21 UNIVERSITIES ON THE MARMARIS COURSE

On Friday, March 31st, while arriving in Marmaris for the 9th CAMPUS CUP races organized by MIYC, we could see from the hills many sailors training in the bay for the races that would take place over the weekend.

   

On the same day, the strong winds affecting the Western and Southern Aegean seemed likely to leave their intensity uncertain during the race days, along with rain. The intermittent precipitation continued until Sunday morning.

   

I truly enjoy and value youth races even more, because I believe that the progress they make will accelerate the development momentum of Yacht Racing in our country even faster.

   

For the 9th CAMPUS CUP, 350 young sailors from 21 universities will compete. Doğuş, ODTÜ, Yeditepe, Kocaeli, Ekonomi, Arel, İTÜ, Beykent, Ege, Yaşar, Sabancı, Kadir Has, Dokuz Eylül, Bilgi, Hacettepe, Bahçeşehir, MEF, Koç, Piri Reis, Boğaziçi, Katip Çelebi, Yıldız Teknik, İzmir Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü will field 32 teams on the racecourse.

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MIYC's new and previous management joined hands and prepared for CAMPUS CUP with intense work. We asked MIYC's new president İhsan KALAYCI about the past and present of this event, which will be held for the ninth time this year.

İHSAN KALAYCI

“After establishing our club, we also thought about what we should do for university students. Cengiz Aksoy became the naming father of this event. First, we organized what we called race within a race, taking students aboard our boats and arranging races. In the following years, we took the event further. We started the races with the first 3 universities. Seeing that the young people were enthusiastic, we had them race as a group within our races under club sponsorship. Later, we launched such a race in April. We sponsored and supported the young people. Today, we have provided sponsorship to the top 20 universities. 32 teams are participating in this event. Many of the students participating in the race are already competing in different regions. We have opened the way for young people coming from centerboard to yacht racing. Similar races are also taking place in different regions. In the coming years, we are planning to increase the number of race days and organize international level races with teams from neighboring countries.”

   

This is how MIYC sees it. Well, we wanted to get to know and introduce the university youth as well. Are these and similar events temporary for them? Do they love it, do they want to continue their work, will they be permanent on the courses?

   

We went out to the Netsel Marina pontoons and tried to get to know and film the teams until the briefing.

MEF UNIVERSITY

“Our team was founded this year. We are a team of 8 people in total. Everyone started sailing this year. We conduct our training sessions on weekends in Kalamış, Istanbul.  We have been preparing for this race for 6 months under the training of Atilla Gökova. We will also participate in other races from now on.”

METU

“We have a team of 80 people within our university. We came here with a team of 22 people. We have 2 teams for the races. We are divided into two groups: beginners and those with racing experience. Newcomers blend in with the experienced ones and develop.

Continuity is essential in our teams. We are participating in these races as 3 teams. We are here at the ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy and we participate in the inter-university yacht races in Urla and Istanbul.”

PİRİ REİS UNIVERSITY MARITIME HIGH SCHOOL

“We are a crew of 11 with a centerboard background. We are racing with Mersin Sailing Academy. We have been together since 2014. After these races, we will participate in others as well.”

HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY

“We are participating in the races as 4 people. In this first race of ours, we will compete with a 26-foot boat. After this, we will increase our crew number and participate in other races as well.”

İTÜ

“Our team consists of 11 people. We also enter many races in Istanbul. We train regularly every week. Our A team is stable, the others are developing. We are gradually improving and growing.”

DOĞUŞ

“Doğuş Sailing Club has been carrying out its activities regularly for 5 years. We race in Istanbul, Urla, and Marmaris. We came from Istanbul with our boat for this race. We are participating in the race with a crew of 11 people.”

   

BOĞAZİÇİ UNIVERSITY

“Our university sailing team was established in 2000. Every year we have 100 people joining our club. We continue our activities with those who remain. Eighty percent of us started this sport at university. One of our teams is currently competing in France.”

   

After a brief chat with some University teams, we head to the Briefing at MIYC facilities. Chief Umpire Can Giray addresses the youth; First, Life Safety. Then the importance of avoiding collisions (The committee boat has been repaired, they don't want it to be hit) and protest filing rules. He announces that 3 races are planned over 2 days where uncertain weather conditions will prevail.

   

When heading out to the course, the Marmaris classic again; coy wind, waiting for us to beg. Sails are luffing, some opening spinnakers are trying their luck, the umpires' eyes are on the wind.

   

The start planned for 11:00 AM gives way to postponement as we wait for wind. Once the expected wind settles in direction and strength, race announcements begin from the committee boat.

   

A buoy race will be held first. Route 6 from MIYC routes will be sailed by all classes. Approximately an 8 nautical mile route. With wind blowing at 8 knots from 135 degrees, the first start is given to IRC 0-1-2 groups at 11:35.

   

At 11:40, the start is given to IRC 3-4-5 groups. However, BOOMERANG is OCS. After refreshing her start and entering the course, the entire fleet of 32 boats begins racing in Marmaris inner harbor. Although the wind varies according to areas, we witness it gradually dropping over time.

   

The day’s first race takes place under the dominance of some rain, some clouds, and some sunshine. However, as finishes are taken, the wind strength decreases considerably.

   

The day’s 2nd race preparations, starts and the race are abandoned because the wind says “that’s all from me, return to shore, let the youngsters have some fun too.”

   

The evening party held at MIYC facilities was colorful with the energy of the youth despite heavy rain.

On April 2nd, Marmaris was dressed in spring attire once again, saying “Good morning” to the youth.

   

While the wind was blowing from 275 degrees at 9-10 knots on the course, Principal Race Officer Can GİRAY announced that the first race would be a buoy race inside the bay. In starts given in 2 groups, PHILOXENE and CAPE HORN were leading.

   

Although the wind strength increased from time to time, it never dropped. As finishes were being recorded, the committee announced that preparations for the day’s 2nd race were underway. A route of approximately 14 nautical miles around Kargataşı Island was announced for IRC 0-1-2 groups. At this time, the wind was blowing from 260 degrees at 16 knots.

   

After the start of these groups, IRC 3-4-5 groups would also race on the same route.

   

When the first group exited from the inner harbor to the outer area, the wind began to blow differently. However, since it decreased in the inner harbor where the starts were given, the 2nd Group's start could not be given and the boats headed towards Netsel Marina.

   

The first group continuing their competition in the outer harbor, the committee announced a course shortening before entering the inner harbor, announcing that the finishes were moved to the point where the starts were given. As the wind decreased in strength, the finishes were being taken slowly.

   

After all finishes were taken, on the club's notice board;

In IRC 0 VICTORY (İTÜ)

In IRC 1  KEYİF 60 (İTÜ)

In IRC 2  ELECTRON (KOCAELİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)

In IRC 3  PAPIRUS (EGE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)

In IRC 4  BOOMERANG (ODTÜ)

In IRC 5  MIRABELLA (PİRİ REİS)

It was announced that the boats had earned the first place trophies in their groups.

   

   

As the trophy ceremony concluded, with strengthened friendships, the students headed back to their training regions with the wish to meet again at different competitions in other areas.

   

 

Regarding our observations and thoughts from these and similar university competitions; Either similar races should be held more frequently on different courses, or enthusiastic, volunteer and talented young people should definitely be included in the racing teams.

   

We believe that young, dynamic and strong racers participating in yacht races in this way will raise the quality standards of racing even higher.

   

If only each team would sponsor a student.