18 TRAVELTURKEY X1: ALACATI IN VIEW
MEGABLAST
WINDSURFING
ADVENTURES IN ALACATI
WORDS: COLIN RALPH
PICS: COLIN RALPH & SIMON BORNHOFT
ALACATI IS A UNIQUE MEDITERRANEAN TOWN ON THE WESTERN COAST OF TURKEY,
WHICH HAS BEEN FAMOUS FOR ITS ARCHITECTURE, VINEYARDS AND WINDMILLS FOR
OVER 150 YEARS HAS ALSO MADE ITS NAME IN THE WORLD OF WINDSURFING AND
KITESURFING. WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER, CONSISTENT AND STEADY WIND DURING
JUNE-AUGUST AND THEN THERE IS A CHANCE OF WIND FROM THE SOUTH IN OCTOBER.
Alacati is one of the most rustic towns in Turkey with stone houses, narrow streets,
boutique hotels and restaurants with tables on the streets. The area is also home to
the Alacati yacht marina and the famous Port Alacati development, created by the
French architect Francois Spoerry and his son, Yves Spoerry (ref.Wikipedia).
Like many windsurfers I have been aware of this location for a long time (thanks to PWA events and well
fingered magazines of bygone days), but never had the chance or opportunity to visit and see what it’s all
about first hand. Based in Kuwait (for now) my wife and I opted for nine days early August in Alacati
following a short hop to Latvia for a wedding (not ours!).
Pre-trip
Flights to Izmir – airport code ADB. Several carriers fly here with Thomas Cook running charters but
Pegasus and Easyjet offer budget types also. There are direct options from Gatwick and Manchester as
well as stopovers via Istanbul from a variety of regional airports (Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow to
name a few). Don’t be put off by this option as it is literally a 50-minute flight from Istanbul. Transfer to the
airport can be arranged by hotel (200-250TL) or a taxi (around 350TL). Takes around an hour.
uk
WIND
SURFING