The 54th Naval Cup International Yacht Race will start in Istanbul on July 14.

The introductory meeting for the TAYK-AKPA 54th Naval Forces Cup, Türkiye's longest-course, single-stage yacht race, was held at the Beşiktaş Maritime Museum Command. The race, which will take place on the Istanbul-Göcek route from July 14-18, is organized by the Turkish Offshore Racing Club (TAYK) under the auspices of the Turkish Naval Forces Command. A total of 30 boats from Spain, Estonia, Russia, Italy, and Türkiye will participate in the race.

Speaking at the introductory meeting, TAYK General Manager Can Giray said, "As far as I know, this beautiful museum, which is a shared cultural and historical heritage for all of us, is the largest maritime museum in Europe. It's a place that reveals the incredible richness of our history. If we can sail freely in this country, I want to express our deep love, respect, and longing for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk."

Can Giray said, "This year, we're running the 54th. As you know, it's quite difficult to do the same thing in Türkiye for 50 years. We've been running it consistently for 54 years; this is the 54th year. First and foremost, we're happy to be running the same race. It's a race we've changed its format for the last two years. It's a very long race. It starts in Istanbul and finishes in Göcek. It's approximately 555 miles. Therefore, the technical difficulty is extremely high. We don't expect every team to participate anyway. Only those who believe they have the necessary experience and equipment can participate. It requires a bit of courage. It's not like the daily races we normally run in Istanbul."

Can Giray said, "We'll start in Istanbul and finish in Göcek, Fethiye Gulf. It's 555 miles, which is quite challenging. Think about it this way: you have to sleep in shifts. We have to rotate crews. Those at the helm must never get tired. You also need to have plenty of food and drink. You can't buy equipment just anywhere. Your boat needs to be very well-maintained. You know the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, and rough seas. They're not always calm. Sometimes you'll encounter stormy weather. Therefore, it's a very challenging race with a high technical difficulty and, I believe, one that will enter the European race lists within the next five years." (DHA)

Kemal Darcan, Chairman of the Board of AKPA Kimya, said, "The challenging 555-nautical-mile course will provide an unforgettable experience for our racers this year. Following the race, which will be completed without any breaks, the winning teams will receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Göcek on the evening of July 18th, also sponsored by AKPA Kimya. Being a part of this challenging and exciting race is a source of great pride for us. We are delighted to share our love and support for sailing with a wider audience through the Naval Forces Cup."

UAV

Reporter: News Center

As part of the commemoration events organized in Istanbul for July 15th Democracy and National Unity Day, a hatim program was held at the Fatih Mosque. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, 1st Army Commander General Metin Tokel, Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Selami Yıldız, Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan, Istanbul Provincial Mufti Prof. Dr. Safi Arpaguş, July 15th Association President İsmail Hakkı Turunç, and a large number of citizens attended the program. The Quran and a hatim prayer were recited for the martyrs. Citizens who filled the mosque prayed for the martyrs of July 15th. Following the program, kavurma (fried meat) and pilaf were served to citizens in the mosque courtyard.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül said in a statement, "This week, under the coordination of our Presidency, civil society organizations, public institutions and organizations, and our citizens are organizing various events throughout Türkiye. Today, at the Fatih Mosque, with the cooperation of our Mufti's Office, the July 15th Association, the Fatih Municipality, and the Red Crescent and its Foundations, all of them, recited the Hatim for the souls of our martyrs. We set out to recite 251 Hatims for our 251 martyrs; may God bless our nation and our civil society organizations. It grew like an avalanche, with thousands of Hatims recited under the coordination of our civil society organizations and our Mufti's Office. Here, our Mufti recited the Hatim prayer. We, as the provincial officials, also participated in this. We once again pray for God's mercy upon our martyrs. We condemn all terrorist organizations, especially the FETÖ terrorist organization. May God strengthen our nation and state. May God perpetuate the unity and solidarity of our nation and state. I also thank you for your sensitivity."

UAV

Reporter: News Center