Arkas Sailing Team achieves a major success for Turkish Sailing in the Mediterranean
by Arkas Sailing Team 24 Jun 11:26 BST
Arkas Sailing Team achieved first place in both the IRC Overall Classification and IRC 1 category at the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia © Arkas Sailing Team
Representing Türkiye on the international racing calendar with the support of Arkas Holding and the contributions of Arkas Line, EMES, and Isaora, Arkas Sailing Team achieved first place in both the IRC Overall Classification and IRC 1 category at the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia, one of the Mediterranean's largest offshore races.
This achievement, secured with the TP52-class yacht Blue Moon, marked a significant milestone that reflects the team's years of consistent progress and strengthens the international visibility of Turkish sailing.
Arkas Sailing Team achieved a remarkable success for Türkiye at the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia, one of the Mediterranean's most prestigious offshore races. Competing in the race, which started in Saint-Tropez and concluded in Genoa via the Giraglia Rock, the team secured first place in both the IRC Overall Classification and the IRC 1 category with its yacht Blue Moon.
This achievement was more than just a race result; it stood as a powerful reflection of Arkas's sporting vision in the global scene rooted in its maritime heritage, its long-standing support, and the professional team structure built with Turkish athletes. Composed entirely of Turkish licensed sailors, Arkas Sailing Team has proudly represented Türkiye at the Mediterranean's leading sailing events for many years.
Blue Moon Kite Trimmer Tolga Yagli shared his thoughts on the achievement: "Claiming victory in the IRC Overall and IRC 1 categories at the Giraglia offshore race is a proud moment for our team. The competition was intense throughout the week, with each race presenting unique challenges. To achieve this result at such an important event is a well-deserved reward for the whole team and all those who have supported this journey."
A sporting journey rooted in maritime culture
The journey of Arkas Sailing Team began as a powerful extension of Arkas's long-standing connection with the maritime world, carried into the field of sport. The team is positioned not merely as a racing crew, but as a long-term sporting project established to increase the international visibility of Turkish sailing.
Today, Blue Moon stands as one of the strongest symbols of this vision on the international racing calendar. Racing with the high-performance TP52-class yacht, Arkas Sailing Team has taken its experience gained on the demanding courses of the Mediterranean to new heights season after season.
Over the years, Arkas Sailing Team has built an increasingly impressive record of achievements. In 2015, the team secured IRC 3 and ORC 3 class titles and placed fifth overall at the Rolex Middle Sea Race, considered the largest offshore race in the Mediterranean. Later that year, sailing aboard Flying Box, the team claimed the overall title at the Bosphorus Cup and continued to build its expertise with strong performances in numerous races throughout Türkiye and the Mediterranean.
Following its overall victory at the Bosphorus Cup with Blue Moon in 2024, Arkas Sailing Team carried its success in the Bosphorus onto the international racing circuit. In the 2025 season, the team claimed third place in the overall standings at the Loro Piana Giraglia, secured Line Honours overall runner-up, ORC overall runner-up, and IRC class runner-up positions at the Palermo-Montecarlo race, and finished fourth in the IRC 0 class at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
The IRC Overall and IRC 1 titles secured at the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia marked a new milestone in the team's steady rise. Through this achievement at one of the Mediterranean's most prestigious and long-standing sailing events, Arkas Sailing Team once again highlighted the growing presence and strength of Turkish sailing on the international stage.
Emphasizing the team's long-term progress and continuous development, Arkas Sailing Team Skipper / Helm Serhat Altay commented:
"This result is the outcome of many years of dedication, discipline, and Arkas's strong commitment to sailing. With Blue Moon, we have become increasingly competitive in international races with each passing season. The point we have reached today demonstrates that this structure built with Turkish athletes can compete among the world's leading fleets."
Race details
Loro Piana Giraglia, one of the most prestigious and historic events on the international sailing calendar, was held for the 73rd time this year. First held in 1953, the race is considered a true classic of Mediterranean offshore sailing.
This year, the event brought together more than 140 yachts from 45 countries and nearly 1,000 sailors. Following four days of inshore races in Saint-Tropez, the offshore stage began on 17 June. The fleet competed on a 241-nautical-mile course stretching from Saint-Tropez to the Giraglia Rock and finishing in Genoa.
Light and shifting winds transformed the race into a challenging contest where success depended not only on speed, but also on precise weather interpretation, patience, and tactical positioning. Facing some of the fleet's strongest competitors, including Rocketnikka, Django WR, and Spirit of Lorina, crewed by world-class sailors, Arkas Sailing Team secured the top position in the IRC Overall standings on corrected time. The Turkish team also took first place in the IRC 1 category, sealing a remarkable double victory.