Wind Shortage in Marmaris

MIYC 29TH INTERNATIONAL RACE WEEK

We were in Marmaris to follow Turkey's highest participation yacht race between October 27 and November 2.

The race week began after a week when rainfall and winds had fully manifested themselves due to the seasonal transition.

Poseidon had shown his fury in the region and then departed for his Adriatic shift.

Now the windless summer weather had taken over the watch in the region again.

118 TEAMS FROM 12 COUNTRIES

As it has taken place on the same dates for 28 years, this year too many teams came to compete on the Marmaris course.

118 boats from 12 countries registered.

Exactly 29 years ago, this event started as a small race and has grown, with Russian sailors achieving the highest international participation with 73 teams. They were followed by Ukraine with 7 teams and Greeks with 4 teams.

This event, which will revitalize Marmaris economically and socially at the end of the tourism season, took place for the 29th time.

After registrations were completed and the briefing and opening cocktail were held, it was time for the races.

ENTIRE FLEET DIVIDED IN TWO

This year the fleet was divided in two for the races. Under the chairmanship of Principal Race Officer Can Giray, the Fleet 1 and Fleet-2 race committees performed their duties in synchronization.

Fleet-1 featured IRC groups, while Fleet-2 consisted of Charter boats racing. This practice was elegantly received in terms of establishing the racing standard.

OCTOBER 29TH ENTHUSIASM REFLECTED ON THE COURSE

On Monday, October 29th, races were organized as NETSEL MARINA DAY. The calm week displayed its first glimpse this morning.

When the fleet set out on the course, the October 29th Republic Day enthusiasm from the shore was reflected on the course as well.

MIYC President İhsan KALAYCI formed the chain of celebrations between the fleet and shore with a boat carrying a giant Turkish Flag.

Fleet-1 will race inside the harbor, Fleet-2 in the outer harbor without interfering with each other.

LET'S SEE WHO WILL CONDUCT MORE RACES?

Fleet-1's Chief Race Officer is Nusret DÖNMEZ, Fleet-2's Chief Race Officer is Behzat TÜMANBAY.

After the Republic Day celebrations concluded, attention turned to the matter at hand and race preparations began.

While Fleet-1 was waiting for wind in the inner harbor, Fleet-2, with the little wind it found outside, was given the start at 11:50 AM for the 7 nautical mile Geographical course race.

Starts were executed at 5-minute intervals for the other groups as well.

Fleet-2 boats' 2nd start took place at 2:50 PM to sail the same course.

FIRST WIND EXPECTATIONS

As the wind inside the bay did not allow passage to racing for a long time, the postponement extended considerably.

With the classic swimming breaks and music broadcasts, the boats waited for the race to begin in the warm Marmaris sea.

At 13:30, when the wind reached 8 knots from 135 degrees, the IRC boats also started in 3 groups with five-minute intervals and took their positions on the course.

An offset, approximately 5 nautical mile Windward-Leeward course with gate passages, Route 2 will be sailed.

RACE VIEW FROM THE SHORES

The fleet began to offer beautiful, diverse views to those following the race from the Marmaris shores and from the hills overlooking the bay.

These shares began to appear on social media.

The first race passed with the teams, who will compete for 5 days, testing their boats, crews, and competitors.

It was light-aired.

When the first race of the race week was completed;

In IRC O, SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

In IRC 1, KASALTHA (Zhbankov Timefev-RUS)

In IRC 2, VAGABOND (Sinan Sumer)

In IRC 3, LOOPING (Yury Shuvalov-RUS)

IRC 4: BOOMERANG-UK SAILS (Serdar ŞAHİN)

CHARTER PERFORMANCE: FOXY FOX (Igor Puzanov-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-1: DANS (Konstantin Naxarenko-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-2: LORELEY (Kirill Yasinavskiy-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-3: PAPIRUS (Oleg Smirnov-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-4: BABE (Alexey Scherstobitiv-RUS)

These were the boats that left their competitors behind.

Throughout the day, the wind direction and strength remained generally unchanged, and preparations for the 2nd race began.

The courses would be sailed the same again.

The race started at 15:25 with the IRC 0 group start, and gradually the competition among rivals began.

SHOUTS, CALLS AND PROTEST ANNOUNCEMENTS

At the end of all this, protest announcements were heard. However, these protests were only brought to the hearing by the boats SYMPHONI and VAGABOND racing in IRC 2.

Our footage and that of the racers were presented as evidence.

At the end of the long hearing, VAGABOND was penalized.

At the end of the hearing, the results were announced and in the 2nd Race:

IRC 0: SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

IRC 1: St.ANNA (Vlas Kadetov-RUS)

IRC 2: SYMPHONY (Anton Timakov-RUS)

IRC 3: LETTLAND (Igor Bokovskis-LAT)

IRC 4: BOOMERANG-UK SAILS (Serdar ŞAHİN)

CHARTER PERFORMANCE: GREY GOOS (Yaroslav Sakharuna-UKR)

CHARTER CRUISER-1: BRISTA (Pavel Savenko-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-2: LORELEY (Kirill Yasinavskiy-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-3, PAPIRUS (Oleg Smirnov-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-4, ZEZO (Zeynep Bengitöz)

These were the boats leaving their competitors behind.

In the evening, the NETSEL MARINA AWARDS found their owners at the ceremony area.

POSEIDON AGAIN, DON'T DO IT

On Tuesday, October 30, Marmaris woke up to an even more scorching atmosphere.

Today, Fleet-1 boats will compete on the outer harbor, Fleet-2 boats in the inner harbor.

The wind is being as coy as can be. Direction constantly changing, strength not settling on either course.

The committee rushed to start preparations.

The objective: to start the race as soon as possible and leave the fleet alone with the coastal route course.

A 7 nautical mile course number 6 will be sailed.

Kargataşı Island will be rounded, followed by the return buoy and finish.

KARGATAŞI IMPASSABLE

After the start that began with a downwind leg, the wind said "that's all from me" and retreated.

The committee had no choice but to Abandon in the glassy sea.

Same start line, same route will be sailed and postponements.

Finally, at 13:05, with the wind settling at 5-6 knots from 135 degrees, the start was given to IRC 0 boats.

This was followed by the other groups at five-minute intervals.

The last group's start was refreshed with a general recall.

Again, spinnakers struggling to fill at the start, slow-motion images and the fleet is on the course.

First, Kargataşı Island will be rounded.

The winds that always blow from off İçmeler, from the Turunç hills, and the squalls are on holiday today.

The fleet leaders are approaching the island inch by inch.

While the leading boats are rounding the island very slowly from the outside and heading toward the mark, the crowded group coming from behind wants to round the island close to gain distance advantage.

WHAT IF THEY HAD LEFT THE RUDDERS ASHORE TOO, I WONDER?

Shouts, calls, rudders being put between, heart-stopping difficult moments.

MERSİN YELKEN AKADEMİSİ, racing with number 8, runs aground.

Solution: start the engine.

When started, make an announcement and declare withdrawal from the race.

While the fleet is rounding Kargataşı Island with difficulty, IRC 0 boats are rounding the return mark and slowly heading toward the finish.

The wind decreases, then increases.

p>

The committee first extends the race by 30 minutes. Then announces that a course shortening will be applied to all classes except IRC 0.

Finishes will be taken at the return buoy.

After this decision, the wind strengthens a bit and carries the fleet to the finish line.

The committee then intends to hold the 2nd race, but when some boats cannot even approach Kargataşı Island, they announce it cannot be held.

HOLIDAY IN THE INNER HARBOR

The situation in the inner harbor is even worse. All the waiting and preparations are in vain until evening.

The weak wind constantly changing direction just won't settle and the start horn doesn't sound.

Outside at the Kargataşı Island turn, FIFTY-FIFTY protests SYMPHONY.

This time, after the hearing, Celsea's team SYMPHONY flies.

At the end of the only race that could be held;

In IRC 0, SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

In IRC 1, GOBLIN 3 (Erhan Karaca)

In IRC 2, VAGABOND (Sinan Sumer)

In IRC 3, MX (Chegurov Alexey-RUS)

In IRC 4, BLUE BIRD 2 (Mehmet Özdaş)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

At the evening ceremony, many cups are returning to the club without owners.

On Wednesday, October 31st, there is no change in the weather conditions.

Fleet-1 will race inside, Fleet-2 will race outside.

We will follow Fleet-1 first.

The first group of Fleet-2 is starting from 11:05 onwards to race on the same course.

Followed by other groups.

Long waits in the inner harbor and starting procedures begin with the wind gradually settling in.

Wind from 310 degrees at 7-9 knots.

Course number 3, 6 nautical miles will be sailed.

First start is given to IRC 0 boats at 12:30. Then other classes at five-minute intervals.

At the 3rd group's start, there are 5 false starts.

Fleet boats are increasingly matching their rivals.

We are now witnessing aggressive starts and bold maneuvers.

As soon as we take the finishes of Fleet-1 boats, we direct the press boat to the outer harbor.

At the end of the first race;

In IRC O, SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

In IRC 1, St.ANNA (Vlas Kadetov-RUS)

p>

In IRC 2, VAGABOND (Sinan Sumer)

In IRC 3, LETTLAND (Igor Bokovskis-LAT)

In IRC 4, WASABI (Valarin Nikolav-BUL)

In CHARTER PERFORMANCE, LA LOBA (Fralov Viladimir-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-1, BRISTA (Pavel Savenko-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-2, LOR LORELEY (Kirill yasinavskiy-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-3, PAPIRUS (Oleg Smirnov-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-4, ZEZO (Zeynep Bengitöz)

These are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

We're outside and will finally meet the Fleet-2 boats.

Outside, the course is the same, the wind is blowing from 310 degrees at 14-16 knots.

A downwind start will take place.

At 13:55, the first group's start occurs.

Then, as the wind increases its strength with squalls to 20 knots, sometimes exceeding that, those who made a spinnaker start begin to experience difficult moments.

MIXING UP GROUPS AT THE START

While starting with another group, those who realize the situation and make sudden maneuvers to recover, burst their spinnakers, fall into the sea...

After the squall moments experienced at the start, the fleet that begins racing on the course experiences variations in wind strength.p>

Unstable weather is causing the fleet boats to separate from each other. There are different winds in different positions.

As soon as Kargataşı Island is rounded, the strengthening wind carries the breathless fleet to the finish line.

Meanwhile, HIDE AWAY, racing in the CHARTER CRUISER-3 group, files a protest against MAURITIUS-1.

Following the hearing, MAURITIUS-1 is disqualified.

When Fleet-1 and Fleet-2 boats complete their 2nd race;

In IRC O SÜTLAÇ(Mahmut Saral)

In IRC 1 KASALTHA(Zhbankov Timefev-RUS)

In IRC 2 VAGABOND(Sinan Sumer)

In IRC 3 MARMARİSA(Gleb Semerenko_RUS)

In IRC 4 WASABİ(Valarin Nikolav-BUL)

In CHARTER PERFORMANCE MARLET(Aleksel Brunov-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-1 SUGAR BABY(İlya Vasiyev_RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-2 SURPRISE(Martynkov Nikolav-BLR)

In CHARTER CRUISER-3 PAPIRUS(Oleg Smirnov-RUS)

In CHARTER CRUISER-4 BAY DENİZ(Helge Bauer-GER)

Are the boats leaving their competitors behind.

The day's winners receive their SETUR MARINAS DAY cups in the evening.

On Thursday, November 1st, the entire fleet departed the bay in the early hours of the day.

They gathered at the wide start line formed off Turunç.

The committee will run the entire fleet on the course with a single start.

Wind is blowing from 135 degrees at 7 knots.

Light lodos (southwesterly) prevails in the area and its arrival to Turunç is also from this direction.

EROL METİN ERDOĞAN, TO THE ENDLESS BLUE...

The fleet gathered at the start line observes a moment of silence for referee Emin Metin ERDOĞAN, whom we lost a day earlier, following an announcement from the committee boat.

Flowers are thrown into the sea.

Erol Metin ERDOĞAN was a beloved and successful referee of the sailing community. He was one of our referees who served at Marmaris races for many years.

After the moment of silence, start procedures commenced.

Echo flag was raised for mandatory life jackets.

Route 7 will be sailed, Kızıl Ada (Red Island) will be rounded.

Approximately 35 nautical miles geographical route.

Only 6 boats out of 118 were OCS (on course side). As soon as the boats started racing on the course, the wind began to show fragments of variations across different areas.

Boats heading toward Kadırga Point were entering different wind zones in different areas. But their progress was not quite possible.

The seas were flat calm, the course was having an unlucky day in terms of wind.

As the hours passed, nothing changed; on the contrary, the wind was diminishing to almost nothing.

A small portion of the fleet was struggling to round Kadırga Point.

Solutions, solutions?

First, the race time was extended until 04:00, then the echo flag was lowered and everyone breathed a sigh of relief in the hot day.

As the hours passed, race retirements were gradually announced.

On a day when the lodos wind was dominant, albeit light, the Kızıl Ada route became questionable.

On the contrary, the Baba Adası side, though slight, was always downwind and it was clearly visible.

As the evening darkened, the leading boats could only get within 5 nautical miles of Kızıl Ada at most.

In the following hours, although some fleet leaders rounded the island, they couldn't finish. Wind was always expected, but the wind to propel the boats never came.

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET BURNED IN THE LONG RACE

Besides the boats returning to Netsel Marina after retiring, there was also Atilla GÖKOVA's YARIŞ ATI, which wanted to return but couldn't. It experienced engine failure and was towed back to the marina.

At 04:00, no boat had taken the finish. After this hour, many boats including the race committee headed towards the marina.

After sunrise, those remaining far from the course were completing their returns.

On Friday morning, November 2nd, the announcement posted in front of the club declared the time for the final race as 12:00.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IS IT IMPOSSIBLE?

It was announced, but will Poseidon comply with this announcement?

If not, what will our committee do?

Let's head out to the course and see.

The sea is like a mirror, smooth as glass.

Hope for wind never dies. From one side, then the other. It's driving the committee crazy.

Not a tick. Time is passing, final warning time is 14:00.

While Chief Umpire Can Giray thinks to himself "just show me 5 knots and I know what to do," Poseidon hears this, doesn't he? And at 13:55 no less.

He sent his 5 knots from 115 degrees.

The committee is happy, the organizers are happy, 118 boats are happy. God forbid the course's reputation would be ruined if racing couldn't be held two days in a row.

Today starts will take place with 10-minute intervals between groups.

Course 4-A

At 14:05, the IRC 0 class start is given. 2 false starts, they make their corrections and enter the course.

Then the other classes.p>

The wind picks up to 7-8 knots as the fleet reaches the waters off Yalancıboğaz. Beautiful turns. Competitors are making their final push against each other.

But once this buoy is rounded, differences in wind position and strength variations begin within the bay.

The buoy position off Mares Hotel gets the lucky break. The southwesterly movements entering the inner harbor from the strait accelerate the action.

The fleet is spread across the entire bay.

We can see the wind by their performance according to positions.

THE WEEK'S FINAL WIND CAPRICE

The waters off Marmaris are scorched but the committee is alert. They give course shortening to both groups.

The weakening wind cannot prevent the finishes.

As the slowly setting sun coyly approaches the mountain peaks in Marmaris inner harbor, which granted passage to the race today, the fleet that earned their final whistles heads for Netsel Marina.

When the final whistle of the final race sounds;

In IRC O, SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

In IRC 1, St.ANNA (Vlas Kadetov-RUS)

In IRC 2, FIFTY-FIFTY (Cenk Tekkaya)

IRC 3 - LETTLAND (Igor Bokovskis-LAT)

IRC 4 - MOUSMOULO (Nikosas Kaoumnakis)

CHARTER PERFORMANCE - RACE DOG (Evgeni Koslov-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-1 - PYRHA (Aliaksandr Racheuski_BLR)

CHARTER CRUISER-2 - DANS (Konstantin Nazarenko-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-3 - SWALLOW (Yun Dorozhkin-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-4 - ZEZO (Zeynep Bengitöz)

The boats leaving their competitors behind in the final race.

Evening closing ceremony. Both the day's ERGO awards and the week's grand prizes find their owners.

The colorful scenes of a week, the smiling teams receive their awards with the joy of having been able to race.

IRC O - SÜTLAÇ (Mahmut Saral)

IRC 1 - GOBLIN 3 (Erhan Karaca)

IRC 2 - FIFTY-FIFTY (Cenk Tekkaya)

IRC 3 - LETTLAND (Igor Bokovskis-LAT)

IRC 4 - BLUE BIRD 2 (Mehmet Özdaş)

CHARTER PERFORMANCE - GREY GOOS (Yaroslav Sakharuna-UKR)

CHARTER CRUISER-1 - BRISTA (Pavel Savenko-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-2 - LOR LORELEY (Kirill yasinavskiy-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-3 - PAPIRUS (Oleg Smirnov-RUS)

CHARTER CRUISER-4 - BAY DENİZ(Helge Bauer-GER)

With the hope of being together at another Marmaris classic...

İHSAN KALAYCI

(Miyc President)

"This year we held the 29th Marmaris Race Week. Next year will be the 30th. For this reason, we made efforts to ensure that the week we held would be a preparation for next year.

We had set a target of reaching 130 participants.

However, 118 participants made us happy.

The entire week was spent following the wind.

It was an unlucky period from a meteorological perspective.

Spending the week without wind put stress on both the club management and the race committee.

In the charter group, all races took place despite adverse weather conditions, except for one that was missing.

One of our goals was to have the entire fleet start together. We achieved that too.

Positive feedback from the participants made us happy.

Next is the 30th."

MAHMUT SARAL

(Sütlaç-Gökova Sailing Club)

"The organization, as every year, was very productive with great teams, great participants, great race officials and great supporters.

In terms of wind, it was a very productive week. We were able to complete 6 out of the 8 planned races.

Only in the offshore race was the wind insufficient, but it was great that the race committee didn't spare any effort to complete the race.

I believe that the 118 boats that came here will return home happy.

We experienced a very full week."

CAN GİRAY

(Chief Race Officer)

"The races, whose preliminary preparations we began approximately six months ago as the race committee together with the MIYC Commodore, had focused on weather reports that were checked more frequently as the first start time approached;

Although we had completed all the preparations we could do as the Race and Organization Committees, a bright picture did not await us for WIND, the only thing we could not prepare for and which was lacking.

However, for the Race Week, which constantly changes and develops compared to previous years, we were determined this year to be able to hold the long race around Baba Ada and to try a 3 committee boat start line in this race, which has never been realized in our country before:

A total of 118 boats and a single start...

Just like the festival-like starts we frequently encounter examples of abroad but have never had the chance to implement in Turkey.

However, being windless still worried us.

We saw this year how right a decision it was to divide the fleet and race IRC and CHARTER boats separately, which we tried for the first time last year.

Especially the increase in the number of registrations of IRC certified boats wanting to race, surpassing the number of charter boats, showed us that there would be faster races in Marmaris in the future.

On race day, two separate committee boats and two referee teams set off to their racing areas with their respective fleets. On the first day, the IRC class raced inside the bay while the charter class completed both of their planned races on the course outside the bay.

These were trouble-free races except for a single protest hearing. Despite the low wind strength, the race committees had set the courses so well that no abandonment or other modifications were necessary.

On the second race day, our luck didn't hold as well. While the IRC class completed the outside bay course with a single race, the charter class returned to the marina without racing at all inside the bay.

After the third day of racing, the scoreboards began to take clear shape and the competition among the leading boats became more pronounced.

And then it was time for the long race everyone was waiting for. However, as the race committee, we discussed what we could do, checking reports almost without sleep until morning.

With forecasts predicting extremely low wind speeds, we decided on a route with a turning mark at Kızılada. We had little alternative but to trust that the wind coming down from the mountains would enable us to run the race.

We were planning to use the sea and land breezes. Around 05:00 in the morning, our first committee boat set off towards Kızılada. Then we also got underway to establish the starting line.

With the Race Committee signal boat in the middle, the port pin-end boat 0.4nm away, and the starboard pin-end boat 0.6nm away, we set up the 1-mile starting line according to the wind with precise calculations.

First, a low sea breeze from the east required us to wait for a short postponement, but approximately half an hour later, the wind picked up and approached a speed of 10 knots that would allow the fleet to have a windward start, and we gave all the fleet the 10-minute preparatory signal.

The wind was increasing a bit more, but for us, the longest 10 minutes that wouldn't pass were being experienced; the worry that the wind would die while waiting...

With the start signal, 118 boats simultaneously crossed the 1-mile-long start line. Our predictions were that there would be more, but only 6 OCS occurred; and when we signaled that they were OCS, they immediately restarted. We had accomplished a first without error; we saw once again how important planning is in this start.

We, as all race officers, were certain that our dear Brother Erol, whom we lost 24 hours before the start, helped with the start.

However, the wind couldn't help us any further; afterwards it turned into an endurance struggle.

We announced that we extended the time limit by 2 hours. After a while, retirements began to come in, but the boats that were contenders in the race continued racing with great struggle.

After a while, the race was now almost making its own decision independent of us: we did whatever needed to be done in order not to compromise fairness to anyone.

Decisions to be taken from this point on could provide an advantage to one boat as well as a disadvantage to another.

While the boats were struggling with nature, we race officers were also struggling not to compromise equity. In the end, nature made the decision too: it completed the time limit without allowing any boat to finish, and this challenging race was automatically abandoned according to racing rules article 35 for all classes.

Then we quickly returned to the marina to be able to hold another race, and after a very short rest, we started preparing the course for the final race in low wind conditions again. Nature finally granted us permission just 5 minutes before the final warning signal at 14:00, and we were able to start our last race.

While we completed such a difficult week with only one protest hearing, what truly surprised us was that all competing teams thanked us instead of criticizing, complaining and whining as is usually done.

Truthfully, it was a situation we weren't quite accustomed to...

We may have many objectives such as spreading this sport to wider audiences in our country, ensuring that participating athletes experience happiness through an enjoyable and exciting competition, and revitalizing tourism in the location where the event is held.

However, we must never forget that to achieve these goals, we need to constantly renew and improve ourselves.

(In memory of Erol Metin Erdoğan...)"