Autumn Sailing in Bodrum: BAYK Autumn Trophy 1st Leg 2017

Bodrum, one of the premier yacht racing courses, said "Where Were We?" with the BAYK AUTUMN TROPHY 1st Leg on October 7-8.

BAYK, the successful organizer of the unforgettable Winter Trophies, used to hold the start of the Bodrum Wooden Boats Race on the dates preceding this event.

These races coincided with the exact transition days of the season.

Neither summer, nor winter, nor spring, a mixed bag.

For this reason, on the first day of the race, with the determination that the southwesterly wind was blowing over 25 knots, the fleet was not sent out to the racecourse.

Measurements taken until 14:45 indicated "There can be no racing today."

The strong wind continued its effect on our coasts throughout the day.

At the same time, yachts scheduled to participate in the EAYK Autumn Trophy 1st Leg races to be held in Çeşme also could not leave Çeşme Marina.p>

Hopes remained for Sunday, October 8th. The southerly wind, which had decreased its speed with the night rainfall, had shifted to north by morning and was trying to increase its strength.

On the first day, Chief Race Officer Ayberk OLCAY had explained the conditions that would occur during the briefing and stated that they had planned the races accordingly.

With the decision made this year not to hold briefings on the 2nd Race days, the fleet started heading directly to the race course.

As we headed towards the race course aboard the vessel ELELE, the northerly wind was gradually strengthening, and small waves were beginning to show.

When we arrived at the starting area off Bodrum, the wind was blowing from 310 degrees at 13-15 knots.

Since BAYK, the architect of the Winter Trophy, views the recently launched autumn trophies as virtually training for the winter trophies in which it is ambitious, participation was quite low.

A total of 15 boats had registered for the race: 5 in IRC Class A, 7 in IRC Class B, and 3 in the Support Class.

However, when we went out to the race course, we saw that the number of boats racing would be 13.p>

The Race Committee announced that today they would conduct a coastal race for IRC B and Support Classes, and 2 buoy races for IRC A Classes.

IRC B and Support classes will race approximately 17.5 Nautical Miles: start off Bodrum, Orsa Buoy to port, Görecek Burnu to starboard, Çelebi Adası and Tavşan Burnu turning buoy to port, finish off Bodrum.

With the start given at 11:45, these classes began racing into the strengthening wind.

Shortly after, as the yachts separated from each other and headed towards the windward buoy, the IRC A Class start preparations began.

These classes will race a 2-lap course between buoys 1.6 Nautical Miles apart, in an upwind-downwind configuration.

At 12:00, 4 yachts that reached the course started racing from the wide start line.

While we were following these 4 boats as the press vessel, at 12:41 HENİ announced that she was retiring from the race due to a technical failure. In this class, the competition continued neck and neck with 3 boats in both races.

At the moments when all classes came together at the start-finish area, the wind had reached 20 knots.

After the finishes were completed, as the yachts made their way to Milta Bodrum Marina, they were experiencing the joy of leaving behind a race week in a gentlemanly manner, where participation was low but close competitions did not escape notice.

In the announcement made by BAYK, the race results will be determined at the end of the 4-Leg Autumn Trophy.

The 2nd Leg of the BAYK Autumn Trophy will take place on October 28-29.