Sailor's Newspaper: Can we get to know you briefly? How did your passion for sailing begin?
Çağlar Emiroğlu: First of all, thank you for giving me a place in your valuable newspaper. I was born in 1968 in Izmir, my life has always been spent in İzmir. I am a mechanical engineer, I have a company that manufactures special design machinery and industrial robot applications, I do my profession that I love very much and I continue my business life actively.
In fact, my love for the sea started long ago, when I was a child, my father did not buy me a bicycle during my first school period, when bicycles were the most important, but bought me a boat and a motor instead. When the schools closed, I would go to school on the boat and when the schools opened, I would go to school on the boat. Until 1987 when I bought a windsurf from a tourist in Çeşme. The surfboards of that time were primitive things made of plastic drum raw material with aluminum poles and keel. Afterwards, I continued with quality windsurfers and funboards such as xantos2 with the developing technology for many years.
During my university years, I learned that mechanical engineering students could do engine officer internship on long distance ships. And I took advantage of this opportunity, got my seaman's wallet and experienced the Atlantic, Biskay and English Channel in the engine room, on the deck and on the bridge of Koçtuğ's Marmaris1.
And again I realized that the sea was indispensable for me, sailing was not for me, but the boat was a must...
S. N: When and how did you buy your first sailboat?
Ç. E: ‘’Laurus1’’ is my 3rd boat, my first boat was a swallow model sailboat produced by Rota company. And for many years I used whichever sailboat/boat the weather permitted.
Later on, I came across a boat built in Mordoğan by Kurucaşile. The chestnut named Ege was a classic winding, keel keeled boat that used to be a sailboat. Although I took this boat and set out to overhaul it and equip it with a rigging, I wasted a lot of money and time due to the bad masters I was lucky enough to come across, I managed to sail it as a motor boat, albeit with difficulty. When a boat that had nothing to do with the one in my dreams appeared, I used it for a while, I looked at the sailboats passing around me with a sigh, I looked at it, I looked at it, up to a point and said goodbye. I learned one more thing, selling a boat is the easiest thing in the world but buying a boat is the hardest thing in the world.
And my long but impatient search began, advertisements, shelters, marinas, friends, acquaintances...
One day I came across an advertisement on the internet and I said, this is it. I started to talk to the owner, I came to Teos marina on the eve of the holiday and looked at the boat, and thanks to my brother Suat, the former owner, I became the new owner.
I wanted to change the name with permission and name it after my daughter, I realized that Laurel (Daphne) is used a lot in boats, so I named it "Laurus" from Laurus Nobilis, the Latin for Laurel.
S. N: How did you come up with the idea of providing sailing training? What are your primary goals in the training process?
Ç. E: One of my life philosophies is to target the limits of your abilities in whatever you are doing, I believe that before starting an intensive work, it is absolutely necessary to receive training from competent, authorized people. I did the same, when I bought my Rota dingy class sailboat, a friend of mine from the Galatasaray High School sailing team passed on his knowledge to me with great patience and care, thanks to him, since I had windsurfing experience before, my job was easy and I had less torment for my friend.
After getting to know my boat, which I am still on and after a period of getting used to it, my friends and their friends' requests for help with the boats they bought led me to become an instructor. I completed the TUYEP (Turkish National Sailing Education Program) instructor course, which is the program of Turkish Sailing Federation organized at Ali Rıza Mete Sailing Club, which I was also involved in the establishment of, and as a result of the practical exams, I deserved the D4 Dinghy Instructor / Instructor certificate and started my sailing trainings with the plan and discipline of the program.
My aim in the trainings is to ensure that each trainee learns the physics of sailing very well, not by rote, but by thinking with what they have learned and making a safe and enjoyable sailing trip with the right trim. But this is of course the sailing side of the business, it is very important to emphasize that they should also acquire many other knowledge such as seamanship, navigation, meteorology, first aid, etc...
S. N: Can you share a memory that you cannot forget during your training?
Ç. E: Yes, of course there is. I share the most pleasant one :)
I lived with a beautiful family who retired from Istanbul and moved to İzmir. When they started the practical part of the training with enthusiasm, stress and fear got in the way of the training, they said "we are quitting, we don't want it", there were some tears involved, unfortunately it turned out that only the father wanted it the most, no one else had a heart. I said "Alas!", "This training will not end", but I have never left a job unfinished in my life, I said I would not leave this one unfinished either, we continued talking to each of them, slowly showing them that there was nothing to be afraid of, how enjoyable it was, and then, of course, of course, the work changed a lot, in turn, my goal in my sailing training; each trainee who has received training is to turn the boat to the route I have given alone and to make the most suitable trim for the sail (single-handed). We completed the training with a very successful result. Greetings to them from here...
S. N: What are the biggest challenges for beginners when taking sailing lessons?
Ç. E: Actually, it is enough to want to be a racer or a traveling sailor, but the right teacher and school for your purpose, but of course, in the meantime, the rising marina prices and the related boat costs are reflected in the cost of training that is moving away from sustainability, unfortunately...
S. N: What are the basic requirements for someone who wants to take sailing training?
Ç. E: Knowing oneself well, self-confidence, discipline, some knowledge of math and physics are absolutely necessary!
S. N: How is sailing different from other sports?
Ç. E: Actually, there is no difference at all, just discipline and patience and hard work. Our knees are always broken on the cranes and at the helm:)
S. N: How do you think sailing contributes to personal development?
Ç. E: If you are a "solo sailor", you need to know yourself and your limits very well so that you meet many difficulties alone and with yourself, if you are involved in a team for racing, I believe that it contributes a lot to business and social life with very serious responsibility, knowledge and teamwork.
S. N: What are your views on sailing in Turkey and in the world?
Ç. E: I think as a country we get good results in international races, we get many awards, but unfortunately we have a considerable number of sailors who sail around the world with individual family efforts, crossing the Atlantic, and we are actually in a place to be very proud of, even a very difficult race such as the "Golden Globe Race" is the first time a Turk has participated; Dr. Selim Yalçın...
S. N: Which features did you pay attention to when choosing your own sailboat?
Ç. E: I wanted a hull speed that I could handle on my own as well as having enough living space for me.
37 ft i.e. 12 m boat is ideal in my opinion, I think the most important thing is who you buy the boat from, such as the engine propeller structure should have a shaft, the main sail should be wrapped into the mast, it should have a Turkish flag, thanks to my brother Suat:)
S. N: What kind of strategy do you follow in difficult weather conditions like storms?
Ç. E: Reconnaissance and planning is the most important thing, I don't take risks from the beginning, but of course you may encounter a surprise at any moment, and in those cases I sail further away from the shore that I am already sailing away from...
S. N: How do you think technological developments affect sailing?
Ç. E: Technology certainly contributes a lot, the hulls are changing, but I still find boats built before 2000-2005 more nautical with their rigging and hull structure, I didn't like the two rudders in the cockpit :) Apart from that, GPS electronic maps, speed depth indicators make navigation safer and more comfortable, new lithium battery technology solar panels make your life easier!
S. N: Is there anyone who inspires you in the maritime field?
Ç. E: I am 56 years old, the sources of information were already very limited at that time, but I think my father didn't buy me a bicycle, he bought me a boat in my primary school years, I think I entered this sea once and I couldn't get out again, then an internship on an international ship, then I had the opportunity to meet real sailors and yes, almost all of them inspired me with their experiences…
S. N: Do you have any projects you want to realize in the future related to sailing and maritime?
Ç. E: Yes, I do. But if you allow me to keep it a secret for now :)
S. N: What do you think can be done to encourage young people to take up sailing and maritime sports?
Ç. E: People and institutions that provide sailing and maritime education, I provide education to 3-5 university students every year, marinas can organize events sponsored by municipalities, very experienced sailors who have traveled the world are invited to schools and given the opportunity to share their memories and experiences, this situation can be increased. Such conferences really broaden the horizons of young people and give them a different perspective on life.
S. N: Finally can we learn about your philosophy of life?
Ç. E: I have seen people with no clothes on, I have seen clothes with no people in them, living a humble and simple life :)
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.
Banu Demir / The Sailor's Newspaper
Photograps: Çağlar Emiroğlu Archive
Prepared for Publication: Doruk Agency / Founded by Sailor's Newspaper
