In 1995 the traditional Rally route, (Antalya - Bozyazı - Girne), was extended from İstanbul to Kemer and internationally Syria, Lebanon and Egypt were included in the Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally. In 2011, the Rally will start on 22TH April from Kalamis Marina, İstanbul and will sail the entire southwest and south coast down to Alanya, Turkey and then on to Girne, N. Cyprus. Leaving Girne the rally fleet will sail to the port of Lattakia in Syria, Jounieh Marina in Lebanon, Haifa and Ashkelon Marinas in Israel, Port Said in Egypt and finally Herzliya Marina in Israel as the last port.

Last year the 21th annual EMYR rally had 80 yachts participating from 17 different countries and completed the entire traditional EMYR route without any difficulties.

Rally participants Kath & David Gerrard (UK) and Hasan Kaçmaz (Turkish) from two different countries make up the permanent Rally committee for 2011. In addition to the core organisers, , TRNC – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Israel, Syria and Lebanon have organised local groups to work on projects to improve marinas and ports along the rally route to accommodate the Rally participant’s needs.

The first President of Northern Cyprus Mr. Rauf Denktaş, second President Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat and third President Mr. Derviş Eroğlu have supported the festivities and made visiting yachtsmen to the Girne Marina and Delta Marina feel most welcome for the last 21 years.

The previous president of Turkey, Mr. Süleyman Demirel has supported the Rally for the last 21 years on the Turkish Coast.

During our stay at Haifa, Herzlia and Ashkelon in Israel, the municipalities of Haifa, Herzlia and Ashkelon cities will provide support again for all basic needs of Rally participants and their yachts. They also organise festivities and guided tours to various parts of Israel.

The Turkish Coast Guard has traditionally accompanied the Rally yachts between Antalya and Port Said until 2002 and due to the political conflict in the region they couldn’t accompany the rally for 2003 & 2004 and the Coast Guard boats were with us again in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 EMYR only for the Turkish Coast. In 1995 - 2002 the Coast Guard was invited by the States of Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt to conduct official port visits as part of the rally. The Turkish coast guard has been valuable to the rally providing security and often-technical assistance to the participants.

The Rally, over its 21 years of activity, besides being a sporting event has helped to promote yachting tourism along the route and brought the marinas at Antalya, Alanya, Bozyazı, Mersin,İskenderun, Girne, Mağusa, Lattakia (Syria), Jounieh (Lebanon),Haifa, Herzliya and Ashkelon (Israel), Port Said (Egypt) to the attention of the international yachting community. Even more importantly, the local authorities have now realised that yachting tourism has reached their doorstep. The Rally has encouraged communities to begin feasibility studies involving their marina facilities and how they service the yachting community. For example the Kaş, Alanya & Mersin Marinas in Turkey, Girne Marina & Delta Marina in Northern Cyprus & Lattakia Marina in Syria provide better services, such as secure berths, showers, washrooms, electrical and water connections. In addition the necessity of new marinas is now being discussed in Northern Cyprus. New marinas are under construction at the ports of Kumkuyu, Gazipaşa and a new marina has also been approved in the community of Manavgat and Tartous Marina in Syria is nearly completed. The Port Said Governor office seeing the potential of international yachting tourism has completed feasibility study for Port Said Marina.

In line with our general promotional policy in the Eastern Mediterranean during the past years, we made arrangements to visit N. Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. The ports in these countries are still not well known to the International Yachting community. But today many yachtsmen know that these countries are becoming more popular. The number of the participants in EMYR 2011 rally is limited to be 80 yachts from different nationalities and LOA size will be min. 8 m. to max. 16 m.

We believe the support from the Marina Operating companies will continue in the up and coming years, allowing the EMYR to continue to promote yachting in the Eastern Mediterranean waters.