Üfakdere Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Clean sandy bay east of Kaş town. Good holding in sand. Open to the south and southwest — fair-weather only. Calm, quiet, and beautiful in settled conditions. Popular day-stop and swim destination.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Üfakdere Bay is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set. Use the following approach:

1. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 4–12m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
2. 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.
3. Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
4. 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, Delta, Spade. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Üfakdere Bay are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to S and SW and SE winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 55m radius before going below for the night.55m in the main sand bay. Fair-weather anchorage only — three-quarters of the compass is exposed. Do not stay overnight if any S, SW, or SE is in the 24-hour forecast. In settled summer conditions (Meltemi from N/NW), this is a lovely overnight stop.

June–September for overnight stays (settled northerly summer pattern). Daytime use possible whenever conditions are calm from the south. Avoid May, October when southerly risk is elevated.

Navigation Hazards

• S/SW/SE exposure — unsuitable for overnight in anything other than settled northerly conditions; monitor forecast carefully
• No facilities ashore — self-sufficiency required
• Open sea approach from the south — swell can build quickly if wind shifts to any southerly quarter

Rules & Regulations

• Permit: Not required
• Anchoring fee: Free
• Restrictions: Fair-weather only — do not anchor when southerly forecast exceeds 10 knots.

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: Kaş town (4nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest provisions at Kaş town (4nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Kaş town (4nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Use in conjunction with a visit to Kaş — anchor here for the afternoon swim and return to the quay for the night if uncertain about overnight conditions
2. The sand is clean and the water exceptionally clear — one of the best swimming bays close to Kaş
3. Check the 48-hour forecast carefully before committing to overnight — the S exposure is the critical factor
4. Best in June–August when northerly meltemi dominates and southerlies are very unlikely