Jim was born on 15 July 1950 and is Turkish, Canadian and Abkhazian citizen. In spite of the fact that his ancestors came from Caucasus, he is in love with the sea. He is eager to share his knowledge with everyone who is fond of the sea and is dreaming to take the wheel and start his or her own sea journey. During his sports and training career, he has prepared hundreds of instructors for IYT and helped them to open sailing schools all over the world.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

First Turk who sailed from Turkey to Russia (St. Petersburg -Leningrad then) and North Pole (Spitsbergen)
Second Turk who sailed around the World
First Turk who sailed around the World 2.5 times
The only sailing instructor who got awarded by the Turkish Olympic Committee
Trainer of the first Turkish women sailing team that won the second prize in the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2005
First women sailing instructors were certified by him
Founder of  First RYA (Royal Yachting Association), CYA (Canadian Yachting Association), IYT (International Yacht Training) schools
First Canadian citizen who opened CYA (Canadian Yachting Association) school outside Canada
One of the world – renowned regatta Marmaris Race Week organizers. 
Since 1976 Jim has trained ~10.000 skippers and 98 sailing instructors from all over the world. In 2011 he initiated the reopening of ISS (International Sailing School) in Vancouver (Canada).
From 10 October 2010 to 10 April 2012 Him and his wife Mayisa were on a round-the-world voyage on board 40-foot yacht. During the trip He wrote the book called “Sailing Around the World With Friends”, and Mayisa is now writing the book called “First Caucasian Woman Who Sailed Around the World”.

PERSONAL LIFE

His father (a school teacher) Ihsan and mother Hikmet are both Abkhazian. When hewas 29 he got married to an Abkhazian girl Güler who was 19. They lived in Canada. They traveled by car across Canada, the USA and Europe. Their marriage lasted for 25 years, they have two sons : Atilla and Tolga. Both of them are sailing instructors. Atilla teaches racing in his 45 foot racing boat in Istanbul, Bodrum and Marmaris. Tolga teaches sailing in Marmaris. 

Jim and Mayisa 

At the age of 59 Hegot married again to a Caucasian girl Mayisa who was 29, they have three sons Muhammed, Elbrus and Eldar. Most of the time he and Mayisa live in Marmaris (Turkey) and train those who want to acquire sailing skills.