Newsletters
The Atabay Challengers Team, racing aboard Orient Express6 under captain Zeynep Atabay Taskent, secured victory in the Canakkale Cup Offshore Race, part of the 7th Presidential International Yacht Races, Canakkale Cup and Coast Guard Cup Offshore Race.
Held within commemorations marking the 111th anniversary of the Canakkale Land Battles, the event brought together international sailors in one of Türkiye’s most historically significant waterways.
The award ceremony took place at the Hangar in Anadolu Hamidiye Bastion, a historic military structure overlooking the Dardanelles Strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
Organized by the Istanbul Offshore Yacht Racing Club under the auspices of the Presidency, the races were supported by the Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry, alongside local institutions including the Canakkale Governor’s Office and the Gallipoli Historical Site Presidency.
Canakkale Governor Omer Toraman said the city stands out for bringing together history and nature, adding that such events help open up its unique landscape to broader audiences. He also pointed to the importance of the races in encouraging maritime culture.
Rear Admiral Serkan Sezer, commander of the Coast Guard Marmara and Straits Region, said the races were completed successfully and emphasized their role in helping people, especially younger generations, engage with the sea and sailing.
Gallipoli Historical Site President Ismail Kasdemir described Canakkale as a valuable destination for sailors, noting that plans are in place to turn parts of the historic area into a hub for water sports such as sailing, diving and rowing once restoration works are completed.
Ekrem Yemlihaoglu, head of the organizing committee, said April 25 carries deep historical meaning, describing it as a day tied to determination and achievement. He noted that athletes competing in the same waters were now sailing toward peace, friendship and freedom.
The competition brought together 500 athletes from 14 countries, with awards presented to the top-performing teams at the ceremony.
In addition to the yacht race winners, flowers were presented to ICDAS Sports Club athletes Elisa Ozer, who placed second in the under-13 girls category at the Techno 293 Windsurfing World Championship in Foca, Izmir, and Alya Gunes Canan, who placed third in the under-13 girls 5.0 category.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
