While the World Wilts, Turkey gets Largest Marina

2:11 AM Tue 16 Dec 2008 GMT

'Friendly and great anchoring' .

Along the luscious Turkish coastline the mood is still upbeat enough to be planning a new marina right in the heart of the cruising paradise, at Didim - and maybe they're right. More friendly and less expensive than European cruising destinations, maybe the cruising sailors will ignore destinations like Greece Spain and Croatia for the long easy coastline of Turkey - and the new, largest ever, marina at Didim.

It is still under construction, but Didim is already feeling a boost from D-Marin, Turkey's largest marina that will open in April next year, just ready for the Spring and Summer influx of cruising boats, both local and international . The budget of $50 million for D-Marin has already attracted attention to Didim.

The coastal town has languished behind such other widely visited cites as Kusadasi to the north west and Bodrum to the south east. However, there is much to attract the long range cruiser and the holiday charterer to Didim, so it's worth keeping in mind.

Didim abounds with antiquities not far away photo by Semih Leblebici - .. .

Didyma, as it was known in ancient times, was an Ionian sanctuary. The sanctuary contained a temple and oracle of Apollo, the Didymaion. In Greek didyma means 'twin', but the Greeks who sought a 'twin' at Didyma ignored the Carian origin of the name. Next to Delphi, Didyma was the most renowned oracle of the Hellenic world, first mentioned among the Greeks in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, but an establishment preceding literacy and even the colonization of Ionia. The ancient remains of Didyma can be visited easily from the port.

According to D-Marin Didim's Manager Murat Yaprak, the marina will provide a huge boost to Didim's economy and tourism. With a capacity for 1100 yachts, D-Marin Didim will be the largest marina of its kind in Turkey.

Didim location map - in the heart of cruising paradise - .. .

'D-Marin Didim will be able to host mega-yachts, between 75 and 100 meters in length,' said the marina manager. 'It will have a capacity for 650 yachts at the pier and a further 450 yacht space in the sea.'

The marina will feature many other facilities, such as gas stations, banks, swimming pools, restaurants, culture centers, cafeterias, shopping malls, sport centers, a beach club, a yacht club and yachting equipment shops.

'In this large space on which D-Marin Didim is being built, there will be all necessary technical and social services,' said Yaprak. The yachts will be protected by gigantic breakwaters at the marina. In addition to a main break of 1,150 meters in length, a secondary water-break of 625 meters will be established 600 meters northeast of the first.

Didim early sunset - .. .

The marina will also provide yacht owners with some technical assistance with parking, anchoring and other possible problems. Yaprak said it was important to have such a big marina in Didim as it was a significant position, rich in hinterland. Didim is open to sea travel from every point of the Aegean Sea and will be on the way for yachts following routes involving other Aegean and Mediterranean shores such as ?esme, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Dat?a, Marmaris and Fethiye.

The marina will also be close to the Greek Islands of Kos, Samos, Kalimnos, Leros and Patnos, which will make it more attractive for international yacht owners.

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