TURKISH RIVIERA HOSTS 19th ANNUAL BODRUM CUP SAILING REGATTA

ISTANBUL, Turkey, September 18, 2007 - As autumn approaches, sailing aficionados are beginning to ‘ship-shape’ their vessels for the end of October when the Turkish coastline will be dotted with the white sails of ships racing across the blue sea for the Bodrum Cup Sailing Regatta. This annual race, organized by the Era Bodrum Yacht Club, takes place every third week in October as the official close to the Turkish yachting season. The Cup is a recent tradition that evokes centuries of Turkey’s maritime history, all the while celebrating the pleasures of contemporary Turkish culture and nightlife. With concerts, unending parties, and the excitement of competition, this week-long event is a festival not to be missed.

This year’s festivities begin on October 24 with a full day of street shows in Iskele Square, showcasing traditional and modern Turkish performance art.  In the evening, the Milta Bodrum Marina opens the race with a technical briefing, followed by a cocktail party, fashion show, and music concert that will keep the party sailing through the night. The race kicks off the next morning for three days of fast competition, followed each by sailing team camaraderie onshore over cocktails, concerts, and the best of Turkish nightlife. The race ends on October 28 with an afternoon closing ceremony in which the winners are awarded prizes, like the Bodrum Cup Regatta Pennant, and are toasted with even more spirits and festivities late into the night.

Open to privately-owned yachts crewed by Turkish or foreign teams, the Regatta is truly a cultural event. The races are divided into three categories of sailing craft: wooden yachts of traditional construction, wooden yachts of modern construction, and yachts of non-wooded construction. The last category is a show category, considered non-competing participants.

As one of the world’s premiere sailing destinations, Turkey boasts more than 5,000 miles of magnificent coastline for world class cruising, 127 blue-flag beaches, and twelve blue flag marinas. Much of Turkey’s coastline remains pristine, affording tourists the opportunity to cruise the waters of four seas and take in breathtaking landscapes of the country’s picturesque coastal villages and inspiring remnants ancient civilization. Visitors can charter traditional wooden ships called Gulets to explore the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts on a “Blue Voyage.”  Driven by the whims of the wind, Blue Voyagers can relax on Turkey’s azure seas, and then step ashore to wander through the ancient ruins, relax on Cleopatra’s private beach and sail past the eternal fires of Mount Olympos. Turkey’s coastal attractions and their accessibility via the canals and rivers of the European waterways system draw all manner vessels from the world over.

The Bodrum Cup Sailing Regatta is the perfect introduction to the maritime aspects of Turkish culture.  While the aim of the Cup is to promote interest in sailing around the Bodrum region, it has become as much a cultural event as THE place to see and be seen each fall on the stylish and chic Turkish Riviera.

For information about travel to Turkey, call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY or contact the Turkish Culture and Tourism Offices in New York at 212-687-2194 or in Washington D.C. at 202-612-6800, and visit www.tourismturkey.org or www.kulturturizm.gov.tr.

# # #