The start of Arkas Aegean Link Regatta is given for the seventh time. The race, where 38 boats and more than 400 sailors will enjoy the fun on land for six days, started with the opening cocktail held at Çeşme Marina Yacht Club.
Çeşme's traditional and international race Arkas Aegean Link Regatta is getting ready to witness the dance of yachts with the wind in its seventh year. Arkas, the Turkish Sailing Federation, EAYK (Aegean Open Sea Yacht Club) and Çeşme Marina joined forces to develop the sport of sailing in Turkey and to make this sport more active in Çeşme. It takes place in August.
Speaking at the cocktail held at Çeşme Marina Yacht Club on August 22, Çeşme Marina General Manager Toker Gürer said, “A week full of racing and fun awaits us. We worked hard as the race committee, I hope a week exceeds our expectations. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this race, EAYK, all my colleagues, Chief Referee Eşref Uzun and our referee committee and our host Marina Yacht Club.”
EAYK President Akif Sezer said, “I would like to thank the Arkas Family for including us in this post in the hope that Arkas Aegean Link Regatta will be sustainable. In addition to the value it gives to sports, the value it gives to sailing is very valuable to us. A new class, the J70s, which came with Arkas Çeşme Sailing Sports Club, was also added to the races this year. On the other hand, I would like to thank Cesme Mayor Ekrem Oran both for his work on making Çeşme a tourism city and for the 100th Anniversary Race and the Republic Cup we will hold at Arkas Aegean Link Regatta.”
Bernard Arkas, Arkas Holding Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “I wish everyone a race where the fun and enjoyment reach its peak and will leave a good memory towards the end of the summer. We have added a new class to Arkas Aegean Link Regatta. This year will be the J70 race. This is a new idea. We want to contribute to the development of sailing with this class of boats, which are suitable for sailing by more people. I hope everyone will like it and the races in this class will continue from now on," he said.
Cesme Mayor Ekrem Oran said, “I am very happy to be with you again in the seventh edition of the Aegean Link Regatta. I would like to thank Arkas Family and Arkas Holding for bringing the regattas to Çeşme, and EAYK Çeşme Marina. As Çeşme Municipality, we will continue to support sports and athletes, art and artists.” said.
Cesme District Governor Mehmet Maraşlı, I would like to thank Arkas, Çeşme Marina and everyone who put their hearts into sailing. I think that the continuous increase in participation and the organization of more championships will make a great contribution to our district. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed,” he said.
Arkas Aegean Link Regatta's main sponsorship is Arkas Line, the maritime company of Arkas, while FAMM Urla, one of the best examples of ecological and sustainable architecture implemented by FD Architecture, also contributes to the race.
They Will Blow Like The Wind
The first day of the race also coincides with a special day. Sailors August 23 – World Ride Like the Wind Day This special day is held to celebrate freedom and adventure. World Blow Like a Wind Day invites people to watch the harmony of the sea and the wind in Çeşme, which is famous for its wind.
100th Anniversary Race and Republic Cup
On the second day of the race, the 100th Anniversary Race will be held under the sponsorship of Çeşme Municipality. Teams that will try to be the first to reach the finish in the two buoy races off Ilıca will receive their 100th Anniversary Special Trophies at the event to be held at Çeşme Municipality City Terrace after the race.
A New Breath to Racing: J70
On the third day, the new class of J70s added to the race will be in the waters. The Four Musketeers of Arkas will compete with the new J70 boats Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'artagnan as four people each. The races, which will start at 15:20, can be watched all day long in front of Dilaila Beach Club.
In the evening, sailors will get their fill of music with the Evrim Özkaynak and Group concert, and they will have their mugs specially produced by the ceramic artist Verda Sipahi.
The J70s, which have become popular among sailors in a short time and used as a one design racing boat, will appear for the first time in the waters of Çeşme with its robust and balanced structure. These boats, which allow beginners or amateur/professional sailing athletes to use them easily and easily, have very convenient features for races, trainings and daily excursions, as the easily detachable carbon mast can be tilted and transferred to the trailer in a short time when the keel is pulled. These benefits in equipment and transportation are another factor in the popularity of the J70s in the world in a short time. Arkas Çeşme Sailing Sports Club is also the pioneer of this class, aiming to encourage more people to sail.
Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, Last Leg of Turkish Yacht League
The Arkas Aegean Link Regatta will be the fifth and final leg of the league after the MDK "Cabotage" Cup of the Turkish Yachting League, the 52nd Naval Forces Cup, the Coast Guard Cup and the Halikarnas 100th Anniversary Cup, which will be held for the first time this year by the Turkish Sailing Federation. As in many sports, 45 teams and more than 450 athletes competed in the league this year, which was organized to increase interest in the world of sailing and to spread this sport to a wider spectrum.
Glorious Closing with Double Cups at Yuzu Beach
There is a winner at the end of every challenge and fun at the end of Arkas Aegean Link Regatta. On the same night, the winners of both Arkas Aegean Link Regatta and TYF Yacht League will receive their trophies. Thus, the TYF Yacht League will be the scene of a double trophy ceremony together with the Championship trophy. YUZU Beach will host the magnificent final night where the entertainment will rise with the live performance and stage of İskender Paydaş and his Orchestra.
The winner of the Arkas Aegean Link Regatta will win the trophy for one year. The trophy will be awarded to the new champion in the next race. The boat that wins the race five years in a row will be the permanent owner of the trophy.