Windsurfing in Alaçatı, Turkey

I learned windsurfing on a cold New England bay with fickle winds, currents and tides, so when I saw Alaçatı's windsurfing on Turkey's Çeşme peninsula, I was amazed: brisk, steady winds from the northeast, a broad bay protected from sea waves, tides and currents, with a soft sand sea bottom and few rocks.

Wow!

I sat there in a shady beachside cafe and watched the flags blowing sideways, steadily sideways, always blowing, as though someone had set controls on a wind tunnel to "moderate-brisk," then gone away on vacation.

This is perfect for windsurfing, I thought.

Then I saw letters formed with stones on the far hillside: Alaçatı: Surf Paradise.

On the hillside to the north of the bay, ranks of tall white electricity-generating windmills slowly turned, turned, turned. If it's steady enough for a windfarm, I thought, it must be windsurfing paradise.

Cafes, restaurants, a few small hotels, and windsurfing shops provide everything you need, whether you want to take one run during your Alaçatı stay, or you intend to stay a week and surf 10 hours a day.

Alaçatı's windsurfing bay is about 3 km (2 miles) south of the town center. If you head north from Alaçatı 3 km (2 miles), you'll be at Ilıca, with its splendid swimming beach.

Alaçatı Hotels

Alaçatı Restaurants

Alaçatı & Çeşme Transport

Alaçati

Çeşme

Aegean Turkey

Greek Island Ferries

Where to Go

Alaçatı's brisk, steady winds generate electricity as well as windsurfing excitement.