Sinem Kurtbay / Alican Kaynar

Sinem Kurtbay is a two-time Olympian who represented Finland in the Nacra 17 at the Tokyo 2020 (13th) and Paris 2024 (7th) Games.

Born to a Finnish mother and Turkish father, she switched to represent Turkey, her other home country, after a Turkish offer drew her back from a brief retirement.

With crew Alican Kaynar she made a flying start, winning a race and finishing second overall at the 2025 World Championship after just seven months together, and the pair are now contenders heading toward Los Angeles 2028.

Alican Kaynar is an experienced Turkish sailor who crews for Sinem Kurtbay in Turkey's Nacra 17.

Their new partnership clicked almost instantly: racing together for only seven months, they won a race and took second overall at the 2025 World Championship, a standout result.

Kaynar and Kurtbay have established themselves among the leading crews in the class as they target the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.