The relationship I have with the sea is part of the bond I have with my childhood. This bond, which encouraged me to swim at beaches when I was young, then to compete in open sea races, and eventually made me an amateur sailor, also helped me overcome lack of experience in life.

Simge Yüksel

While the sea is an escape for some people only on vacation, it is a way of life for others. The sea has been an indispensable passion for me since childhood.

Our summer house in Kumburgaz was not just a home for me, but the place where my bond with the sea began. I used to go there when the schools closed and jump into the sea as soon as I had breakfast. The coolness and lightness I felt when I went into the water is etched in my memory as one of the best memories of my childhood. I would lose track of time swimming in the sea and playing with the waves for hours. I would stay in the water until my fingers were wrinkled and would only be willing to return home in the evening when the sun began to set.

My longing for the water never ended during the winter months. Even when the water was cut off at home, I would feel uncomfortable and would be disturbed by the lack of water. I continued to be in the water by taking swimming courses. But the endlessness, the salt water and the freedom of the sea was something else, and the pool could never replace it. My devotion to water led me to greater adventures over time.

After giving birth to my twins, I started participating in open water swimming races to rediscover myself. Swimming in open water was very different from swimming in a pool. Swimming against the waves, feeling the current of the water, being a part of nature was a great feeling. The more races I participated in, the more I discovered this passion. The longer I stayed in the sea, the luckier I felt. I wanted to get back in the sea even after two or three hours of racing.

Open water swimming races are an experience that challenges and develops not only physically but also mentally. It requires focus, controlling your breathing and adapting to the conditions presented by nature during hours of swimming. Thanks to these races, I had the opportunity to learn patience, endurance and determination on a deeper level. These races, where not only physical strength but also mental strength is important, became a great passion for me.

On a vacation during the pandemic, I met someone who changed my life: Captain Ayşe (Ayşe Aran). The conversations I had with her and sailing together encouraged me to become an amateur sailor and take up sailing. Until then, the sea meant only swimming for me. However, with sailing, I realized that I could have a completely different bond with the sea and decided to become a sailor.

I started sailboat life in 2022. The love of sailing my father and brother shared with me led us to buy a 49-foot sailboat. Before I took my first step into sailing, many told me that it was not going to be easy. That is why I received trainings in Istanbul and Göcek. I was thinking all night about berthing at the pier and how to navigate according to the wind. Even berthing at the easiest pier was a nightmare.

My first guests were the ones to observe my development the best. On a voyage with my beloved friends Esin and Belin, I was calling from afar to the pier where we were berthing, shouting from afar that we were amateurs. "I am an amateur!" That would make everyone stop what they were doing and run to the pier.

Yes, I made mistakes, but the more miles at sea, the more experience I gained and the more I was able to make the right decisions.

I grew up in a family from the Black Sea. My father always supported me and my sister to be strong. The most important thing my mother taught me as a woman was to overcome my limits by achieving things that many people say "you cannot do". However, I realized during my time at sea that seafaring is a male-dominated field. I realized that women are more reserved about it. Yet in my philosophy of life, the sea is identified with women.

Being at sea provides you with many values. For me, sailing has become not only a sport but also a philosophy of life. I learned to be in harmony with nature, to understand the direction of the wind, to move against the waves, and most importantly, to be patient. I learned to be satisfied with less, sustainability, respect, patience, and to ask for and provide help when needed. I learned the value of freedom and peace while navigating with only the sound of wind and water, away from technology.

Being at sea also requires you to take responsibility and be sensitive to nature. The love and devotion I have had for the sea since childhood

has guided me at every stage of my life. My adventure started with swimming courses, expanded with open water races, and then developed further with sailing. Each new experience has strengthened my bond with the sea. Now, my only wish is to meet more female sailors and to overcome all the things that are said to be "impossible" one by one.