Wind Games in Bodrum: CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy 6th Leg

The last 2 days of April. Bodrum has become crowded, the tranquility and silence of the winter months are gone now. The sun is warming up, shorts and short sleeves are being worn. Between winter and summer. And more...

The weather is warm, but on the days when the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy 6th Leg will be sailed, meteorological forecasts show uncertain conditions and winds pregnant with surprises. It will be a challenging time for both race officials and competitors.

As we approach the end of the Trophy, no one can afford the slightest mistake.

On the sunny but windless Saturday morning of April 29th, Chief Race Officer Ayberk OLCAY begins his words at the briefing by saying similar things. "A challenging day awaits us, there's zero wind outside". "We expect the wind to give us racing opportunity from around 12:00 to 15:00". "The courses, starting sequences depend on what the wind offers us, everything will be determined and announced on the racecourse". "Our goal is to get you racing, but if there's no wind, to cancel without delay". "I wish you an enjoyable, patient day".

At Bodrum Milta marina, everyone's eyes are on the flags, watching for any movement. Finally, the Committee Boat moves into action and the 43 boats that will race follow behind, heading out to the course.

It becomes clear as soon as they round the Bodrum breakwater that the wind is not sufficient for racing. As boats head towards the vicinity of the committee boat, announcements come over the radios. The wind, constantly changing direction and blowing at strengths around the lower race limits, barely flutters the postponement flag.

The competition within the groups is serious enough that it won't tolerate mistakes. For this reason, if a race is to be held, the balance must not be overlooked.

The Committee persistently waits for the wind to settle and doesn't fail to thank the participants for their patience and understanding. The fleet, which hasn't heard this familiar announcement for a long time, has had its ears refreshed.

The wind conditions at different points along the geographical route the Committee plans to implement are trending favorably, and

the waiting committee finally gets its wish. As the wind finally settles at 6-7 knots from 160 degrees, race preparations begin.

All classes will race on the same geographical route. Start off Bodrum, the windward buoy at 0.8 nautical miles distance at 160 degrees, Köçek Shoal, leaving the buoy south of Çelebi Island to starboard, finish at Bodrum. Approximately 12 nautical miles.

A total of 43 boats will find themselves on the course with 3 starts.

At 13:06, the first start is given to IRC B 1-2 and Support classes. Due to contact at the start line, yacht ARYA protests yacht KONTIKI M. In the hearing held after the race, KONTIKI M is found at fault and disqualified.

After the first group's start, the wind begins to play tricks again. For this reason, the committee cannot give starts in quick succession.

At 13:30 for IRC A 3-4, at 13:43 for IRC A 0-1-2 classes, with the starts given, the fleet begins to beat towards the windward buoy on successive tacks.

After rounding the buoy and setting course for Köçek Shoal, it becomes apparent from the leaders' sails that the wind has dropped significantly in the Shoal area.

The fleet virtually makes another start at Köçek Shoal, and the spinnakers, though struggling to fill, still enable the boats to make headway.p>

At the end of the slow-paced race, the buoy race planned for IRC A boats does not take place, and the course is set toward Milta Marina.

At the end of the race;

In IRC A 0, RENAULT FAR AWAY (Hasip GENCER),

In IRC A 1, MAD X-FRAKTAL STUDIOS (İzzet GÖÇEMENUĞLU),

In IRC A 2, TURUVA 1 (Aytuğ ÜRER),

In IRC A 3, KARAVİDA-CHEESS SAILING (Alp DOĞULU),

In IRC A 4, YEDİÇERİLER (Varol HIDIR)

In IRC B 1, ZAGUN (Zafer GÜNEL),

In IRC B 2, FORTUNA (Barkın PALAOĞULLARINDAN),

In SUPPORT class, NAVITA (Burhan KURNE) are the boats that leave their competitors behind.

In the evening at Marina Yat Kulüp, the awards for the CFM-BAYK Winter Trophy 5th Leg races find their owners.

On Sunday, April 30th, meteorology websites indicate that there will be wind compared to the previous day, but it will allow racing for only a 3-hour period.

At the morning briefing, Chief Race Officer Ayberk OLCAY starts by saying that the wind deceived them the day before. The wind is uncertain, and once again everything will be decided on the course.

When we head out to the course, the wind blowing from 130 degrees has created small whitecaps on the surface of the sea. The committee has prepared the course, the routes are set.

For IRC B and Support classes; start off Bodrum, leaving Karaada and Çelebi Island to starboard, and finish off Bodrum. They will race approximately 17 nautical miles. The "Y" (Yankee) flag is hoisted on the committee boat. BAYK Commodore Ömer KARACALAR, who went out to the course with Milta Marina's fire boat, reports via radio to the committee that there are crew members on some boats not wearing life jackets.

Life jackets are donned and IRC B yachts start racing with the mass start at 11:35.

IRC A class yachts will compete in a windward-leeward course with legs of 1.7 nautical miles.

At 12:00, IRC A 3 and 4 groups, and at 12:10, IRC A 0-1-2 groups executed their starts while the wind was blowing from 130 degrees at 12-13 knots.

The first group will complete the course in 2 rounds, the 2nd group in 3 rounds. As the boats are completing their 1st lap, IRC B groups are becoming motionless east of Karaada. Clearly, the wind is low outside.

IRC A boats are completing the race very comfortably with the effect of their wind.

The Committee had planned one more buoy race for IRC A, but the wind starts playing tricks.

The group making the first start behind Karaada is literally moving at a crawl. Witnessing this situation, the Committee is not confident about the wind for the planned 2nd race for IRC A. Although there is some wind, albeit little, north of Karaada. However, the committee, not wanting to take risks after all their measurements, deems a single buoy race sufficient for IRC A.

The Committee's eye is now on IRC B. In front of Bodrum, there are two distinct areas in a perfect line - one with wind and one without.

The Committee shortens the race by 5 nautical miles for these groups as well, ending the race.

In the footage we captured from the Bodrum hills, we truly witness the sea divided in two - windy and windless.

At the end of the race;

In IRC A 0, ARKAS-FLYING BOX (Serhat ALTAY),

In IRC A 1, DEFİNE (Selim KAKIŞ),

In IRC A 2, MARİNA VİSTA KEYİF 60 (Yiğit EROĞLU),

In IRC A 3, KARAVIDA-CHEESE SAILING (Alp DOĞULU),

In IRC A 4, LADY SUN (Cengiz YAZGAN),

In IRC B 1, MİLTA BODRUM MARİNA-CAPE HORN (Özgür DUMANLI),

In IRC B 2, BLUES 1-ÇORLU SAILING TEAM (Mustafa SÖYLER),

In SUPPORT class, NAVITA (Burhan KURNE)

were the boats that left their competitors behind.

The final leg of the 7-leg trophy will be sailed on May 20-21, and the cups of this long marathon will find their owners.