The Istanbul International Yacht Club was founded by Mehmet Emin Toprak to professionalize sailing in Turkish waters by establishing off-shore racing and one-design races and to further strengthen relationships between businessmen, and sailors. A committee that included the founding chair of Democrats Abroad Turkey, Brooks Emerson helped establish and internationalize the club.
Mehmet Emin Toprak along with heads of state, foreign dignitaries, internationally renowned yacht clubs, and private concerned individuals are presently designing an event to be held every four years to grow awareness, funding, and results in the environmental cleanup of the Mediterranean and interconnected regions. Given environmental issues heed no international boundary the program allows all parties affected to join one concerted effort.