, if you are highly sensitive to motion
and worried about seasickness check with your local pharmacist
for special medication before you leave home.
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What's
our itinerary going to be like?
The itinerary is based on your preferences of activities. The
crew know the territory very well and will tailor the cruise to
fit your requests. The Turkish coasts offer a tremendous variety
of bays, anchorages, towns and historical places to visit. It
isn't possible to see everything in one visit however, and you
may need to adjust your itinerary to accommodate your schedule
and activities you have chosen or return again in the future for
another charter
Can we
smoke on board?
Smoking is not permitted inside the yacht, strictly forbidden
in the cabins, however, you are allowed to smoke on the outside
deck areas and in the cockpit. Substances that are illegal on
land are also illegal on the yacht.
How do
my friends, family and business colleagues reach me during the
cruise?
Vega is equipped with cellular service. You can give our cellular
phone number [(+90)532 232 8498] to them to reach you. Or you
can bring your handy with you if you like. For short periods you can also use captains pc to reach internet.
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Do you
offer Special Cruises?
Yes, we arrange cruises to meet almost every need. You ask and
we do it. Some of these include:
Learn To Sail : We are happy to share our knowledge
of sailing with you and there will be opportunities to steer
the boat and adjust the sails if your want. Our skipper Korhan
is a qualified sailing instructor for those charter guests that
are interested in learning more.
Honeymoon trips : Our private yacht Vega provide
one of the most romantic ways to begin your new life together
- without any worries after all you've gone through with the
preparation.
Clothing Optional : Our crew do not mind our guests
'expressing themselves', and the seclusion possible on your
own yacht ensures you to privacy.
History tour : A bluevoyage with only selected
historical places to visit. (see the "Places of Interest"
section of our site.)
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Can
I bring my pet on board?
Animals are typically not accustomed to the strict confinement
of a ship and an active cruising itinerary can be quite uncomfortable
for pets unless they are trained for it.
Just like humans, animals can also be sensitive to the effects
of motion and may become disoriented and lethargic or agitated.
If you think that it won't be a problem for you, for your pet
and for the crew you may bring your pet but all the responsibility
will be yours.
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Who
plans the menus?
On skippered charters, you are the one who is going to plan
the menu. Captain Korhan will assist you if you let him to do.
On crewed charters, our chef will usually provide a sample
menu of the yacht's cuisine and is delighted to adjust his fare
to your palate. (Crewed Charters are cancelled, we only offer Skippered Charters)
Do we
have to go for a whole week ?
No. We offer 3-night minimum to multiple-week itineraries. And
"Weekend Getaways" (before july and after september)
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Can
we get a refund if we cancel our vacation?
In most cases, charter deposits are not refundable unless we
rebook the dates. With sufficient advanced notice, we may allow
you to reschedule your vacation, though! [please see "terms
of payment" paragraph at the "Price"
section of our site]
How
far in advance should we plan our vacation?
During peak holiday travel periods, availability is extremely
limited. Many high season charters are reserved 9 to 12 months
in advance. Off-season vacations can usually be arranged 3 to
5 months in advance. Like any fine resort, there are always
last-minute cancellations - so we encourage you to call!
Don't miss the boat!
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How
can I contact you?
You can contact us by e-mail,
(just click on the word e-mail)
or by phone (+90)532 232 8498
Our e-mail address : info@catamaranvega.com
My
questions are not listed. How can I have more information?
By droping an e-mail
to us or by phone : (+90)532 232 8498
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