Final Showdown in Bodrum

We were in Bodrum on May 21-22 to witness the final leg of the trophy. The races, which have continued for 6 legs, entered the week with results determined in the top positions of some classes.

We experienced a week where boats that knew their rankings would not change even if they participated did not register. Especially in IRC A 0 Class, we witnessed the competition of 2 boats for this reason.

The races planned for Saturday, May 21 could not take place because the effect of the Lodos exceeded the race safety limits.

The Race Committee, which went out to the course, canceled the races at 15:30 after giving 2 postponements due to the wind being above 25 knots and occasionally at 40 knots. Meanwhile, boats that wanted to go out to the course were called back. That same evening, the awards for the 6th leg of the trophy found their owners.

The rain that fell on the night of Sunday, May 22nd, reduced the wind effect. The briefing that was supposed to be held at 9:30 was moved to 09:00, with timing arranged to conduct 2 races during the day.

On the course, 23 boats from IRC A class, 18 from IRC B and Support classes, a total of 41 boats took their positions. There was a bittersweet melancholy on all boats on the last day of the final leg of the Trophy. The end of an entire winter season spent together had arrived. The last day had come for the racing yachts, the jury, the press, and the organizing committee.

Poseidon, who had shown all his tricks throughout the winter and until yesterday, seemed to be saying "I'm allowing the race to proceed."

The first start was to be given to IRC B and Support class. This group will race on a route of approximately 12 nautical miles bird's eye view, with Bodrum front start, Kurt Burnu on starboard, Köçek Island and Kurt Burnu on port, Bodrum front finish. The start was given at 11:00 am while the wind was blowing from 95-110 degrees at 7-9 knots. The start was given at an angle that could almost be called abeam.  SUNSHINE and BAYDENİZ ANKA RACE TEAM, having been over early, refreshed their starts and joined the race.

After this start, the wind began to shift direction. The boats that were advancing with spinnakers at times began to replace their collapsing spinnakers with genoas to avoid wasting more time.

After the start of IRC B and Support groups, the start procedures for IRC A group could not begin because the wind shifted direction between 30-45 degrees. For this reason, Chief Umpire Hulki ORUZ announced the situation to the competitors several times and asked for understanding. The trophy that started with gentlemanliness was ending with gentlemanliness this year.

When the wind was blowing from 215 degrees at 7-9 knots, the Yankee (Y) flag was lowered. The yachts racing on the sausage course will race on a route of approximately 5 nautical miles bird's eye view in 2 laps.

After the IRC A 3 and 4 starts, we began following the fleet. Then, as the other A group boats took their starts, the course off Bodrum was presenting colorful scenes.

The competition was really showing itself at the buoy turns.

Meanwhile, the IRC B and Support boats also began approaching the finish. While the IRC A boats' laps continued, ZAGUN and BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM were the leading boats crossing the finish line with their spinnaker runs in the IRC B groups.

The IRC A boats racing on the sausage course completed their finishes. In these groups;

In IRC A O, ARKAS FLYING BOX,

In IRC A 1, DEFİNE,

In IRC A 2, TRUVA

In IRC A 3, MATADOR,

In IRC A 4, İSKORPİT UK SAİLS were the boats that left their rivals behind.

After the IRC A class finishes were completed, the procedures for the day's 2nd Sausage course race began on the same course. The wind was blowing from 230 degrees at 12-14 knots. The Yankee(Y) flag was hoisted again and life jackets were made mandatory. First IRC A 3-4 and then IRC A 0-1-2 groups would start.

Shortly before the first start, MELTEM-DENİZ CADIKLARI, racing in IRC B 1 Group, finished through the starting line of boats that were about to start, in the exact opposite direction specified in the sailing instructions.

In the sailing instructions, it was written that for IRC B boats, starts and finishes should be executed leaving the Committee boat to Starboard. The race committee first made an announcement reminding them of the start and finish lines. When Meltem boat replied to the announcement and saw that she had not completed the finish, they warned her. But Meltem Boat said she was protesting the Race Committee.

Meanwhile, the start procedures for IRC A 3 and 4 groups had begun. The Committee didn't know what to manage or how to respond to Meltem Boat.

Finally, IRC A 3 and 4 groups executed their starts. Then IRC 0-1 and 2 groups. After all starts, the wind shifted 45 degrees. Since the race committee couldn't signal abandonment before the first boat rounded the mark, the fleet continued racing on a skewed course relative to the wind.

Meanwhile, the MELTEM boat completed its finish. The wind almost stopped as IRC A boats made their final buoy turns. It freshened from time to time. It decreased from time to time, and while blowing around 8 knots, finishes were taken and the final finish whistles of the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy were sounding.

At the end of IRC A group's 2nd Sausage race;

In IRC A O, ARKAS FLYING BOX,

In IRC A 1, DEFİNE,

In IRC A 2, DERE CONSTRUCTION ANYWAY

In IRC A 3, AURORA X,

In IRC A 4, MX-GÖZTEPE YELKEN KADIN EKİBİ were the boats that left their competitors behind.

While day 2 was concluded with a single race for IRC B Class and Support class boats;

In IRC B 1 group, RAIN,

In IRC B 2 group, BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM,

In SUPPORT Class, KAAN were the boats that left their competitors behind.

With all finishes taken, the excitement and preparations for the final night of the 7-Leg Winter Trophy, the award ceremony, began on the boats heading to Milta Bodrum Marina.

The award ceremony, which started at 19:30, began with a thank you speech by BAYK Commodore Ömer Karacalar. Then the 7th Leg awards of the Trophy and the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy Awards found their owners.

In IRC A O, ARKAS FLYING BOX,

In IRC A 1, DEFİNE,

In IRC A 2, TRUVA

In IRC A 3, AURORA X,

In IRC A 4, MNG KARGO-ALTO

In IRC B 1 group, ZAGUN,

In IRC B 2 group, BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM,

In the SUPPORT Class, NİL-MİLTA BODRUM MARİNA

were the boats that deserved the trophy cups.