İrem: "Sea means happiness!"

The guest of the Sailor Kids series, which we started last issue, is İrem Arkun from Istanbul. İrem's world filled with sailing will inspire many other kids (and parents).

İrem is 13 years old student in 7^th grade, but she has also been a sailor since she was a little girl. Starting at the Era Sailing Club in Bitez, Bodrum, her sailing adventure took her to Istanbul and then to other cities around the world.

It was actually her father's idea. İrem attended the courses that summer without any objection, and enjoyed sailing. Since she started sailing school the same year she started school, she attended both schools for a while. But she did not want to continue in the winter when she returned to Istanbul. Then, after a year, this time in Istanbul, she enrolled in Galatasaray's summer school, and that is when things changed. "They suddenly said that they wanted me for the C team. I had already learned a few things. When they asked me to jibe, I was able to do it immediately." When her mother was also okay with it, İrem's sailing journey turned from an adventure into something serious.

Like many sailing kids her age, she sails an optimist. She sails her tiny boat from Caddebostan to the Princes' Islands and back without any fear. "The beauty of optimist is that even if you are small, you can do it. So weight or anything else does not matter, it is the will that counts. You can even overtake those bigger than you" she says. But is she not scared of 30 knot winds and waves? "At first you get a little scared, yes. But when you learn sailing, it becomes even more fun." Another fortunate thing for İrem is that she sailed with her best friend for a while. It was easy for her to overcome the difficult part of it when she had her friend by her side at sea as well as on land.

İrem's seas grew bigger as time went on, and she started competing in international races. She came 3^rd in the junior category in her most recent race in Croatia. But there is more to it. She went to Spain and some other countries too. The weather conditions there were not so good and things did not go as she had hoped. Nevertheless, she also won a medal in Malta last year. "Another thing is, you know how foreigners announce your name? When they announce me saying 'İrem'... It makes me proud, I am representing my country after all!" Well, how many medals has she got so far? She did not count them: "I guess 15 or something!".

But there is winter, there is wind, there are difficulties. Does she ever not want to go sailing? "If there is no special occasion, like a birthday or something, I do not have such reluctance. I mean, the atmosphere is so nice, and I have my friends. We also go to camps in Bodrum, Çeşme all together. I also love my trainers. The sailing club is like my second home."

They have not been on a bigger boat yet, except as guests. But İrem says she would navigate it easily. Such self-confidence! They have already planned a world tour with three of her friends. They kept a notebook which included their calculations, routes and plans. But one of the girls went to another club, and the other moved to another country. That notebook is closed for now but who knows when it will be opened again. Her current goal is the national team. Then to become a trainer.

Sea means happiness for İrem. "This is how sea is... it relaxes you. If you are feeling bad, it makes you forget about it. Sea creatures are very appealing as well." Of course, they have other beautiful memories at sea. One day, when they are navigating during a sailing course, a coast guard boat appears out of nowhere. The boat circles around them as if it is showing off. While the kids are trying to understand what is going on, the boat's commander picks up the radio and says: "Good job kids, you are very good! Way to go! Keep going like this!" Obviously, the officer was so delighted by the sight that he could not stop himself from making such an announcement, even though he knew it would be against the rules. Of course, the kids love it when they get praise from a sailor. The sea really can provide kids with such unexpected entertainment.

She only gets upset when she comes across garbage in the sea. She picks them up, puts them in the boat, takes them ashore and throws them in the trash. "You know there are animals living there! It is their home. How would you like it if they throw garbage in your home?" Is it not such a good question?

İrem has a message for both kids and parents. "Kids should start right away. They should not wait at all. But they should be patient. It will eventually be really good. I mean, it certainly will!" What about parents? "They should not force their child at all. Not for sailing, not for anything else. They will do it themselves if they want to."

It looks like İrem has already cracked the code at this age. According to her, "will" is at the center of life. There is nothing that cannot be done if you are willing. "I mean, at least that is what I think. The most important thing is to be willing. Rest is easy."