Yachties’ Full Moon Party at Kekova Roads, Turkey

by Cruising Editor on 6 Oct 2006 Kekova Roads, that heavenly anchorage on the southern Lycian coast of Turkey is just following tradition with the celebration called a Full Moon Party on Saturday 7th October. Earliest traces of history show that humans always celebrated the Full Moon, sometimes joyously, sometimes ghoulishly.

There'll be little ghoul, however, as a large group of yachties dance on ground that has been trod for thousands of years of civilization. Kekova Roads is home to hundreds of Lycian Tombs, sunken cities, some Roman remains and even has a Crusader Castle.

Each year the party is organised by four marinas in the area – two Antalya Marinas together with those at Kemer and Finike. Cruisers each year crowd into Kekova Roads, where there is no marina, to anchor and enjoy the celebration.

Sailors will eat together at any one of the five waterside restaurants, then dance the night away beside the tombs in the moonlight. The nationalities of the boats will be many – French, German, Dutch, Turkish, Australian, American – just another opportunity for those who take the plunge and go long range cruising.