Sailing in North Cyprus

Boats in Kyrenia Harbour photo by: Ersin Taser [ enlarge photo ]

North Cyprus is blessed with warm seas, fine weather and no tides, so it’s an ideal place to learn to sail. Yachting companies in North Cyprus will teach you dinghy sailing to RYA standards and beyond, on the warm waters of the Mediterranean. No need for wetsuits, the main requirement is a good hat to keep off the strong sun!

North Cyprus Yachts

Alternatively, let someone else take the helm, and just enjoy the sheer thrill of sailing around North Cyprus. Circum Cyprus offer skippered traditional boats; all you need to decide is where you want to go! See a nice cove? Stop and snorkel, or fish for your dinner in the clear waters of the Mediterranean. Aboard your yacht in the waters off North Cyprus you might spot swimming turtles or diving dolphins, before heading back into port for a sun-downer at the harbour side. You can charter a boat by the hour, day or week, include full board, and they’ll even come and collect you from the airport! Other companies offer day trips from Kyrenia harbour that include swim stops and beach barbeques, and trips from Gazi Magusa offer trips along the Karpas Peninsula National Park.

Sailing to North Cyprus

If you wish to sail your own yacht to North Cyprus, the main harbour available is Kyrenia, but what a harbour! Since the ferries were moved to the new harbour in 1990, the old harbour has undergone major improvements. The old customs house is now a yachting centre, and all moorings have water and electricity available. The harbour is so picturesque, it makes an ideal base for exploring North Cyprus both on land and by water. You should contact the harbour at Kyrenia before entering, and once anchored, proceed immediately to customs and immigration. Facilities at Kyrenia also include a laundry, left luggage office, ship washing service and technical workshop.

Other Yacht Harbours in North Cyprus

You can also moor at the harbour at Famagusta, in a part of the main commercial harbour reserved for yachts and fishing boats. This harbour lacks the charm and grace of Kyrenia, and with all the commercial shipping activity, Famagusta harbour is considerably more noisy, too. There are plans to turn the lagoon between this harbour and the Palm reach Hotel into a yacht harbour. There are moorings at the fishing harbour of Yeni Erenkroy, so long as your boat’s draught does not exceed two metres.

The Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally

If you like your yachting fast and furious, then don’t miss the annual Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally. Over 100 yachts race from Istanbul to Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus via Kemer, and Alanya in Turkey. After a brief rest stop in North Cyprus, they head out again to Mersin in Turkey, then on to ports in Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt before finally finishing at the ancient port of Ashkelon in Israel. The international crews arrive in Kyrenia in mid May, carefully steering their million dollar boats into Kyrenia past the imposing castle before tying up next to the fishing boats. There is always a great big party to celebrate their arrival, and Kyrenia harbour side is packed with yachting enthusiasts admiring the boats before they head out to sea again. Why not join in the fun next year!