This thrilling race has brought the spirit of yachting into the very heart of İstanbul for nearly a quarter-century. Now in its 24^th edition, the Bosphorus Cup continues its legacy as Türkiye’s premier sailing event, returning to İstanbul from 18 to 21 September this year.

 

Fiery Battle for the Bosphorus

Imagine a fleet of colourful sails rising against the skyline of this unique city and their reflections dancing across the glittering waters of the Bosphorus. İstanbul’s glamorous strait becomes the stage of the Bosphorus Cup, where fierce yet friendly rivalries unfold amid impressive spectacles for one extraordinary weekend each year.

 

The latest edition of the regatta will once again transform the heart of the city into a vibrant arena of wind, water, and competition across eight different categories, including IRC, ORC, and cruising boats.

 

With special permission granted to race on the spectacular Bosphorus Strait, usually closed to all but commercial vessels, sailors aboard nearly 85 boats from around the world will gather in İstanbul with one purpose: to test their skill on the only natural strait in the world that divides continents and has witnessed the rise and fall of empires.

 

After an opening day on September 18, the first around-the-cans races will take place off Caddebostan the next day. September 20 is the highlight, when around 900 sailors from 10 nations will take on the mighty strait to see who becomes the overall winner of the Bosphorus Cup 2025. Under the gaze of the city’s three suspension bridges and the watchful eyes of around a million spectators on the shores, boats ranging from 25 to 86 feet will jostle for the best position and a clear run at the racecourse.

 

Theatre of Winds

The Bosphorus Cup is truly unforgettable not only for the excitement of the competition, but also for the festival atmosphere that embraces the city. This is a race where East meets West, where history collides with the modern world. İstanbulites flock to the city’s shores to witness a dazzling maritime spectacle that graces the Bosphorus only once in the calendar.

 

This year, this amazing spectacle will expand with “Theatre of Winds,” an artistic performance created in collaboration with the Fine Arts Academy of İstanbul, bringing the city’s famous winds to life through dance and costume. With a special show, six dancers will showcase different winds of İstanbul at a VIP party.

 

With the race on the Bosphorus taking place between 12.00 pm and 17.00 pm, guests of the regatta will enjoy a lavish party throughout the afternoon on the shores of the Bosphorus.