The 6th Presidential International Yacht Races - The Republic Cup Leg starts in Istanbul
by Presidency Cup 2025 29 Oct 23:08 GMT
29 October 2025
The 6th Presidential International Yacht Races - The Republic Cup Leg © Icarus Sports
Under the auspices of the Presidency, the final leg of the 6th Presidential International Yacht Races—the Republic Cup—got under way from Istanbul on October 29, in the joyful spirit of Republic Day.
Held under the auspices of the Presidency; with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports; in cooperation with the Istanbul Governor's Office and the Turkish Sailing Federation; organised by the Istanbul Offshore Yacht Racing Club and with DHL Express Turkey as the main sponsor, the races became a meaningful gathering dedicated to the 102nd anniversary of the Republic.
Following the Samsun, Cyprus, and Çanakkale legs, 70 boats and more than 700 sailors set sail in Istanbul for the finale. The first day began off Dolmabahçe with a moment of silence in memory of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms. Against the unique backdrop of the Bosphorus, the races created a visual feast: sails gliding along both shores framed by the city's historic silhouette and the blue of the sea. In races that lasted more than three hours, athletes faced a course and winds where strategy proved decisive. The people of Istanbul enjoyed witnessing this grand spectacle where the sails met the exuberance of Republic Day along the Bosphorus shoreline.
On November 1-2, teams will fiercely compete for top spots in buoy (inshore) and coastal (geographical) course races that emphasise speed, endurance, and team harmony.
At the conclusion of the Samsun, Cyprus, Çanakkale, and Istanbul legs, the team with the best overall result will earn the title of Champion of the 6th Presidential International Yacht Races and be awarded the Presidential Cup. The Istanbul leg will conclude with a spectacular award ceremony on November 2 at Fisekhane.
Ekrem Yemlihaoglu, President of the Istanbul Offshore Yacht Racing Club and Chair of the Organizing Committee, said: "It is a great honour for us to salute the 102nd anniversary of our Republic at sea, with sails. One of the foremost aims of this organization is to encourage our youth to take up sailing and bring them together with the sea. Sailing is a highly valuable medium for raising the youth of the Republic as disciplined, resilient individuals who act with team spirit. These races will inspire young people and let them feel the power and freedom of the sea."