Değirmen Bükü

Between Sazan Burnu and İnce Burun, it is the largest bay of the Gökova Gulf, extending 2 miles south of Zeytinli Island. It embraces vessels with its inlets and coves, each more beautiful and sheltered than the other, and hills covered with pine trees.

While navigating inward from Zeytin Island, the nearby coves on our starboard coast welcome you. Being careful of the headlands and debris extending eastward, if there is space, we can anchor in sandy bottom and take shelter to the west.

Beautiful and sheltered coves within Değirmen Bükü:

HIRSIZ KOYU

36°55'24"N - 28°09'33"E

An excellent cove just behind the western coves at the entrance, facing south. It is sheltered from all weather except southern winds. The bottom is sand, anchor at 6-8 meters and take shelter. You are among the pine trees. We could not learn why its name is "Hırsız" (Thief). Could it be because it steals our hearts?

Colors, tones, bird sounds...What more could you want?......Well, let that be too.

İNGİLİZ LİMANI (Çanak Koyu)

36°55'19"N - 28°09'25"E

Just next to Hırsız Koyu on the west side. It also competes with Hırsız Koyu in beauty. It enters northward, turns west. It does everything it can to please us. The starboard side at the entrance is the most suitable place. Anchor in sandy bottom at 7-8 meters and take shelter. It is a very, very sheltered cove.

You can also stay in the same way or at anchor on the eastward extending side. However, this section and the northern part of the harbor shallow suddenly.

In İngilİz Limanı, even if the world turns upside down, your vessel won't move. It is that sheltered.

It got its name from the legend related to British naval vessels taking refuge here during World War II. British ships that damaged German ships outside would hide in this cove, even covering themselves with trees for camouflage. German aircraft could not see them.

OKLUK KOYU

36°55'06"N - 28°10'09"E

A sheltered bay with spectacular natural beauty located southeast of Değirmen Bükü. This is the bay where Captain Sadun Boro, one of the doyens of Turkish Maritime, lived. At the entrance, on the rocks extending from Okluk Point, a mermaid statue created by sculptor Tankut Öktem has been guarding the bay since 1995. Sadun Boro gifted this statue in gratitude for the hospitality shown to him and his vessel Kısmet in the Gulf of Gökova, and inscribed the dedication on it.

Sadun Boro was the first Turk to set sail from Turkey to the world's seas by sailboat in 1965 with his 10.5-meter vessel named "Kısmet". On the voyage, his German-origin wife Oda Boro and their cat Miço were also present. The memories of this world voyage, which lasted 3 years under the conditions of that time, opened new horizons for Turkish sailors. After Sadun Boro, many sailors followed his example and have set sail to the world's seas. All these sailors would visit the master at Okluk Bay before or after starting their voyages. His vessel "Kısmet" was anchored inside the bay and, in Sadun Boro's description; "It was tied to the bow buoy and took support from the pine tree number 8 at the stern". The address was that simple.

Born in Istanbul in 1928, Sadun Boro would base himself here during the summer months and explore those seas he loved so much, every inch of them. Sadun Boro was not just a traveling sailor, but a master who shared his experiences and served as a guide and example to other sailors. He made great efforts regarding the protection of nature. One of the most important of his maritime publications is the guidebook titled "VİRA DEMİR". Boro, who passed away in 2015, and his sailboat that traversed the world's seas is exhibited at the Rahmi Koç Museum located in Istanbul Haliç.

The sheltered Okluk bay extends eastward. Although the middle is deep (12 m.), the end of the bay becomes shallow with reed beds. In this section, fishing boats are typically moored at a small wooden pier.

There is a boat entry prohibition to Malderesi Bay, which extends southward to the west of Okluk Bay.