Yassıca Adaları Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Flat Islands, Spoon Island, Yassica
Yassıca Adaları — the Flat Islands — is the most iconic anchorage in the Göcek area and one of the most photographed sailing destinations on the entire Turkish coast. A group of low pine-covered islets creates an enclosed lagoon of extraordinary shallow clarity: golden sand, turquoise water, and the silhouettes of boats floating in what appears to be liquid glass. The inner Spoon Bay lagoon reaches only 2–5m, warm and calm for swimming and paddleboarding. Beyond the islands, a deeper east anchorage offers more swinging room in 5–10m. The 2026 smart buoy system means you must reserve your spot 48 hours ahead via the TÜÇA app — walk-up anchoring in the designated buoy zones is no longer permitted.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
36°43.6'N, 28°56.4'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Holding
GoodProtected From
N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
Exposed To
None (all-weather)
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Smart buoy fee — book 48h in advance via TÜÇA app
Permit Required
No
SEPA Smart Mooring — Reservation Required
This bay is within the Fethiye-Göcek SEPA. Book your mooring buoy via the TÜÇA mobile app at least 48 hours in advance. Maximum stay: 3 days per bay, 11 days total in Göcek bays. No discharging. Speed limit 6 knots. Fines doubled in SEPA.
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
At 4m depth in the lagoon: 7:1 scope = 28m chain. Recommend 55m to allow for swinging and proximity to other boats in this busy family anchorage. If using the east anchorage (8m), set 70m.
Lagoon (Spoon Bay): 55m recommended — Shallow golden-sand lagoon between the islands.
East Anchorage: 70m recommended — Deeper anchoring east of the island group.
Anchoring Zones
Yassıca Adaları has 2 distinct anchoring zones, each with different depth, holding, and exposure characteristics. Choose the zone that matches your boat size and the expected overnight conditions.
Zone 1: Lagoon (Spoon Bay)
- Depth: 2–5m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good
- Protected from: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
- Recommended alarm radius: 55m
Shallow golden-sand lagoon between the islands. Crystal clear turquoise water — you can see the sandy bottom. 2–5m depth. All-round shelter. Very popular with families; tends to fill by 11:00 in summer.
Zone 2: East Anchorage
- Depth: 5–10m
- Bottom: sand
- Holding: Good
- Protected from: N, NE, SW, W, NW
- Exposed to: E, SE, S
- Recommended alarm radius: 70m
Deeper anchoring east of the island group. 5–10m over sand. Good holding but open to southeasterlies. More swinging room than the inner lagoon.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Yassıca Adaları is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set. Use the following approach:
- Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 2–5m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (35m chain at 5m depth).
- Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on the anchor.
- Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
- Take a GPS bearing. Note your position once set and compare to the scope calculator to confirm you have adequate chain for the depth.
Recommended anchor types for this bottom: Rocna, Mantus, Delta. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Yassıca Adaları are excellent — 360-degree protection means minimal boat movement.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 55m radius before going below for the night.At 4m depth in the lagoon: 7:1 scope = 28m chain. Recommend 55m to allow for swinging and proximity to other boats in this busy family anchorage. If using the east anchorage (8m), set 70m.
One of the most popular family anchorages on the Turkish coast. July–August sees extreme crowding — the lagoon is full by 10:00. May–June and September–October offer the same crystal water with dramatically fewer boats. Day tripper boats from Göcek depart 17:00, leaving overnighting sailors in peace.
Navigation Hazards
- Very busy in July–August — arrive by 09:00 to secure a position in the lagoon
- Shallow lagoon (2–5m) — charter boats with deeper draft must use east anchorage
- Day-tripper boats from Göcek: significant wash during the day; boats swing erratically
- SEPA: mandatory mooring buoy reservation; anchoring independently in designated buoy areas is not allowed
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: Not required
- Anchoring fee: Smart buoy fee — book 48h in advance via TÜÇA app
- Mooring buoys: Available — Fee via TÜÇA app reservation (amount announced by ÇEYAŞ)
- Maximum stay: 3 days per bay
- Restrictions: Mandatory smart mooring buoy system (2026). Reserve 48 hours in advance via TÜÇA mobile app. Maximum 3 days per bay, 11 days total in Göcek bays. SEPA zone: no discharging, 6-knot speed limit, music prohibited. Fines doubled.
For a full overview of Turkish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Göcek town (3nm)
- Restaurant: None — nearest provisions at Göcek town (3nm)
- Provisions: None on site — Göcek town (3nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Book your mooring buoy via the TÜÇA app at least 48 hours ahead — walk-up is not guaranteed in peak season
- Arrive by 09:00 to anchor in the lagoon before day-tripper boats fill the bay
- Bring snorkelling gear — the water clarity rivals the best in the Mediterranean
- Provision fully in Göcek before anchoring — nothing is available at the islands
A note on this guide: The data in this guide has been researched from multiple sailing sources and is provided in good faith. Anchorage conditions — including depth, holding, and local regulations — can change. Before visiting, always check current weather forecasts, NAVTEX and VHF weather bulletins, and consult your up-to-date charts. The Fethiye-Göcek SEPA mooring rules and fees change annually — verify current requirements via the TÜÇA app and ÇEYAŞ authority before departure. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Yassıca Adaları
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously through the night and sounds a loud alarm the moment your boat drifts outside your set radius — so you can relax and enjoy the anchorage.
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