Tenzor International Cup - J/70 Open Winter Series 2025/26 - Leg 4 Overall
by Burak Zengin 23 Feb 03:20 PST
19-22 February 2026
The fourth Leg of Tenzor International Cup - J/70 Open Winter Series 2025/2026 has concluded after 3 days of intense and uncompromising competition. Held in Aspat Bay from February 19 to 22, the races were full of dynamic starts, bow-to-bow mark roundings, and finishes decided by mere seconds.
The first racing day set a high intrigue: after three races, Turkish crews confidently asserted themselves, seizing the early lead. However, Saturday brought a change in fortune—rainy weather and unstable wind conditions, which kept dying down and filling back in, prevented the race committee from starting any races. This forced rest day only heightened the suspense heading into the final push.
Sunday turned into a true showcase of drive and adrenaline. The race committee started the day an hour earlier and sailors managed to complete four exciting and fast-paced races.
"The wind started at 10 knots from 320 degrees and over time it increased and shifted between 290 and 330 degrees. The race committee responded quickly to all the changes. After four very fast and tense races, the winning teams were determined," summarized the regatta's Principal Race Officer, Can Giray.
The key to success was not only speed but also deep strategic preparation, that made the battle within the leading group exceptionally fierce.
In the heated competition, the recognized favorites fought their way onto the podium. The crew of Tenzor Team, led by Andrey Pushkin, confirmed their status by securing one more race win. Throughout the stage, Bars Sailing Team, helmed by Maxim Batrakov, performed excellently, also claiming one win. Teams IVEDI and Nautique Yachting strove to maintain consistency but ultimately allowed their rivals to move ahead. In the end, IVEDI held onto their podium place, while Nautique Yachting finished just one step away.
The best breakthrough performance came from Ptichki Sailing Team, led by Elvira Pinchuk. Making the most powerful climb up the leaderboard and winning the final two races, "Ptichki" soared from 10th place to finish 5th overall. Russian Bogatyrs, skippered by Igor Rytov, rounded out the top six.
"We had incredibly interesting races. We managed to complete seven races, and it felt like the leaders changed in every single one. The fleet was sailing absolutely evenly, bow to bow. For example, before the last race, two teams had 16 points each, one team had 17, and another had 18. So everything was decided in the final race; that's what makes racing in a fleet like this so exciting. The regatta went positively for us, despite a few hiccups. Nevertheless, we were in good spirits throughout all the days, so we are very happy that we also managed to win. But the competition was serious," shared Daniil Odintsov, tactician for the winning team Tenzor Team.
In the Corinthian division, there was no big surprises. After the first racing day, Orient Express skippered by Haluk Babacan confidently took the lead and went on to compete for high positions in the overall standings. Second and third places in the division went to Team ASPAT (Mehmet Okay) and Ayaz JR (Arif Ayaz).
The next meeting of Tenzor International Cup Winter Series participants will take place in one month. The fifth stage will be held in the same location, Bodrum, from March 19 to 22. The battle for the overall series standings continues!
Leg 4:
1. Tenzor Team 18,0
2. IVEDI 24,0
3. Bars Sailing Team 25,0
4. Nautique Yachting 25,0
5. Ptichki Sailing Team 27,0