We continue meeting sea lovers whose paths crossed through Setur Marinas Finike, and started living here with us. This time, we were guests of a guest again. Aylin Clarmo!
Eda Selçuk, Setur Marinas Finike Front Office Representative
Aylin Clarmo is a free woman enjoying the sea both above and below the surface. She is originally from Istanbul. Her passion for the sea started at the age of 8, when she attended an optimist event in Hereke with the encouragement of her father. She received her first sailing lessons there and realized how much she loved the sea. She then realized that she had to dive into the depths of the sea and became a swimming instructor. Because, as everyone who loves the sea knows, the sea keeps all its secrets within itself, showing us earthlings only as much as we deserve. Her diving adventure that began at the age of 19 at the Divers Club in Caddebostan continued as a Padi IDC Staff instructor; she dived and taught diving in many parts of the world.
At first the boat was just a tool for her to use while diving. She thought that sailing lacked freedom because of being away from land for days and weeks, and not being able to reach land when the weather was bad. Until she met her husband Mr. Göran! Mr. Göran introduced her to sailing and nobody has been able to steer her away from it since she started living on the boat in 2000.
There is also a "mysterious woman". That mysterious woman freed Mrs. Aylin from all her burdens. We are talking about literal burdens: the clothes she bought with care, the bags she could not spare, and all sorts of personal care products. After diving in the marina one day, Mrs. Aylin was diligently sorting all the hair care and body care products in the common shower area where she went to take a shower, when this mysterious woman came in with only a shampoo bottle in her hand, quickly took her shower and left. Mrs. Aylin was still preparing for the shower at that time. That is when Mrs. Aylin thought to herself: "What am I doing? I am not living in the moment. I surrounded myself with materials. I have to get rid of it all!" If only we too could come across a mysterious woman and have such an epiphany and shake off the stress of the world.
Once she started to experience the minimalist and practical world of sailing, which at the same time makes one feel free, she and her husband sailed in various seas around the world. They have explored the entire Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, Sweden, the Atlantic Ocean, South America, the Caribbean and Thailand, both above and below the sea. The Mediterranean Sea holds a special place in their hearts. The Mediterranean is a region where they could find things that they both love while sailing.
Mrs. Aylin speaks so enthusiastically about the sailing in Brazil, and particularly mentions Suriname as a must-visit destination. Being surrounded by nature, having a rich history and delicious food make it special for Mrs. Aylin. She also remembers the joy of sailing at 3 knots from South America to the Caribbean. But she also describes a bad incident that they experienced. During an ordinary voyage, when it was her turn on watch, they were raided by pirates in Brazil, just off the Amazon. Mrs. Aylin can never forget that day. After doing all her checks, she went inside to get coffee for five minutes and suddenly she heard a loud collision, so she climbed up on the boat and checked the surroundings and she saw a big log passing by. She noticed three people clinging to a large yellow canister a little further away and immediately called out to her husband. They had to call their friend Joseph on the phone to communicate with the pirates who did not speak English. After the phone call between Joseph and the pirates, they reached a compromise and, fortunately, the matter was resolved before anything worse happened. It is as if she is still experiencing it when Mrs. Aylin tells about this incident.
Mrs. Aylin talks longingly about sailing in the old times. She believes that motor yachts, which suddenly became popular because of Covid, have killed genuine sailing. "Those old sailors respected and helped each other. They would never hesitate to demonstrate their skills and help when there was a problem" she says. She talks about polite gestures such as offering treats to the newcomers and not leaving dishes for them.
Covid brings them to Finike Marina. They are currently living on Cantana III (Halberg Rassy) that her husband purchased in '88. Cantana means "no one can overtake" in Swedish. Mr. Göran's previous boats were also named Cantana I and II. Cantana III is like their child, they take care of everything themselves. Once they have made their preparations, they will set sail again for new adventures.
Aylin Claro frequently reminds us that sailing makes you feel freedom to the fullest. Even a short conversation over tea with her is proof enough of that.