Written by İsmail Uzunlar, Performans Yelken, RS Sailing Türkiye
Youth double-handed sailing in Turkey reached an important milestone with the successful delivery of the country’s first dedicated RS Feva Development Clinic. Held in Bodrum on 10-12 January 2026 and organised by Performans Yelken, the official RS distributor in Turkey, the clinic marked the first time an internationally recognised performance coach was brought to the country specifically to support structured, long-term development within the RS Feva class.
UK-based RS Feva Coach, Lee Timothy, was brought to Turkey free of charge for sailors and clubs, as part of a long-term vision to support sustainable class development rather than short-term results. This initiative reflects Performans Yelken’s commitment to contributing directly to the growth of the RS sailing ecosystem in Turkey.
“It’s been a pleasure to lead the first ever RS Feva training camp in Türkiye 🇹🇷 […] in a crazy range of conditions! Thanks to Ismail Uzunlar, Performans Yelken, Bodrumspor Yelken and Türkiye Yelken Federasyonu for such a good experience!” Lee commented on LinkedIn.
“It’s been fantastic to see over 50 sailors, 17 coaches all absolutely buzzing about sailing the RS Feva. It’s been wonderful to see so many different sailors on the water having a great time.” He added on Instagram.
The clinic welcomed 55 sailors and 17 coaches from 13 different clubs, creating a unique environment for shared learning, technical alignment and knowledge exchange across the national sailing community.
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A Comprehensive On-Water and Ashore Programme
The three-day programme was designed to provide a structured introduction and performance-focused pathway within the RS Feva class. A balanced combination of shore-based briefings and on-water sessions covered:
- RS Feva boat handling fundamentals and rigging setup
- Helm and crew roles in double-handed sailing
- Communication during manoeuvres (tacks, gybes, mark roundings)
- Upwind technique and starting practice
- Spinnaker handling (hoists, gybes, drops)
- Coached regatta-style racing
- Goal setting and planning for the 2026 season
Throughout the clinic, sailors were encouraged to identify personal development areas, while coaches engaged directly with the lead coach to build a shared technical language that can be carried back to their home clubs.
Supporting the RS Feva Community Beyond the Event
Beyond individual performance gains, the clinic aimed to strengthen the wider RS Feva network in Turkey by investing equally in coach education, inter-club collaboration and long-term athlete development. By facilitating direct interaction between international expertise and the local sailing community, Performans Yelken sought to ensure that the impact of the clinic extends well beyond Bodrum.
Participants concluded the clinic with clearer performance goals, increased motivation and a stronger understanding of the RS Feva pathway and international calendar.
A Long-Term Commitment to Class Growth
“This RS Feva Clinic stands as a clear example of how distributors can actively contribute to class development by creating access to high-quality coaching and shared learning opportunities,” concludes İsmail Uzunlar. “Performans Yelken remains committed to supporting the sustainable growth of RS classes in Turkey through similar initiatives in the future.”
RS Sailing’s Commercial Director, Michiel Geerling, added: “The RS Feva is the fastest growing double-handed youth class in the world and it’s great to see this momentum in Turkey. And, we also see some Turkish entries on the list for the RS Feva World Championships at the RS Games 2026! We can’t wait to welcome them at Travemünder Woche this summer.”
Want to read more about RS Feva development in Turkey? Check out this article.
