Best Corinthians confirmed its participation in the Series!

The Corinthian division has a separate standings in the Tenzor International Cup series. According to the rules of the J/70 class, teams in which all crew members are amateurs and have the World Sailing Group 1 category participate in this division.

In the 2023/2024 season, the AYAZ team (skipper Arif Ayaz) became the winner in Corinthian category. The crew is determined to repeat the success, as well as fight for high positions in the overall standings.

Ugur Ayaz: «The TIC 23/24 season was quite challenging and exciting for us. As a team, we competed in the J/70 class for the first time last season and suddenly found ourselves racing among an elite fleet. Although this was a demanding experience, it was a fantastic challenge for any sailor. Each race brought its own unique experiences and unforgettable moments for us. The experiences and memories we gained throughout the season significantly contributed to our growth, and we are very pleased with the progress of our team. In the new season, we will definitely participate in all legs of the TIC Winter Series. Last season, we had a strong run in the Corinthian category. This season, we aim to improve further and climb to higher rankings. Considering that the 24/25 season is likely to feature even tougher competition, finishing within the top-8 would be a great achievement for us.

Sailing in Turkey is developing day by day, thanks to investments and organized events. The level that the J/70 class has reached over the past two years is truly exciting. As a team, we are very happy to be part of this progress. In this context, the contribution of the Tenzor Sailing Club in organizing international-level races is undeniable. We especially thank Burak Zengin, as well as the Tenzor Sailing Club and its organizers, for their efforts.

In the season’s first race, we will be on the course with our team, consisting of Arif Ayaz, Uğur Ayaz, Mehmet Türkmen, and Melih Altınkut. My brother Arif, Melih, and I have been sailing together since the optimist class. Our youngest member, Mehmet, is from a younger generation and is a former Turkish champion and a skilled sailor. Knowing each other for many years and having grown up as sailors in the same region is one of our greatest strengths. Additionally, Melih and Mehmet’s experience in racing in the Melges 32 class since 2019 has further enhanced our adaptation and progress on the boat».

ASPAT team was 2nd best last season.
The team is represented in the Tenzor International Cup series by a crew that unites fathers and sons with experienced sailors. They are all close in spirit and this is their strength.

Hakan Saraç: "I can say that our first season in the Tenzor International Cup was exciting and challenging for the whole team. As you know, we were a newly established team, and moreover, most of us would experience a J70 and racing for first time. Team ASPAT is a team of fathers and sons: it consists of Mehmet Okay and his son Ahmet - a former Laser sailor, me and my son Deniz – an active ILCA6 sailor; together with former Olympic national sailing athlete Ali Kemal Tüfekçi and Andreas Rangavis as tacticians. A team that competes with amateur spirit. With this motivation and determination, we participated in all the legs and were rewarded for our efforts by finishing the TICOWS 2024 regatta in second place in the Corinthian division. We had a lot of fun, made a lot of mistakes, but we also learned many things in every race, as everything was a new experience for us had not been encountered before. Besides the races it was also a pleasure for us to meet the valuable Turkish and foreign teams in the J/70 and sailing community. We are eagerly looking forward to the new season. We aim to enhance our experience, to learn something from every race, have fun and stay together. One of our biggest motivations has been to share this excitement and experience with our sons. The J/70 has created a different competitive environment for them, as they got to experience racing not just alone in the water and on the boat, but as part of a team. Being part of a team, cooperating, fulfilling the tasks expected of them, and taking responsibility for their teammates are, in my opinion, the most significant gains they have achieved. Despite his age, my son Deniz is technically quite capable and a good sailor; he is constantly developing, and we learn a lot from him. I feel proud and happy to be racing alongside my son".