Orient Express VI completes a remarkable comeback to win the special anniversary Bosphorus Cup as 47 yachts race between two continents
Istanbul, 19 September 2026 – For 25 years, the Bosphorus Cup has offered sailors something unique: the opportunity to race through the very heart of one of the world’s great cities, on the narrow stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia and that has connected civilisations for centuries.
For sailors competing here, the experience is reminiscent of some of the world’s most iconic sailing venues. The suspension bridges evoke racing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the spectators lining the shores remind one of Sydney Harbour, and the old forts bring to mind the Valletta skyline. The Bosphorus brings all of these impressions together in one extraordinary race course.
Today, on a beautiful sunny afternoon, 47 yachts gathered in front of the Çırağan Palace for the defining race of the 2026 Bosphorus Cup. With a northerly breeze of around 10 to 15 knots blowing down the strait from the north, the fleet made a spectacular start under spinnaker, accelerating south towards Dolmabahçe.
Istanbul is not simply the backdrop to the competition. Istanbul is part of the race. The yachts race past Ottoman palaces and mosques and beneath the imposing bridges that connect cultures. Centuries of history pass by while crews endeavour to focus on their present-day challenge of finding the fastest route through one of the world’s most complex waterways and beating their competitors.
It all happens in the middle of the city. From parks and waterfront promenades to restaurants, terraces, there are countless viewpoints along both shores, For a few extraordinary hours each year, one of the world’s great waterways becomes a natural sailing stadium, as Istanbul’s residents watch the fleet pass through the Bosphorus.
RACING THE BOSPHORUS
The scenery may be spectacular, but the racing is uncompromising. After a fast spinnaker start, the fleet turned north at Dolmabahçe and began the first upwind battle against the powerful Bosphorus current. Working their way beneath the Bosphorus Bridge towards Arnavutköy, crews search for every opportunity to escape the strongest adverse current before turning south and hoisting their spinnakers once more for a run back to Dolmabahçe.
The greatest challenge followed. A second beat north against the current, this time continuing further up the Bosphorus Strait to Anadolu Hisarı. Boat speed was only part of the equation here. Knowing where the current is strongest, how close to push towards the shoreline and when to cross from one side to the other can transform fortunes within minutes.
After the rounding at Anadolu Hisarı, the fleet turned south for one final downwind charge to the finish.
ORIENT EXPRESS VI COMPLETES THE COMEBACK
In keeping with the special anniversary, the Bosphorus Race decided an exceptionally close battle for the 2026 Bosphorus Cup. Going into today’s final contest, Bulgaria’s Aboat Time and Levent Peynirci’s Miles&Smiles were tied on 10 points after five races on the Sea of Marmara, with the Turkish Farr 55 Orient Express VI just one point behind. At the finish of the main event, however, it was Orient Express VI, owned and skippered by Zeynep Atabay Taşkent, that emerged as the overall winner.
It completed a remarkable turnaround. After a 27th in the opening race on Thursday, Orient Express VI responded powerfully to post two consecutive victories as well as a third and sixth place. With Saruhan Cinay at the helm for today’s Bosphorus Race, the team finished sixth on corrected time, ending the series tied with Miles&Smiles on 17 points, after the latter finished seventh. Overall victory was only secured on countback, with Orient Express’ two bullets proving decisive. Overnight leader Aboat Time finished a disappointing 11th to complete the podium in third on 21 points.
“Winning the Bosphorus Cup was our biggest target this year,” said Saruhan. “We couldn’t finish the first race, but we never lost our faith. We have a very good team, with experienced sailors and some young sailors, and that gives us the perfect mix.”
For event founder Orhan Gorbon, reaching 25 years is also a reflection of how the event has helped sailing grow in Istanbul and across the region.
“We made sailing popular in Turkey. Thousands of people started sailing in Istanbul and we became a centre for sailors from this part of the world. I think Istanbul has become like the Grand Prix of Eastern Mediterranean sailing,” said Gorbon.
And for the 47 crews racing today, the Bosphorus once again demonstrated why the event has quietly become one of sailing’s most distinctive experiences.There are faster race courses and longer races. There are events with bigger fleets. But there are few places where sailors can race between two continents, beneath bridges and past centuries of history, while an entire city watches from the shore.
Final overall standings – Bosphorus Cup 2026
1. Orient Express VI – Zeynep Atabay Taşkent – 17 points
2. Miles&Smiles – Levent Peynirci – 17 pointsAboat Time – Petar Dimitrov – 21 points
3. Zacapa – Selim Kakış – 23 points
4. Fenerbahçe Doğuş Yelken Powered by Audi – Orkun Öz – 25 points
