Levent Sindel is a professional sailing instructor, offshore yachtmaster, and the founder of Sindel Sailing.
 

He grew up in Marmaris — one of Turkey's foremost sailing centres, where the sea was never background scenery but a way of life. His father, a retired naval officer, and his stepfather Derek, a British sailor who lived aboard his boat and shared an artistic sensibility with Levent's mother, shaped the way he sees both the sea and the world. That foundation never left him.
 

After studying Photography at Marmara University's Faculty of Fine Arts, Levent spent 15 years building a career in film and advertising production. In the meantime he continued his sailing life. What that industry forged in him went far beyond technical skills: high-pressure decision making, leadership, crisis management, and the discipline to keep people and projects together under any conditions. It was, without knowing it at the time, preparation for life at sea.

In 2019, he made the transition. His mentor — who had recognised Levent's instinct to teach and guide long before he did — offered him a position at Gökova Sailing Academy. He hasn't looked back since.
 

Since then, Levent has sailed and taught across the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Finnish Archipelago. He has worked hands-on in Helsinki's boatyards, competed in classic wooden boat regattas, completed advanced survival training with Meriturva, and served as a volunteer with Turkey's Search and Rescue Association at sea — a commitment that reflects his core belief: safety is not a checklist. It's a philosophy.
 

Sindel Sailing was founded to bring all of this under one vision — to introduce people to the sea, help them fall in love with sailing, and guide them toward a confident, safe life on the water.