THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN FOR THE ARKAS AEGEAN LINK REGATTA

Today, a press conference was held at Çeşme Marina regarding the promotional details of the organization.  Officials made statements about the second Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, which will take place on August 29-September 2.

It was announced that the Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, organized for the first time last year to develop sailing sports in Turkey and to make this sport more active in Çeşme, will be even bigger and more exciting this year with new sponsors.  

The organization initiated last year by Arkas, Turkish Sailing Federation, Ege Açıkdeniz Yacht Club and Çeşme Marina will take place again this year on the Çeşme-Chios route in a festive atmosphere with new international sponsors and supporters. 

Officials attending the meeting shared their views on the organization with members of the press.

MUHİTTİN DALGIÇ (Çeşme Mayor)

“As Çeşme, we are in an incredibly fortunate geography. Çeşme is one of the best places for windsurfing and sailing, a district with 5 marinas. The importance of this organization for its own brand value is very great. I think participation will be even higher this year. The number of boats from last year has already been reached. I would like to thank Mr. Bernard Arkas, the pioneer of the organization, and everyone who contributed”.

BERNARD ARKAS (Arkas Holding Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors) 

“We want to promote the love of sailing and encourage it to be practiced more in this region. 

Our sailing team, our sailing schools, our race organizations are all links in a chain. Arkas Sailing Team is a professional team, our young sailors are being trained from the grassroots, and we are creating the platform where these athletes can develop themselves and meet foreign competitors. Çeşme needs to be supported with branded events. Projects done at the right time and in the right place find their reward. 

With the participation of increasing numbers of domestic and foreign sailors each year, Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, which we aim to make a sustainable and traditional race, is being supported by three more valuable international brands this year. 

With our achievements last year, we caught the attention of an international brand like UBS and a technology giant like Huawei. 

I hope they have an enjoyable, windy, and fun race this year as well”.  

ÖZLEM AKDURAK (President of Turkish Sailing Federation)

“It is a labor of love and done in perfect harmony. Making the athletes happy is at its core. You can see this in every step of Arkas Aegean Link Regatta. 

The number of boats, which started with 43 last year, will increase even more this year. I hope it continues for many more years like the branded races abroad”. 

CAN AKALTAN"Çeşme Marina General Manager"

“We are proud to host Arkas Aegean Link Regatta. 

This year we reached 43 boats in early registrations. We think this number will easily exceed 50. This participation brings us happiness”. 

AKİF SEZER (EAYK Çeşme Marina President)

“We are more experienced this year. We opened registration very early to plan well. 

Everyone is taking ownership and executing the organization. This is what underlies its impact and success. 

This year, boats with strong racing pedigree have also started to increase. They are waiting for us longingly in Chios. I thank all supporters”. 

Also speaking on behalf of Before Sunset Beach&Resort, one of the businesses supporting the race, Murat Öktem, 

“We are happy to contribute to such a great organization that this dream, shared by everyone who loves Çeşme, has turned into, and to be a part of this dream” he said. 

Chamber of Shipping Izmir Branch President Yusuf Öztürk, 

“Arkas Aegean Link Regatta is an organization that also contributes to tourism. Every step we take today is important for the future. We are confident that participation will increase exponentially each passing year” he stated. 

Ege Medya Founder Hasan Tütüncüoğlu, 

“As a native of Çeşme, our biggest activity in our childhood was sailing. We were seeing that this has significantly decreased in recent years. 

I believe that Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, whose first edition was held last year with the support of Arkas Holding, will be even more successful this year. As Ege Medya, we will also provide all the support we can” he stated. 

Switzerland-based UBS, one of the world's largest asset management companies, gave its name to the Çeşme-Chios leg of the race. 

Giant technology company Huawei and beverage brand King’s support has also been secured for Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, while the media sponsors are Hürriyet and Ege Medya. 

Competition by day, entertainment by night 

At Arkas Aegean Link Regatta, sailing enthusiasts will add pleasure to their pleasure with special parties to be held at a different venue in Çeşme each day, in addition to the races and Chios tour, demonstrating that racing is on the water and entertainment is on the shore. 

On the final day of the regatta, a spectacular party awaits the competitors. 

At the closing party to be held at Before Sunset, one of the most distinguished establishments in one of Çeşme’s finest venues, participants will make their evening unforgettable with the notes of master musician Ayhan Sicimoğlu, alongside the excitement of the prize-giving ceremony. 

The regatta can be watched from Ilıca Bay, Çeşme Centre, the beaches in Ovacık, and from Chios Island. 

Trophy awaits new owner  

The overall trophy, which is held by the yacht that wins Arkas Aegean Link Regatta for 1 year, is presented to the new champion at the following year’s regatta. 

 The yacht that wins the regatta 5 years in succession becomes the permanent owner of the trophy. 

After remaining in the museum of last year’s winner Anything Dere Construction team for one year, the trophy was handed over to the race committee in a ceremony held at the end of the press conference.

p>

The Overall Cup, designed by Yeliz Aydın, a student of Accessory Design in the Textile and Fashion Design Department at Dokuz Eylül University, as a result of the workshop organized by Arkas among Izmir universities last year, represents the yachts that have passed through fierce competition, catching the current and wind to overtake their rivals and rise to victory. 

The cup, which reflects the harmony of the sea, sail, and wind from the perspective of people watching the yachts and displays the elegant aesthetics of the sailboat itself, awaits its new owner.