The Wait is Over in the Gulf

The first Gulf Race I witnessed and filmed for TRT in Izmir Gulf was in 2002. In fact, the late Ahmet Piriştina, who was the Mayor of Izmir at the time, gave the start, and we conducted and published an interview with him about the Gulf races.

At that time, Mete TÜMAY was serving as Commodore at the head of EAYK. It was an event that challenged the conditions of the time and was enjoyed by the participants.

As the years passed, such an event could not be repeated very often. Unfortunately, in the gulf of Izmir, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, suitable for sailing and racing, these events could not be sustained periodically. Although the desire was repeated from mouth to mouth, from ear to ear, a race could only be held 6 years ago at the latest.

The reasons were many, the solutions difficult, the paths seemed insurmountable. Finally, the owner of the gulf, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, our country's pride in international maritime transport, Izmir-based Arkas, EAYK which made yacht races a natural activity in the region by adding boats to its fleet one by one under difficult conditions in the Aegean Region, and the Turkish Sailing Federation put their heads together; and said "Vira Bismillah" in Izmir for the Gulf races.

Why not? Flour, sugar, oil, everything is there. The biggest problem for yachts in the Gulf was mooring. They solved that with Konak Pier as well. Anchoring at the historic port is difficult. Anchoring work continued for days. They made people say "So it was possible after all."

All preparations were completed by these organizations that stepped up to the challenge. Yachts coming from miles away for the event took their places at the historic quay where barges and military ships berth. The atmosphere of the quay changed instantly, of course.

Why can't a marina be built here? If even the 43 boats that berthed provide this magnificence to beautiful Izmir, imagine what kind of visual, what kind of activity hundreds of them would create with installed pontoons.

But not with such expensive berthing rates, pricing policies that discourage and alienate amateur sailors, but simple, modest yet alive, with municipal facilities.

On September 22nd, I saw these views as the sun was leaving Izmir from the west, when I arrived at my hotel which was central to the events. In different squares and piers, orchestras are giving concerts. During the day, sailing races were held in Karşıyaka, and young people with canoes are saying "We are here too, injecting festivity into the gulf." A photography competition has been organized for visuals immortalizing all the events. Nearly a hundred visual hunters are also in the event areas, including valued photography artists we know from Bodrum and Marmaris. What more could Izmir Gulf want, may the flowers bloom.

The opening cocktail is on the Bergama Ferry moored to the quay. A completely different atmosphere. The organizers and participants are happy.

At 09:30 in the morning, there is a briefing at the Key Hotel conference hall. The hall prepared considering the number of participants is insufficient for the interest, and the briefing begins after additional chairs and tables are placed.

EAYK Commodore Akif Sezer's opening speech and Chief Umpire Halan KÜTÜK announcing the routes and safety warnings for the day's 2 races. Passenger ships, cargo vessels and fishing boats are creating heavy traffic in the gulf. Although they are aware of the race, the competitors are also asked to follow these vessels carefully.

Attention has been paid to the routes being particularly close to the shore. Izmir residents will be able to easily watch the race from the shores, walking and sports areas. This detail has not been neglected either. Intertwined with the city, in front of the citizens' eyes.

The boats heaving to in front of Konak Pier are taking their positions at the starting area. We, as the press, will follow the race from a large sailing vessel carrying passengers within the gulf. We set out on the course with concerns about maneuverability, but the captain is more skilled than most of the captains we have worked with in this business so far. He operates that huge vessel under him like a speedboat without bothering anyone and presents us with visuals. Of course, there are also participants in the photography competition on the boat.

Wind is blowing from 285 degrees at 7-11 knots. Of the 42 boats on the course, IRC groups will do the first start, Support Groups the 2nd start.

All groups will first complete a triangular course. IRC Classes will then race a sausage course and finish the race at approximately 14 NM.

With the start given at 12:25, we began following the IRC classes. Arkas Flying Box and Anything Dere Construction, who displayed fierce competition in the Chios race, are continuing their neck-and-neck battle by getting ahead of their competitors in this race as well.

While we, the press boat, are discussing our position with the captain, we decide that we need to stay away from the Bostanlı shallow areas. Because the sea had shoaled by 50 cm tonight and our instruments were showing this.

While we were heading directly to the turning buoy, we saw that Arkas Flying Box and Anything Dere Construction ran aground in the area we were concerned about. Arkas Flying Box freed herself by her own means while we were going to that location, but it took time for Anything Dere Construction to free herself. And after a while, Anything Dere Construction lowered her sails and requested towing.

Clearly, an issue with the rudder had occurred during the recovery efforts. The boat withdrew from the race and was taken to port. Meanwhile, the wind was increasing its force and wave heights were growing. The boat that benefited most from the competition between the 2 boats we mentioned was Boreas. As if unambitious, but her consistent performance brought her the success she deserved at the end of the races.

When the boats completed the race and finishes were recorded;

In IRC 1 ARKAS FLYING BOX,

In IRC 2 LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 3 YUNUS MARIN CYGNUS,

In IRC 4 ÇEŞME SAILING LADY SUN,

In IRC 5 KALKIŞ-FORETAN,

In DESTEK 1 HAPPY LEMON LINEA ROSSA,

In DESTEK 2 CANDID and

In DESTEK 3 KAYK APAZ were the leading boats leaving their competitors behind.

At 16:22, as the 2nd Start for the IRC groups was given, the wind was blowing from 230 degrees at 17-22 knots. Anything Dere Construction completed the rudder repair between the two races and made its start. Meanwhile, Boreas was jinxed and had a forestay failure. Arkas Flying Box, which barely made it to the start, renewed its start despite not having a forestay failure and lost time. The course was considerably shortened this time compared to the morning. The race committee was setting up the course close to different shores of the gulf each time, enabling Izmir residents to follow the race from the shore.

At the end of the short 2nd Race;

In IRC 1, ARKAS FLYING BOX,

In IRC 2, ARNES,

In IRC 3, YUNUS MARIN CYGNUS,

In IRC 4, ÇEŞME SAILING LADY SUN,

In IRC 5, KALKIŞ-FORETAN,

In SUPPORT 1, FUNN LEMON,

In SUPPORT 2, CANDID and

In SUPPORT 3, KAYK APAZ were the leading boats leaving their competitors behind.

While post-race activities and concerts continued in different areas, the most lively location was again the quay where the boats were moored and its surroundings.

When we woke up on the morning of September 24th, there was a calmer atmosphere in the bay compared to the day before. We were following different events until race time. One of them was the ARKAS MARITIME MUSEUM in the Bornova district. The venue, which the family used as a residence until the last 10 years, has been transformed into a magnificent Maritime Museum. Paintings, models, and historical accessories are displayed for visitors with a very beautiful presentation. Postponing the visit to this museum, which people like me cannot tour in one hour, to later days, we came to the historic Pasaport pier for the 2nd Day races. Today, the number of photographers participating in the competition increased, and television crews came with their teams to follow.

When we went out to the course, the wind was blowing almost completely opposite to the forecasts. Naturally, this also put the race committee setting up the course in a difficult position. With long postponements, they waited for the wind to settle. When the new course was set and start procedures began, the wind was blowing from 50 degrees at 4-8 knots. The race would be sailed with the same course and the same starting order again.

At 13.41, with the start given, IRC boats begin racing. Then the Support classes. Really beautiful scenes are captured. Head-to-head competition is particularly notable among boats in the same class. Late-opened, late-closed spinnakers, tack position choices, clearly show themselves in gaining the priority in competition.

At the end of the 3rd Race, Boreas achieves the expected surprise in the IRC 1 group. When we look at the results;

In IRC 1 BOREAS,

In IRC 2 ARNES,

In IRC 3 YUNUS MARIN CYGNUS,

In IRC 4 ÇEŞME MARİNA VENTUS,

In IRC 5 KALKIŞ-FORETAN,

In SUPPORT 1 FİNAL,

In SUPPORT 2 CANDID and

In SUPPORT 3 KAYK APAZ were the leading boats leaving their rivals behind.

Following this race, in the 4th and final race, the wind began to decrease considerably. At 15.33, the competition starting with IRC boats was joined by the Supports. As the short course was quickly raced and the bay was handed over to ships, racing boats coming from many points of the Aegean Region were entering the harbor.

At the end of the 4th Race;

In IRC 1 BOREAS,

In IRC 2 LADIES FIRST,

In IRC 3 YUNUS MARIN CYGNUS,

In IRC 4 ÇEŞME MARİNA VENTUS,,

In IRC 5 FARMER,

In DESTEK 1 AURIGA,

In DESTEK 2 CANDID and

In DESTEK 3 KAYK APAZ were the leading boats leaving their competitors behind.

On the final evening of the 3-day event, the awards found their owners with a large stand set up at Gündoğdu Square.

The race trophies also emerged as a result of a specially organized workshop through a competition attended by students from Dokuz Eylül University, Yaşar University and Economics University Faculty of Fine Arts.

The design of the İzmir Arkas Gulf Race Overall Trophy belongs to Dokuz Eylül University Graphics Department, Graphic Design Student Merve Karagöz. The waves transformed into wing form, the dynamism in the waves refer to the state of not giving up in races and the racing spirit. The transformation of waves into wing form represents lightness, speed, natural conditions and the importance of wind.

At the İzmir Arkas Gulf Race held on September 22-24, the grand trophy was won by the ARKAS FLYING BOX boat.

The people of İzmir filling the square also enjoyed music with YAŞAR's magnificent concert after the awards ceremony.

Following the late-ending night, I woke up early in the morning of September 25th. Silence, no hustle and bustle. The misty bay was quietly shedding off the fatigue of the event. The sea was flat calm. Most of the boats that had become pitch black in front of Konak Pier had become idle with the morning lights. The quay had emptied as they were heading to their ports.

In my opinion, what was on everyone's mind was that with someone's or some people's thinking and the coming together of many powerful hands, dreams had become reality.

From us too, endless thanks to those who contributed to the realization of this dream.

AZİZ KOCAOĞLU (Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality)

“Together with the mayors before me, we made efforts to save the bay and continue to do so. The İzmir bay is the most important wealth of this 8,500-year-old city. We are faced with the threat of the bay filling up from alluvium coming from the north, from the old Gediz riverbeds. We made a project with TCDD to deepen the bay. The State Railways will deepen the port approach corridor, and we, in return, will save the vitality of the bay by constructing a circulation canal 13.5 km long, 250 meters wide and 8 meters deep. The bay currently does not contain any elements harmful to health in terms of water quality. But this is one thing, swimmability is another. For this, the water quality and the amount of oxygen in the water need to increase; clean circulation from the outer bay is also important in this regard. If we can realize this bay project, we will have developed one of the world's most important recovery and reclamation projectsrmiş olacağız”

BERNARD ARKAS (Arkas Holding Vice Chairman of the Board)

“As an old İzmirian and sailor who lives intertwined with the gulf, I have long wished for İzmir to host such an organization. In the Mediterranean cities I visit, I always see sailboats in the gulf. I witness marinas and cities filled with them. İzmir is also an ideal city in this regard. We had to start somewhere. Most of the time sailing races take place in locations away from sight. However, in this festival, the public will also be able to watch the visual show. Our festival is very important in this respect as well.”

ÖZLEM AKDURAK (President of Turkish Sailing Federation)

“İzmir is a city that has been hosting sailing sports since the 1950s. The Gulf needs to be integrated with sailing again as in past years and filled with colorful sailboats. We witness that the local government is doing its best to beautify İzmir. İzmir is lucky with its administrators. It is also lucky with businessmen who support sports. As the Turkish Sailing Federation, what passes through our hearts is; that whoever enters our gulf encounters a city integrated with sailing. We wish to turn this beautiful gulf into a sailing paradise at an international scale.”

AKİF SEZER (EAYK Commodore)

“The Ege Açıkdeniz Yacht Club, established in 2000, last organized events in the Gulf in 2010.  However, these could not become traditional. The reason for this was the lack of accommodation facilities to continuously harbor boats and competing athletes, and the failure of visionary companies and managers to turn their attention to İzmir. With Aziz Kocaoğlu's revitalization of İzmir Gulf, we gathered at this table. Our greatest dream was to organize such an event in İzmir Gulf. We know that with the support of both local government and the club and athletes, this will become a traditional race in the coming years.”