Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally

In 1990 the very first Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally set sail from Antalya in Turkey sailing to Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus via Bozyazi.

The yacht rally sees participants from around the world joining in for the promotion of yachting and sailing tourism throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The rally is of course first and foremost an exciting sporting event, but it has successfully managed to promote yachting and sailing tourism and as a direct result of the rally the ports and marinas along the entire route have worked hard to improve their facilities and image to bring greater numbers of sailors to their shores.

Since its humble beginnings with just 17 vessels taking part, the yacht rally has grown in numbers and also distance. Nowadays the annual rally has up to 100 vessels taking part and the yachts sail from Istanbul to Kemer and then on to Alanya before crossing the Mediterranean to Girne (Kyrenia) in Northern Cyprus where they rest before heading back across the Med to Mersin and then on to Iskenderun.

The yachts then set sail from Turkey to Lattakia in Syria, Jounieh Marina in Lebanon, Haifa and Herzliya Marinas in Israel, Port Said in Egypt before finally heading for the Ashkelon Marina in Israel.

The 2005 Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally (EMYR) arrived in Kyrenia on May the 17th when about a third of the 80 boats competing in the 16th Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally put down anchor in Kyrenia’s famous and beautiful old harbour with the rest docking in the new harbour which is just a kilometre or so east of the town centre.

The sight of the yachts on the horizon as they approach the shores of Northern Cyprus is spectacular and many people line the old harbour walls to watch as the international crews carefully sail past the imposing Kyrenia Castle into the old harbour area and jostle for space to dock alongside the traditional fishing boats.

The international yachtsmen and women are greeted like homecoming heroes all along their route with the local people in Turkey, Northern Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt laying on festivities, tours and treats for them.

As a result of the growing success and popularity of the event, Northern Cyprus is considering building a brand new marina to improve and expand the services it currently offers sailors. Thanks to the EMYR participants Kyrenia’s harbours have gained international recognition. Independently from the rally more sailors each year head to the shores of Northern Cyprus to take advantage of the newly improved and secure berths, showers, washrooms, electrical and water connections, but it has become apparent that facilities will need to be extended as far as a new marina sometime in the near future.

Positive news indeed for the island of North Cyprus and for the international yachting community who will directly benefit from a brand new marina.