Yasemin and Aytuğ’s Blue Voyage
A doormat, a compass, a heartbeat… the story of a lifelong journey that began with a single step onto a sailboat…
Sailor’s Newspaper: How did your interest in sailing start? What was the biggest motivation that drew you to the sea?
Yasemin Serin: Hello, Yasemin and Aytuğ's sailing dream started during the pandemic. Aytuğ had a sailboat with a partner in the past, but he couldn't live this life on his first boat. When we first met, he used to talk about his sailing dreams with twinkling eyes. He would read Sadun Bora's Pupa Yelken and Osman Atasoy's Far Away to me at home and on the beach. I am a nature lover regardless of the sea and mountains, but I have to confess that it was my heartfelt companion Aytuğ who awakened the love of sailing in me. We are souls reunited in their second spring. The year was 2020, the new times of our relationship. One day he said, "If you think of buying me a gift, buy the book of Özkan GüLkaynak, who was the last Turk who made a round-the-world tour, okay?", I took a note, on the first special day I found Özkan Gülkaynak's phone number from the publishing house, I called, I said; My lover has sailing dreams, he admires you very much, can you sign and send your book? Mr. Özkan is a very kind gentleman, he even made a joke on the phone that if I had one female fan I would break my teeth, thanks to him, Captain Özkan sent the book. He also wrote a note saying "Dear Aytuğ, I wish you to follow your dreams". So I went and bought an antique compass to go with the book and a welcome on board mat for the boat that didn't have one. ☺️ I think his happiness when I gave him the gifts awakened the love of sailing in me.
Afterwards, on my first birthday together, he made me a sailboat cake. There is a couple sitting on the cake on a sailboat. Then a few more months passed, the pandemic period was prolonged, the work was over, (we are doing fair organization work) We watch all Youtube videos about sailing at home during curfews, we started looking for a boat soon, and within 2 months we bought our first eyeache Jeanneau 36 i Luna's girl from Marmaris in February 2021, we always watched "do not take women to the boat transfer, you will cool your wives from the sea", would I listen:) Of course I went, an instructor, Aytuğ and I brought our boat from Marmaris to Finike in the winter cold in 3 days. This is how our sailing life began.
S. N: Is there a special reason why you chose Antalya Setur Marina? What are the advantages of living and sailing here?
Y.S: We live in Antalya. We were at Setur Finike marina for 2 years with our first boat. However, if the pandemic did not end, business life started, after enjoying the passion of boat life on our sailboat, we missed our boat every time we went home. we did not want to be far from our boat. we brought it to Setur Antalya Marina in 2023, the biggest advantage of Antalya Setur for us is that it is close to home; we can spend most of our time left from work on our boat in summer and winter. We also love marina life. Our social environment, our marina neighbors are very good, we have a new environment and sailor friends. Also, sailing in the Gulf of Antalya is enjoyable, there is always a good wind.
The disadvantage is that it is far from the bays. This year we renewed our agreement with Setur for 5 months in Kaş and 7 months in Antalya. We will move to Kaş Setur Marina at the end of May.
S. N: Which routes have you traveled with your boat? What was one of your most memorable sailing adventures?
Y.S: We have been to Marmaris, Hisarönü Bay, Fethiye, Göcek, Kaş, Kekova many times. I think your favorite place is Ekincik My Marina, we go there every summer. Last summer we went abroad with our boat for the first time, we went to the Greek islands of Simi and Rhodes, it was an unforgettable vacation.
S. N: What are your favorite moments on your boat? Do you have special moments like sunrise, sunset, calm sea after a storm?
Y.S: Every moment is very enjoyable in boat life, if you love this life. I am never in the mindset of let's go to the bay as soon as possible, I like long cruising, it doesn't tire me much. I even prepare dinner during the cruise, going downstairs is not a problem for me at all. When you catch a good weather, sailing without motor, sunrise and sunset are both beautiful :)
S. N: Have you ever experienced a challenging sea voyage? How did you act in such a situation?
Y.S: In the new stages of our sailing life, we left Antalya to go to Selimiye. I got sick during the 4-day cruise, I was under a blanket in August with a fever of 39 degrees.
While entering the Hisarönü Gulf from Marmaris, we were caught in a storm with 40 knots of wind with the windy's deception. It was horrible, we were so battered that we took shelter in Serçe harbor, then Bozukkale, that's inexperience. We barely made it to Bozburun when our diesel was about to run out. We took care of our shopping needs such as doctor, pharmacy and diesel, we got so fed up that we didn't go to Selimiye when we were so close, we went back to Finike. We left the boat and returned home to Antalya, we were so scared that we didn't go to the boat for a month, then it passed. The passion for sailing prevailed.
S. N: What kind of division of labor is there among you while sailing? Do you have clear roles in terms of who undertakes which tasks?
Y.S: When we sail, everything is everyone's duty, the division of labor changes according to our maneuvers at that moment. As a woman, I am not satisfied with being a mate, successful women sailors like Başak Mireli are my idols and inspiration. Sometimes I take the helm, sometimes we open and close the mainsail together, anchoring is usually my job, docking is Aytuğ's job. We have a first mate and a second mate, of course I am the second mate :)
Apart from that, it is also my job to net the boat and the galley while sailing.
S. N: How has sailing together affected your relationship? Are there any aspects that unite or challenge you more?
Y.S: Aytuğ and I have been life partners for 5 years. Our relationship and sailing life started at the same time. We adapted to sailing life together. Our love for sailing strengthened our relationship much more. It nourished and nurtured our love and connected us even more. I say the same to couples who are interested in this life. There are solo sailors whom I admire very much, but in my opinion, sailing is very enjoyable if done with the right partner and 2 people. We have participated in 4 races since last year, taking part in racing organizations as a couple has added new ones to the beautiful memories in our lives. We persevered and in our 3rd race, with a small step for the world and a big step for us, we came 2nd in our category in the Antalya Republic Cup. I think the biggest factor that feeds our relationship is our love for sailing and our harmony in sea life.
The sea is not always a harbor of peace, it is important to have 4 eyes instead of 2 in case of any mishaps.
S. N: How does your communication with each other change during long voyages at sea? Is there a different dynamic than on land?
Y.S: Honestly, it's the land that keeps us together more than the sea :)
When we are on our boat at sea, we are both so much where we want to be that we are very harmoniously balanced and happy in our own world.
S. N:: How do you prepare for different weather conditions? Are there any special tactics you use in case of wind, currents or sudden weather changes?
Y.S: Our teachers used to say that the sea is no joke, you should always be cautious. After a few bad experiences, we don't throw ropes or make plans without smelling the wind. In case of unexpected bad weather, we always tie ourselves to the deck. In this weather we keep our course close to the shore.
S. N: What is it like to live or stay on your boat for a long time? How do your daily routines change?
Y.S: The boat has become my comfort zone and my second home. I really enjoy waking up on the sea and spending the whole day on the boat. Of course, it is not the comfort of home, but the life energy it gives is priceless. This life keeps me in the moment, I wake up quite early, greeting the sun, then breakfast, dinner, cleaning the boat and the day goes by. You also adapt to minimal living, you can't use water in the comfort of a home, you can't stack things you won't use. You realize how little you actually need to live.
S. N: Do you have a special setup to increase your comfort on the boat? What are your favorite items or must-haves?
Y.S: I think mechanics have a soul too. Once you establish that bond with the boat, it is hard to give it up. Difficulties are the quirk of the job.
Boat life is a short passing field in a narrow space. I try not to make the same mistake on the new boat as I did on our first sailboat. I only buy as much of everything as I need, including food. I try not to disrupt routine tasks to maintain order.
S. N: Do you have big dreams of sailing around the world? Is there a special route you are targeting?
Y.S: With the YouTube videos of Fatih Aksu, who made the last world tour during the pandemic, we had as much as a world tour, we worried about him in bad weather, we dreamed of being on the islands in the Pacific like him. We were very novice sailors then. It was easy to dream. As we gained experience, I think our most realistic dream now is to finish the Mediterranean up to Gibraltar. To sail through the Baltic and Ionian Seas with our sailboat. Last summer we took a step towards this dream with the Greek islands cruise. Since our job is fair organization, we only work actively in winters, our summers are free, which is a great chance for us. We can call it part-time retirement.
I don't know if we will feel the urge to explore the world again when we retire full time.
S. N: Do you plan to live on board for a long time in the future, or do you prefer to sail periodically?
Y.S: We are in the 4th year of our sailing life. As time passes without making a future plan, our life evolves into a life at sea. We live both on the boat and at home. We are on our boat half of the week, summer and winter. In fact, this is the reason why we sold our first boat, a 36-foot Jeanneau 2011 model, and switched to a slightly larger, comfortable and newer model boat, a 2022 model Hanse 418. We are now living a demo of full-time sailing life. Rather than a settled life, we will buy a tiny house next month, we will put it under the orange and lemon trees in our father's garden next to the ancient city of Perge. We have a life plan to live in nature both on land and at sea. Longevity is enough🙏🏻
S. N: What would be your most important advice to couples who are just starting out or thinking of owning a boat?
Y.S: When we didn't have a boat, we watched so many videos with Aytuğ that one day I rebelled and said, "Some people watch life, some people live it, I want to live it, enough is enough, let's buy a boat according to our budget." Aytuğ also needed a click of gas. We are now living beyond our dreams as a couple
Maybe it will be very simple, but they should not postpone their dreams. As a couple, we started our sailing life 5 years ago with an inflatable canoe, which was my hobby, I knew nothing about sailing, even the nautical terms were so foreign to me, but I gave my heart to it, every sailing still teaches me something. I have just started to become a good woman sailor. I am also a member of the Board of Directors of Antalya Sailing Club, I try to touch the soul of everyone who has a love for the sea and sailing but is not familiar with this life.
S. N: Finally, what is your philosophy of life?
Y.S: I have become a shamanic person with a more mystical outlook on life as I get older. I believe in the power and beauty of nature and harmony with all living beings. We came to experience this life, we accumulate everything we can experience in our pockets, and everything we dream of but cannot realize becomes garbage. Heaven and hell are both in this world; I think in people's souls. As a woman, I try to create our own paradise in our own little world as much as possible, I guess this is my philosophy of life.
Hope to meet everyone who loves sailing on the seas one day,
Love,
Yasemin Serin
Thank you for taking the time out of your day.
Reportage: Banu Demir
Photographs: Yasemin - Altuğ Archive
Prepared for Publication: Doruk Agency / Founded by Sailor's Newspaper
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