Gulet yachts are, especially in these times of Corona, a popular and responsible way to spend your summer holiday. However, not many people are aware of the differences between Gulets and other sailboats. In order to give people the opportunity to get to know more about Gulet yachts like our own, we created this 5-part series.
Part 1 - The History of Gulet Yachts
Gulets originate from the area of Bodrum in Turkey, but the increasing demand for these luxurious sailboats led to their construction being mainly in other parts of the country, like Marmaris, Fethiye, and Bozburun.
The Gulets have not been around for too long. They started coming up around 1980. Most Gulets have two or three masts. They lay low in the water and have a heavily weighted, wooden hull, which makes them less likely to rock with the waves. This makes them ideal for people who are prone to seasickness. They are made from luxurious kinds of wood like teak and therefore keep on having their antique look.
In the early days, Gulets were used by fishermen to transport their catch. Also, traders used the sailboats to move their goods from harbor to harbor.
After a spike in tourism in Turkey in 1970, Gulets became an iconic symbol for Turkish sail-related tourism and the demand for the sailboats rose.
Because Gulets became increasingly popular for tourism, the sailboats were being designed especially for passenger comfort. From the outside, they still look exactly like the old fishermen's boats, but from the inside, most of them are equipped with private bathrooms and cabins in which guests can relax.
Would you like to learn more about these typical Turkish sailboats before stepping aboard one, stay tuned for the second part in this series! If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at info@sailingchef.eu.