An Aegean adventure: Catch the sailing bug in beautiful Bodrum

Flying into Bodrum on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, we seemed almost to be skimming the barren mountain tops as the plane descended. My wife and I were looking forward to a week of relaxation, as our holiday package had promised oodles of supervised activity for our 12-year-old twins. The Sea Garden, it transpired, was a new addition to our tour operator's list of properties offering family activity holidays, and they were keen to establish its reputation for water sports in particular. The popularity of Turkey with British holidaymakers has grown steadily over the past decade. Three years ago, the country overtook Spain as our most popular destination, as the strength of the euro sent many of us in search of cost-saving alternatives. 'OK. So let's see you all try it now,' said sailing instructor Charlie, as we sat in a bar jutting into the turquoise Aegean. Sadly, he wasn't talking about downing one of the free cocktails the bar specialised in. It had become clear that we were all being encouraged to take part in the programme of water sports on offer. Already we were being taught the correct arm signals to use to attract the attention of Charlie and his expert sailing colleagues, should any of us be unfortunate enough to fall out of a boat during our stay. Hang on a minute, I hadn't even agreed to get into one! three-hour course on basic sailing skills was recommended for those who, like me, hadn't clambered aboard a dinghy for donkey's years. So, before long, I was being made to capsize a small, single-sailed boat called a Pico, while our instructor, Sam, shouted directions from the shore on how to right it. An exhausting but invaluable lesson, as it later turned out. Doug, a fellow holidaymaker who had signed up for the same course, lost his hat in the water, exposing two stitches he'd required after his windsurfer capsized the day before. He was beginning to wonder whether a small boat was the easier option he had hoped it might be. The children – Eleanor and Daniel – were off at their Kids' Club, which offered lots to do and qualified instructors to do it with. They'd already taken a shine to Sabrina, who looked after the ten to 13-year-olds and took them for games in the pool, cricket and kayaking. Other instructors taught windsurfing and sailing in small boats called Bugs. The day after my course I surprised myself by heading off, straight after breakfast, to see if I could do some more sailing – and was amazed to find they were happy to let me take out a boat on my own. Old man and the sea: Malcolm before his mishap I struggled at first to remember which hand to use on the tiller and which leg to keep straight, but I soon began to get the hang of it. Until, that is, I was forced to turn or end up on the rocks ... and suddenly forgot everything I'd learned the day before. I must have pulled on the tiller instead of pushed, whereupon the boom whacked me on the head, the sail flapped in the breeze and the next thing I knew I was in the Aegean. But, even though Ahmet, the lifeguard, was there in a flash in his speedy inflatable, I managed to stand on the daggerboard and right the boat. And once again I headed across the bay beneath a sail full of wind, at what felt like a tremendous pace, feeling quite proud of myself as I sat out over the edge of the boat to balance it. 'Did you see me out there?' I asked the family after I'd handed the boat back to its rightful owners. 'Yes, Dad,' said the children with what, I felt, was a little too much hilarity. 'You had a builder's bum!' said my daughter, as they collapsed into fits of laughter. Keeping my swimming shorts up had been the least of my worries. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2087472/Holidays-Turkey-Catch-sailing-bug-beautiful-Bodrum.html#ixzz1ji1P5MdV