Sailor's Newspaper: What safety measures do you take? What are some fundamental safety tips for sailors?
Orkan Güler: Safety is undoubtedly a top priority for every sailor. From my own experiences, I can firmly say that the sea does not forgive even the smallest mistake. The importance you place on your own life directly reflects in how you care for your boat.
In addition to mandatory equipment like fire extinguishers, life jackets, first aid kits, and flares, the following items are essential: a single-piece rope longer than 100 meters and strong enough to support the boat’s weight, a waterproof flashlight, diving goggles, a sharp knife, a handheld radio, a hand pump, binoculars, navigation tools, paper charts, a whistle or air horn, and emergency medications like ammonia. Additionally, I advise storing non-perishable dry food and plenty of freshwater in the bilge.Taking a first aid course, having reference books on navigation signals and buoyage systems, and keeping these resources aboard can be invaluable—especially when you lack internet access or need quick guidance. Just as you secure the boat’s safety, the captain must also trust their skills and prepare for potential risks. Always check meteorological forecasts before sailing, ensure the boat's engine, rigging, and other systems are in working condition, and avoid pushing the limits of your equipment. Never helm the boat while intoxicated or overly fatigued, as this endangers both yourself and other sailors.
S.N: What are your thoughts on protecting the seas? What measures are needed for a sustainable maritime lifestyle?
O.G: Like any responsible mariner, I believe that the environment we love so dearly needs maximum protection. Personally, I take every measure to ensure my boat does not harm the environment. From my observations, amateur sailors generally act with a sense of environmental awareness, and this consciousness has become more established over time.
However, I’ve noticed that commercial maritime vessels, with whom we share these waters, are often not as conscientious. For example, while the disposal of wastewater is regulated through blue cards, serious environmental issues like the discharge of oily bilge water—often habitually dumped into the sea at night—still occur.
S.N: What are your observations regarding the impact of climate change on maritime activities? What do you consider the greatest threat to the seas?
O.G: The conscious protection of nature and the seas, as well as making them sustainable, starts with educating those who live on and interact with the sea. Neglect over the years has made it essential for the new generation to adopt a different approach than their predecessors. It's critical to recognize that not only amateur sailors pollute the seas. Commercial fishers, wooden charter boats, medium-sized transport vessels like passenger ferries, tugboats, and coastal freighters, as well as ships repaired in shipyards, must also be held accountable and monitored.
S.N: What advice would you give to young people and beginners interested in maritime activities?
O.G: My advice to young people and beginners interested in maritime activities is to acquire a small, old boat—even if it’s just a dinghy—within their budget. Understanding the sea, learning to love it, and simultaneously learning to respect and fear it is only possible by directly experiencing it and feeling it firsthand.
I’ve come across families who spend hundreds of thousands of Euros on brand-new boats but lack basic skills like rowing. For those who cannot afford a boat but are passionate about the sea, I recommend doing an internship with a maritime company or onboard a ship, or attending a school that offers maritime education to get a taste of the sea.
S.N: Do you have other interests or hobbies besides maritime activities?
O.G: After my passion for maritime life, my next favorite hobby is restoring classic American cars. Over the years, I’ve restored and owned more than 100 classic American cars. Like boats, each of these cars has a soul and is a work of art. Their design, lines, aesthetics, grandeur, chrome components, and powerful engines make them living time machines, in my opinion.
My generation would understand this very well; it’s hard to imagine iconic photographs of Istanbul, Yeşilçam films, or the iconic ferryboats with smoking stacks without the classic American cars used as taxis and minibuses crossing the Galata Bridge. Thanks to this passion, I’ve gained enough knowledge and expertise to be considered one of the few specialists in the restoration of classic American cars.
S.N: What is the greatest freedom that comes with living on a sailboat? Have you ever thought about giving up this lifestyle?
O.G: The greatest freedom of living on a boat is that, like a turtle, you carry your home with you wherever you go. I have never once thought about giving up this lifestyle. As long as my health and finances permit, I hope to continue living this way.
S.N: What are the moments that make you happiest while at sea?
O.G: The most profound happiness of being at sea is the realization that there’s nothing and no one between you and God except the sea and your boat.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.
Banu Demir / The Sailor's Newspaper
Photograps: Orkan Güler / orkanguler@hotmail.com
Prepared for Publication: Doruk Agency / Founded by Sailor's Newspaper
