Competitors gathered off the coast of Bodrum on the first day of the 38th The Bodrum Cup, held from October 19-24. Following the traditional bell ceremony held the previous evening, a wreath was laid at sea in memory of the friends of The Bodrum Cup and sailors who passed away this year, just before the start of the first race. With the start of the SumOne Stage, the five-stage competition officially began. 90 boats and nearly 1,000 sailors set sail to compete on a 79-nautical-mile course. On the first day, teams will race to rank in their respective categories on the 12-mile Bodrum-Bodrum route.
The SumOne Stage will also determine the fastest boat of the 38th The Bodrum Cup. An award will be presented to the boat that completes the 12-mile course off the coast of Bodrum in the shortest time.
During the wreath-laying ceremony before the race, those who passed away this year were commemorated: Fidel Berber, Hasan Karadeniz, Aykan Er (known to everyone as Papaz Aykan), Necati Kocadon (nicknamed "Şöhret Neco"), Aysun Enünlü Kurutaş (known as Aysun Kaptan), Dr. Sezgin Gökmen, Sami Akbaş, Ayla Emiroğlu (Maçakızı), and Taylan Gebeş. The memory of these friends, who contributed to Bodrum’s maritime life, the Blue Cruise culture, and The Bodrum Cup, was honored with the wreath left at sea.
The ceremony was attended by Muğla Governor Dr. İdris Akbıyık, Bodrum Mayor Tamer Mandalinci, Head of Transportation Department Süleyman Özdemir on behalf of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Coast Guard South Aegean Group Commander SG Lieutenant Colonel Orhan Öğrenci, Bodrum Coast Guard Station Commander Ali Murat Mahmat, MUTTAŞ Chairman of the Board Andaç Pamuk, Bodrum District Tourism Director Özcan Canbaz, IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Bodrum Branch President Orhan Dinç, Ağanlar Shipyard & Marina CEO and Bodrum Chamber of Commerce Chairman Erdem Ağan, Bodrum Seamen's Association President Tuna Altunkaya, Tay Group Corporate Communications Director Burçin Özer, Cactus Hotels Group Board Member Nurçe Erben Hakan, Fidel Berber’s wife Özlem Kıyat Berber, The Bodrum Cup Founder and Honorary President Erman Aras, as well as racers and sailors.
Main sponsor OPET; platinum sponsors Anadolu Sigorta, Four Seasons Hotels Istanbul, Ruins Luxury Resort, SumOneand Yalıkavak Marina; silver sponsors Arvento, Bakar Insurance Brokerage Services, Blueway, Era Outdoor, and Eskiceshme Hotel are contributing to the 38th The Bodrum Cup.The Bodrum Ship 25th Anniversary Renovation Project is supported by the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Bodrum Municipality, Ağanlar, Anadolu Sigorta, International, Victron Energy, Aqua Yachting, EMA Industry, Duratek, Alphamare, Marina Marine Vehicles, Velenamast, Erkab Cable, IBC Yachting, Artı, Admiral Marine Equipment, AK-YA Maritime and Seafood, Data, Tekno Marin, Levent Yılankaya Maritime and Treatment Systems, Gemtac, Yılmaz Metal, Düzgit, and İnter Forest Products.
The Bodrum Cup Organizing Committee Chairman Süleyman UysalRegarding the start of the race, he said: “We meet again every October with the same excitement. This morning at the starting line, we felt both the joy of beginning the race and the absence of our friends who passed away this year. It is the people who bring The Bodrum Cup into existence, work for it, and embrace it anew each year. The Bodrum Ship, which we have focused on this year, is also a product of this collective effort. We are working to ensure the ship meets with young people again soon and takes its place in maritime training. I wish all our teams fair winds and a safe and enjoyable race on the route stretching from Bodrum to Knidos and from Ortakent to Yalıkavak. I would like to thank our racers, our committee, our sponsors, and everyone who provided support.”
Taypa General Manager Burak Karaarslan,“SumOneregarding the collaboration with The Bodrum Cup, said: “We are delighted to lend our name to the opening stage of the 38th The Bodrum Cup with our SumOne brand and to be a part of this deep-rooted organization. Sailing combines harmony with nature, endurance, freedom of movement, and team spirit. These values also align with the design and engineering approach we adopted while developing SumOne. Born from Tay Group’s nearly 50 years of textile experience, SumOneoffers a new generation of apparel that combines performance, comfort, and functionality. Through our collaboration with The Bodrum Cup, we are happy to bring this approach to the sea while also contributing to the preservation and transmission of Bodrum’s deep-rooted maritime culture to future generations. I congratulate all the athletes competing in the SumOne Stage and wish all teams a successful and enjoyable race.”
SumOne, which gives its name to the first stage, also accompanies the organization with a collection prepared for The Bodrum Cup. The proceeds from the sale of the collection, developed within Tay Group and designed with the conditions of sailing in mind, will be donated to the Bodrum and Caria Region Culture, Art and Promotion Foundation (BOSAV) to contribute to the expenses of the Bodrum Ship.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Bodrum Ship is at the heart of the 38th The Bodrum Cup. The maintenance and renovation project of the sailing school ship, which was born out of The Bodrum Cup and brings young people together with maritime activities under the Bodrum and Caria Region Culture, Art and Promotion Foundation (BOSAV), is being carried out with the contributions of institutions and the maritime industry. Following the work currently underway at Ağanlar Shipyard, the goal is for the ship to soon return to its role in maritime training, international projects, and cultural-artistic events.
Tuesday, October 20
Bodrum - Bodrum | SumOne Stage (12 miles)
• 10:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Departure from in front of Bodrum Castle
• 10:30: Start Line Gathering and Wreath Laying Ceremony
• 11:00: Start Line
• 17:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Arrival at Bodrum Castle Front
Wednesday, October 21
Bodrum - Knidos | Ruins Luxury Resort Leg (20 miles)
Thursday, October 22
Knidos - Ortakent | Yalıkavak Marina Leg (20 miles)
Friday, October 23
Ortakent - Yalıkavak | OPET Leg (15 miles)
• 10:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Departure from in front of Bodrum Castle
• 17:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Arrival at Yalıkavak Marina
Saturday, October 24
Yalıkavak - Yalıkavak | Anadolu Sigorta Leg (12 miles)
• 10:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Departure from Yalıkavak Marina
• 17:00: Primetime Racing Hub - Arrival at Yalıkavak Marina
• 19:30: 38th The Bodrum Cup Award Ceremony - Yalıkavak Marina
• 21:30: Pinhâni Concert - Yalıkavak Marina
* Dr. Şahin Ünal’s “The Bodrum Cup Special” oil painting exhibition can be visited every day between October 19-24 at the Race Center in Bodrum Town Square.
For the registration calendar, participation requirements, and the detailed program, you can visit the website www.bodrumcup.com.
Main sponsor OPET; platinum sponsors Anadolu Sigorta, Four Seasons Hotels Istanbul, Ruins Luxury Resort, S, and Yalıkavak Marina; and silver sponsors Arvento, Bakar Sigorta Aracılık Hizmetleri, Blueway, Era Outdoor, and Eskiceshme Hotel are contributing to the 38th The Bodrum Cup.
The Bodrum Ship 25th Anniversary Renovation Project is supported by the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Bodrum Municipality, Ağanlar, Anadolu Sigorta, International, Victron Energy, Aqua Yachting, EMA Industry, Duratek, Alphamare, Marina Marine Vehicles, Velenamast, Erkab Cable, IBC Yachting, Artı, Admiral Marine Equipment, AK-YA Maritime and Seafood, Data, Tekno Marin, Levent Yılankaya Maritime and Treatment Systems, Gemtac, Yılmaz Metal, Düzgit, and İnter Forest Products.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, the Muğla Governorship, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality MUTTAŞ, Bodrum Municipality, Bodrum Belediye AŞ, Bodrum District Governorship, Milas District Governorship, Milas Municipality, Coast Guard, Bodrum Maritime Rescue, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce, IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, Bodrum Hoteliers Association, Bodrum Seafarers Association, Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, Era Bodrum Sailing Club, TYBA Yachting, and the Turkish Sailing Federation are contributing to the organization as official supporters.
The Bodrum Cup social media accounts
• Instagram:@bodrumcup
• Facebook:facebook.com/BodrumCup
• X:@bodrumcup
Contact person
Dilek Özcan
The Bodrum Cup Communications Committee
dilek.ozcan@bodrumcup.com
0533 374 88 08
Launched in 1988 by the Era Bodrum Sailing Club, The Bodrum Cup is an international maritime festival that brings sailors and sailing enthusiasts together in Bodrum every year. The organization highlights Bodrum's traditional boat building and maritime culture while also creating space for social responsibility initiatives.www.bodrumcup.com