Marmara Islands

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Marmara Islands

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40°35′N, 27°33.6′E
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Local chartlet

This is a group of islands lying 10 miles N of the Gulf of Erdek on the W side of the Sea of Marmara. The largest island of the group is Marmara Adasi (Προκόνησος- Prokonnisos), which is also the largest island in the Sea of Marmara. Its peak is 720 m above sea level. The south side is very wooded and green, while the north side has been heavily quarried for marble since Greek and Roman times. The island’s dazzlingly white and flawless marble has been highly prized by sculptors and architects for thousands of years. It (Greek Μάρμαρο -Marmaro) not only gives its name to the island but to the whole gulf: Sea of Marmara.

The other main islands of this group are: Pasalimani Adasi, and Avsa Adasi.

Charts

Marmara Adasi Region
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Turkey
296 Marmara Adaları
2942 Ports in Marmara Denizi - A Marmara Adası
2941 Ports in Marmara Denizi - D Saraylar

See also Sea of Marmara.

Radio Nets

Also see Cruiser's Nets

Submit details of local radio Nets.

Approach and Navigation

Warning: While the approach to the islands is straightforward from all directions, the coasts of the islands themselves are fringed with isolated rocks and reefs and careful navigation is needed when sailing between the islands. There can also be strong gusts in the channels between the islands when the usual fresh N/NE winds are prevailing.

Ports and Popular Stops

Port Marmara, Marmara Island

GPS: 40°35′N, 27°33.6′E
Port Marmara is the main harbour in Marmara Adasi and is situated on the SW corner of the island, protected from S and W by a long breakwater and from E by a stub breakwater and the headland beyond it. Depths in the entrance are around 6.0 – 7.0 metres and in the centre of the harbour between 4.0 and 5.0 metres. The quay along the breakwater and on the western side of the harbour is usually filled with fishing and cargo boats and yachts are normally directed to anchor moor bows or stern-to on the northern quay, where there is space for around 6 - 8 yachts. An attendant is usually present to take lines and connect to water and electricity if required. Shelter here is good in the prevailing N/NE winds, although strong gusts off the mountains will be experienced in the harbour with winds above force 5-6.

Important note: the depths at the quay range from 1.5 to 2.5 metres only (the deeper water being in the centre of the quay) and around 3.0 metres about 10 metres off the quay. Yachts with deep rudders and/or keels are likely to have problems if there is any swell in the harbour. Shelter inside is good, although strong N/NE winds send in some swell, which is more irritating than dangerous.

Asmaliköy, Marmara Island

Chart of Asmaliköy
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GPS: 40°36.9′N, 27°42.4′E
Asmaliköy (Greek Αφθόνη - Afthoni) is a small harbour on the E side of Marmara Adasi. Asmaliköy is very attractive, totally untouched by the outside world despite its relative proximity to Istanbul. It has a few houses, some very attractive made of wood. There is only one çay hani (tea house) and a most rudimentary store. Go stern-to the concrete wharf in the centre of the quay, where there are depths of 3.5 – 4.0 metres. Alternatively, go bows-to the breakwater itself, but note that it gets shallow very quickly. It is best to proceed very carefully and keep a good distance between your boat and the quay. It may even be wiser to take a line ashore in the dinghy. There is a basic restaurant ashore.

Asmaliköy
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Saraylar, Marmara Island

Saraylar
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GPS: 40°39.5′N, 27°39.9′E
Saraylar (Παλάτια - Palatia) is the port from where the marble is loaded on Marmara Adasi. The harbour is totally built of marble blocks and it is decorated by ancient column segments and other architectural fragments--all of the marble rejects of ancient craftsmen. A yacht can either go alongside or stern-to the eastern breakwater, where there are depths of 2.5 – 3.5 metres, or bows to a section of the W quay, where depths are around 1.5 metres. Good holding in mud and good shelter. Several cafes and restaurants along the waterfront.

Yigitlar, Avsa Island

GPS: 40°30.12′N, 27°31.77′E
Yigitlar is a new harbour, constructed on the E side of the island of Avsa, primarily as an alternative berth for the ferry from Erdek on the rare occasions when there are strong W/SW winds in the Sea of Marmara and the ferry’s usual jetty at Turkeli on the W side of the island becomes untenable. The harbour is entered from SSE, parallel with the beach, and there are depths of 6.0 metres in the entrance. The harbour is very large and a visiting yacht has several berthing options (assuming the ferry is not due in the case of strong W/SW winds). The small basin at the W side of the harbour is shallow and mostly filled with local boats. The larger basin on the E side is used by the ferry (but very rarely). The central length of quay between the two basins and directly opposite the entrance has depths of 4.0 – 5.0 metres off the quay but barely 2.0 metres alongside, so a yacht should do an anchor moor if mooring here. The holding is good in sand. In the eastern basin, the W and much of the N side is taken up by apparently dumped fishing boats and two large ferries. However, the E side of the basin, where the ferry berths, has depths of 5.0 metres and a yacht can lay alongside here in good shelter. Although the quay here is quite high and lined with heavy black tyres, a yacht alongside is blown off by the prevailing winds. There are currently no facilities on the quays. Ashore there is a surprisingly good restaurant for such a sleepy settlement and a good Dia supermarket with fresh meat and vegetables. The locals are also very friendly. Note: the approach from N is straightforward, but in the approach from S be sure to give the headland of Buyukliman Burnu a clearance of at least half a mile as there are dangerous shallows off it.

Avsa Marina, Avsa Island

GPS: 40°32.00′N, 27°31.00′E

The basic infrastructure of a new marina has been installed in the approximate position above, on the headland of Ekinlik Burnu opposite the small island of Ekinlik off the NW corner of Avsa Island. The marina currently consists of little more than two breakwaters and quays, with no shore facilities at present, but yachts are reportedly allowed to moor there alongside for short periods. The Turkish Transportation Ministry invited tenders for the completion of the marina here in March 2011, so it may be some time before the marina is fully operational. In the approach, the two ends of the breakwaters are indicated by conspicuous light towers. There are gusts in the channel between Avsa and Ekincik with moderate to strong NE winds.

Anchorages

Pasalimani Adasi

GPS: 40°29.4′N, 27°36.0′E - Chartlet

The main anchorage on the island lies on the W side, between it and the smaller, uninhabited island of Koyun Adasi. The anchorage is either approached from the N, when care should be taken to avoid the numerous offshore islets and reefs along the coast of the island, or from the W, when a yacht should pass just S of the isolated danger mark at the S end of Koyun Adasi, since there are dangerous reefs extending nearly half a mile NE of the headland of Incirli Burnu at the SW end of the anchorage. Once inside, anchor offshore in 5.0 – 10.0 metres where convenient. The holding is good in sand and weed – once your anchor is through the weed, which may call for several attempts. A simple restaurant is ashore and a small bakery. The locals in the village are very friendly and the island’s former importance as a wine-producing area is evinced by the ruins of a winery established here by the Compagnie Vinicole de Constantinople.

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Tourism & things to do ashore

If you can arrange land transportation, a visit to Saraylar (Παλάτια - Palatia) on Marmaris Island is worth your time. The dirt road is steep and winds through many sycamore trees and green vistas. Saraylar is the port from where the marble is loaded. It is an attractive town but it is surrounded by the moonscape of the marble quarries. The island has been quarried for marble since antiquity. The harbour is totally built of marble blocks and it is decorated with ancient column segments and other architectural fragments--all the marble rejects of ancient craftsmen. On Pasalimani and Avsa, there are attractive walks through the countryside, which is dotted with vineyards, and several nice beaches around the islands.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

  • Fuel – Fuel jetty in Port Marmara. Call at nearby garage to request refuelling. Note: depths at the end of the fuel quay are around 3.0 metres, but along the sides quickly shelve to 1.0 metres. Berth on the end unless your draft is very shallow.
  • Water - Only one water outlet in Port Marmara and Asmaliköy.
  • Electricity – On the quay in Port Marmara.

Laundry

N/A.

Grocery & Supply Stores

  • Bim supermarket in Port Marmara and Dia supermarket in Yigitlar. Basic provisions only in Saraylar.
  • Only bread in Asmaliköy
  • Butchers in Port Marmara.
  • Small bakery in Pasalimani.

Eateries

  • Several restaurants in Port Marmara and Saraylar.
  • In Port Marmara, the Birol Restaurant next to the small boat harbour is reasonably good value (but check your bill carefully).
  • The Bortacina Restaurant near the harbour in Yigitlar has a good reputation.
  • Only a çay hani in Asmaliköy.

Internet/WiFi

Free wifi in Port Marmaris. Internet café in Yigitlar.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

N/A.

Marine Stores & Facilities

None.

Repairs

N/A.

Transportation

Ferries to Istanbul and Erdek.

References & Publications

See Turkey.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:


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Names: Istioploos, Atheneoflimington, Lighthouse, Haiqu


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