Karpaz Gate Marina to host seminars led by renowned Turkish sailor

Karpaz Gate Marina is set to welcome Turkish solo sailor Özkan Gülkaynak for two seminars when it hosts the Caretta Caretta Yacht Rally’s three-day stay in North Cyprus this week.

The renowned circumnavigator is a special guest at the award-winning marina as part of the TRNC Sailing Federation’s 2018 event programme, put together for approximately 17 yachts and their crew during the rally’s visit to the Karpaz peninsula in the coming days.

Arriving from Girne on Thursday 31^st May, the Caretta Caretta yacht crews will be based at Karpaz Gate Marina until Sunday 3^rd June, where they will be able to enjoy facilities including Hemingway’s Resto-Bar, the Beach Club – which features a 33-metre infinity swimming pool – and gym. A short sail to Monastery Bay on the tip of the peninsula is also on the agenda on Friday for an overnight stay off the coast of one of the most spectacular areas of the island.

A single-handed sailor, Gülkaynak is famous for completing his around-the-world tour between 2006 and 2008 on board his eight-metre (26-foot) boat Kayitsiz III without using any electronic navigation tools. Sailing a yacht constructed by hand using long-established methods, his voyage was a bid to raise awareness in his homeland of sailing traditions and the dangers that unchecked development represents to the world’s coastlines. 

Organised jointly by TRNC Sailing Federation and Karpaz Gate Marina, Gülkaynak will first present a seminar to Yenierenkoy High School students on Thursday at 10.00am, when he will share memories from his world trip. The Turkish sailor will then hold a further talk on Saturday at 4.00pm at Karpaz Gate Marina, open to all rally participants and marina clients, before the Caretta Caretta contingent gathers for a final dinner hosted at Hemingway’s.

In a release, Bahadir Gökçetekin, Karpaz Gate Marina Harbour Master, said, “It is a great pleasure to welcome Mr. Gülkaynak to Karpaz Gate Marina and to once again host the Caretta Caretta yachts during their stay in North Cyprus. We are particularly pleased to give the young people at Yenierenkoy High School, as well the rally crews and our marina guests, the chance to hear the fascinating stories from this unique voyage in just an eight-metre boat, relying on only a sextant to plot a position.

“We hope the visiting sailors spend time relaxing and enjoying our hospitality at the marina, as well as the beautiful sailing available along the North Cyprus coast.”

For more information, visit Karpaz Gate Marina.