The Coral Cup, Antalya's prestigious sailing race now in its third year under the patronage of Coral Travel, recently concluded with fierce competition among 27 yachts competing in four distinct categories. This event, which attracted enthusiasts of nautical sports, was highlighted by colorful moments and intense rivalry.

In a departure from previous years, this year's races were organized in two stages. The first stage began on Saturday, May 16, from Kemer, while the second stage commenced on Sunday, May 17, from Antalya. The start of the race was given by Kemer Mayor Necati Topaloğlu and Kemer District Governor Ahmet Solmaz. According to the schedule of the Turkish Sailing Federation, the Coral Cup 2026 will see the following winners:

  • In the A category, the team captained by Ahmet Us aboard the yacht "Sasuke."
  • In the B category, Halil Serdar Değerli and his team aboard the yacht "Moana."
  • In the C Support category, Burak Akpınar and his team aboard the yacht "Ayzek."
  • In the DSport category, Orhan Yeşilli and his team aboard the yacht "Mytos."

The category winners were awarded accommodation at the Seven Seas Hotel Life in Antalya Kemer.

INTEREST IN RACES GROWS YEARLY

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at Setur Marina Antalya on May 17 evening, Mehmet Kamçı, General Manager of Coral Travel Turkey, emphasized Antalya's strategic significance for the company. Kamçı stated:

"Antalya is at the heart of Coral Travel Group's international success story. Having hosted millions of tourists in Antalya, we see it as a duty to contribute to Antalya's social, cultural, and sporting life. The Coral Cup is a reflection of this approach. This year's growing and continuous interest in our traditional races not only shows us that we are doing the right thing but also motivates us to set bigger goals for the future. This year we increased the number of stages in the Coral Cup races to two. We aim to increase this number in the future and develop it to cover Antalya and its surroundings. Our goal is to elevate the Coral Cup to a level where professional racing teams can participate."

Tayfun Yalçınkaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Antalya Yachting Club, noted the growing impact of the organization each year, saying:

"The Coral Cup has quickly become a significant event in Antalya's sailing calendar. This year's intense interest and the new two-stage format showcase the organization's potential for growth. We believe that this competition, which combines Antalya's natural beauty and maritime culture with sailing, will reach even larger participations in the coming years. We extend our gratitude to our main sponsor, Coral Travel, and to Setur Marina and G Marina for their contributions. We believe the Coral Cup will strengthen Antalya's position in the national and international sailing community."

About Coral Travel Group:

Founded in 1992, Coral Travel Group has become one of the leading groups in Turkey and Europe, serving over 39 million tourists in 34 years. The group, which operates in various sectors including tour operations, accommodation, destination services, aviation, travel agency, information technology, and security with strong brands, serves approximately 3.8 million tourists annually through its 37 companies in 21 countries and over 6,000 employees. Coral Travel Group provides tour operations and sales agency services in 15 countries under the Coral Travel brand. In destination services, ODEON Tours operates in Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Spain, BAE, Thailand, Tunisia, and other countries.