The GALLIPOLI YACHT RALLY 2006 will again sail to Anzac Cove, attend the 91st Anzac Day Dawn Service and sail along the Gallipoli Peninsula and down the Turkish Aegean Coast.

The Rally will commence from the Dardanelles city of Canakkale and the yacht charter will conclude at Cesme with stopovers at Anzac Cove, Bozcaada, Assos, Ayvalik and Foca.

Apart from the special symbolism and emotion of being part of the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove on the 25th April and the Commemorative Service at Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair, the special cultural and sightseeing program being offered in the program will provide all participants with an everlasting memory. Optional tours include the ancient city of Troy and Pergamon. A tour of the ancient city of Ephesus and the city of Istanbul will take place after the charter yacht handover at Cesme. More details of these tours are contained in the Gallipoli Yacht Rally program for 2006. An optional tour of Capadoccia is also offered either before the start of the rally program or at the end.

Early in 2001 the then Turkish Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Umut ARIK, announced that a series of annual yacht races would be held in Turkey to commemorate the first Turkish-Anzac encounter at Gallipoli in 1915 which led to an eternal bond of friendship between the Turks, Australian and New Zealanders. This led to the first visit to Gallipoli in 2001 of Australian and New Zealand yachtsmen to participate in the commemorative services and enjoy Turkish hospitality as well as discover the rich antiquities of the country. The GALLIPOLI YACHT RALLY has the full support of the Turkish Government and obtains official permission for its comprehensive program.

The Gallipoli Yacht Rally has developed great friendships and cooperation at the Ports of Call and often the Mayor of the town or the Provincial Governor will attend the Rally’s formal or informal functions.