After finishing second last year, the team claimed first place this year in both the ORC A overall standings and the ORC A1 class at the 10th Aegean Link Regatta.
Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team achieved a double victory at the 10th Aegean Link Regatta held in Çeşme. With İpek Kırkavak at the helm, Blue Moon secured first place in both the ORC A overall standings and the ORC A1 class, earning two trophies. Having finished second in the ORC A overall standings at the same event last year, the team took its performance to the top this year.
The regatta, organized by the Aegean Offshore Yacht Club (EAYK) with the support of Çeşme Marina, was held in Çeşme from August 18 to 23. The four-day racing program saw teams compete on both coastal and buoy courses.
After the registration and opening program on August 18, the boats took to the start line for the coastal race on August 19. Two buoy races took place on August 20, followed by a rest day on August 21. The competition resumed on August 22 with two buoy races. Regatta came to an end on August 23 with a coastal race and the awards ceremony.
The changing direction and strength of Çeşme’s winds throughout the day played a key role in determining the teams’ strategies during the races. On the coastal courses, reading wind shifts and choosing the right course came to the fore, while start timing, maneuvers, sail settings, and team coordination directly influenced the results in the technical buoy races.
Blue Moon Takes First Place in Two Categories
Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team stood out with its consistent performance at the Aegean Link Regatta, which brought together different types of racing within the same event. At the end of the races, Blue Moon topped both the ORC A overall standings and its own ORC A1 class, securing two first-place finishes for Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team.
The M.A.T. 1220 model Blue Moon, raced by the team, is the result of a collaboration between Arkas and İzmir-based yacht manufacturer M.A.T. that began in 2018. The 12.20-meter yacht, designed by Mills Design, was developed with performance in both offshore races and short, technical courses in mind. This hybrid racing character gave Blue Moon a competitive edge under different conditions at the Aegean Link Regatta, which featured both coastal and buoy courses.
The team, helmed by İpek Kırkavak, continued racing Blue Moon on the national circuit throughout the 2026 season. After securing a number of podium finishes during the season, the team delivered one of its notable results of the year at the Aegean Link Regatta in Çeşme.
From Second Place Last Year to Two First-Place Finishes This Year
The Aegean Link Regatta has been an important part of Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team’s racing calendar for many years. In 2025, Blue Moon-Arkas, with İpek Kırkavak and her team, finished second in the ORC A overall standings at the 9th Aegean Link Regatta, which brought together 20 teams. A year later, the team returned to race in the same waters and claimed first place in both the ORC A overall standings and the ORC A1 class.
Blue Moon’s history with the Aegean Link Regatta dates back to the yacht’s first race. After being launched, the M.A.T. 1220 model Blue Moon competed in its first Aegean Link Regatta, finishing first in its group and second in the overall standings. In 2026, Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team added two more first-place finishes to the results it has achieved over the years on the Çeşme course.
Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team’s double victory in Çeşme marked another successful result for Arkas sailing teams in August. Following Arkas Sailing Team’s victories in three categories at the Palermo-Montecarlo, Arkas teams extended their run of success from the Mediterranean to the Aegean with Arkas M.A.T. Sailing Team’s victories in ORC A and ORC A1.
