The Deniz Kızı Women's Sailing Cup returns to Istanbul on October 18, showcasing female sailors from various teams in a spirited competition.
The Deniz Kızı Women’s Sailing Cup, which brings together female sailors in Turkey, will be held for the 11th time on Sunday, October 18, in Istanbul. The event, organized under the auspices of the Turkish Sailing Federation, will feature female athletes from corporate, individual, and university teams competing.
The Istanbul Regional Port Authority has issued a safety warning to vessels and boats navigating in the waters off the Anatolian side of Istanbul due to the races.
The races are planned to take place on October 18, 2026, between 10:00 and 19:00, along the Moda Bay-Kınalıada-Caddebostan course.
In a letter dated October 15, 2026, with the reference number 4047134, sent by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's Istanbul Regional Port Authority to the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, it was stated that the Deniz Kızı Women’s Sailing Cup Races would be held with all necessary safety measures taken by the Turkish Sailing Federation.
The İMEAK Chamber of Shipping announced this letter to its members with circular number 793 dated October 15.
The announcement requested that mariners exercise caution while navigating in the area where the races will take place to ensure navigation, life, property, and environmental safety.
It was emphasized that commercial and private vessels navigating between Moda Bay, Kınalıada, and Caddebostan should take the racing activities into account.
The Deniz Kızı Women’s Sailing Cup, one of Turkey's sailing events aimed at female teams, will be held for the 11th time this year.
Launched in 2016, the organization aims to increase women's participation in sailing sports, promote maritime culture, and enhance teamwork and leadership skills among female athletes.
To date, the cup has hosted approximately 1,300 athletes from over 80 women’s sailing teams.
This year, in addition to corporate teams formed by companies from various sectors, university teams and individual female sailors will compete on the same course.
The slogan of the races is: We Set Sail for Goodness.
The Deniz Kızı Women’s Sailing Cup stands out not only for its sporting competition but also for its social responsibility initiatives.
This year, the event will be held under the slogan 'We Set Sail for Goodness.'
Aiming to make women more visible in water sports, the event brings together participants from different age and professional groups.
In the races organized under the auspices of the Turkish Sailing Federation and with the technical coordination of BAU International Sailing Club (BAUISC), female teams that have received basic sailing training will compete.
While the general race area of the organization has been announced as the Kalamış-Princes' Islands route, the official letter from the Istanbul Regional Port Authority specifies the course as Moda Bay-Kınalıada-Caddebostan.
The start and navigation schedule of the races during the day will be shaped according to weather and wind conditions.
After the completion of the races, awards will be ceremoniously presented to the successful teams.
On Sunday, October 18, between 10:00 and 19:00, a concentration of sailing vessels is expected in the race course.
It is important for commercial ships, passenger vessels, fishing boats, and private yachts navigating in the area to take the racing activities into account.
The announcement from the Istanbul Regional Port Authority does not include a decision to completely close maritime traffic. However, all maritime vessels are requested to pay attention to navigation safety in the race area and to follow the warnings from the relevant authorities.
The 11th Deniz Kızı Women’s Sailing Cup will bring together female sailors off the Anatolian side of Istanbul, while the maritime community will closely follow the organization.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
