The origin of the Bodrum type schooner vessels falls to a nearby date, to the beginning of 1970s when Demir Duru, the founder of Durukos Yachting, moved to Bodrum and fell in love with it. As the popular saying among travellers, one must see Rome before they die, or come to Bodrum and live forever, Duru chose the latter, like the Fisherman of Halikarnas. A native of Istanbul, the son of the largest and most prominent travel agency of his time, Demir Duru built his first boat in 1974. Soon after, he started ferry services between Bodrum and the Greek island of Kos, displaying his early affinity with the nautical industry. Starting initially as a bareboat and flotilla charter broker, Duru originated the crewed gulet charters, produced the finest and most preeminent gulets in his boatyard in the following years to come. A pioneer in the yachting industry in Turkey, Duru has been accredited by numerous Turkish newspapers, as well foreign publications such as the Forbes and the New York Times, as the King of the Blue Cruise, who transformed Fisherman of Halikarnas’s vision into a bustling industry.

Demir Duru passed away in December 2006, leaving a trademark of excellence that to this day sustains his repeat customers from all around the world flying to Bodrum and Gocek each summer to experience the Durukos privilege aboard the Durukos yachts. His family continues his legacy in their home office in Bodrum and in their New York office.